[WhiteBronc]

I have a lot of people complain about how much of a pain in the ass it is to get in the pass side. Especially my dad lol. Well i sourced some new factory ford black grab handles through my local dealer and my dad helped me get them installed this morning. Used some metal nut inserts that use a tool to grab the threads and expand the insert on the back side of the metal securing it in place, the rear hole of the grab handle uses a hole that was already there on both sides just had to be drilled larger for the nut insert. I mocked up the grab handles once the rear nut inserts were installed to mark and drill the front nut insert holes. We took some masking tape and aligned the edge of the tape along the indentation on the headliner that was left from the plastic trim. Stuck a pick through the front upper trim hole and then marked the two nut inserts and transferred the tape to the trim to mark and drill the holes. Since there is a air gap between the trim and nut inserts i ended up using flange nuts that were approx 3/8” thick. I put the flange of the spacer nut towards the trim, that way when the handle bolts get tightened they will slightly pull the trim in but then stop when the spacer nut gets compressed. They turned out great and are super solid. Ended up installing one on both sides.

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Looks great. Nice clean install. Ive been planning on doing that, but was thinking of using the windshield pillars similar to the Econoline E series vans, but now you've given me another option. What was the approx cost you paid for the grab hsndles from the dealer ??Thx

 

[fordbronco1995]

Looks great. Nice clean install. Ive been planning on doing that, but was thinking of using the windshield pillars similar to the Econoline E series vans, but now you've given me another option. What was the approx cost you paid for the grab hsndles from the dealer ??Thx

i got them a little cheaper through work but i think normal cost on the handles were $15 each and the plugs were $4 each i believe. My cost through work i got the two handles and 4 plugs for right at $40. Thats with a 10% mark up and tax

 

[Asphalt Cowboy 17]

That's a damn good lookin' interior!

I have a lot of people complain about how much of a pain in the ass it is to get in the pass side. Especially my dad lol. Well i sourced some new factory ford black grab handles through my local dealer and my dad helped me get them installed this morning. Used some metal nut inserts that use a tool to grab the threads and expand the insert on the back side of the metal securing it in place, the rear hole of the grab handle uses a hole that was already there on both sides just had to be drilled larger for the nut insert. I mocked up the grab handles once the rear nut inserts were installed to mark and drill the front nut insert holes. We took some masking tape and aligned the edge of the tape along the indentation on the headliner that was left from the plastic trim. Stuck a pick through the front upper trim hole and then marked the two nut inserts and transferred the tape to the trim to mark and drill the holes. Since there is a air gap between the trim and nut inserts i ended up using flange nuts that were approx 3/8” thick. I put the flange of the spacer nut towards the trim, that way when the handle bolts get tightened they will slightly pull the trim in but then stop when the spacer nut gets compressed. They turned out great and are super solid. Ended up installing one on both sides.

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[J A F O]

The interior of your bronco is both inspiring to me and sort of depressing, as I have a very chalky grey (once blue), 95 myself.
Very nice, man!

 

[mattmann]

I’m confused on these. Are they only mounted to the metal trim piece holding up the headliner? If so, how are they going to hold up with someone pulling down on them??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[marshallnoise]

Cribbed from my thread due to being alerted by the one and only El Kabong:

The wife is shorter than me and she definitely needed help getting into the truck. So I decided to install a Toyota Previa handle on the A pillar of the passenger side of the truck, but I wasn't happy with how flimsy it was. I want it to be able to handle a fatty like me. To remedy that, I picked up a 2001 Super Duty handle, custom fabbed some 3/16" plate and welded them to the A pillar. Then I drilled and tapped them and Bob is your Uncle.

Here are some pics of the Super Duty mounting vs the factry* OBS A pillar. The OBS stuff has a bump that makes it tough to negotiate.
IMG_20201217_123724 - Copy by Paul Abbott, on Flickr

Here is the Super Duty. It has nuts welded into the pinch weld that makes up the A pillar.
IMG_20201201_114003 by Paul Abbott, on Flickr

Getting the plastics off in the junk yard barked me up a bit.
IMG_20201201_114450 by Paul Abbott, on Flickr

Paul remnant.
IMG_20201201_114622 by Paul Abbott, on Flickr

To get around the bump, I just made two plates instead of one long plate.
IMG_20201217_151301 - Copy by Paul Abbott, on Flickr

IMG_20201217_151312 - Copy by Paul Abbott, on Flickr

Then I jammed it in place here.
IMG_20201217_151437 - Copy by Paul Abbott, on Flickr

I will be cutting some nice holes in the trim piece I have to install it around the handle. It won't look perfect, but its functional and strong as shit.

 

[fodder]

^ That's the way to replicate a stock installation, IMO.

 

[fordbronco1995]

I’m confused on these. Are they only mounted to the metal trim piece holding up the headliner? If so, how are they going to hold up with someone pulling down on them??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Did you only look at the pics and not read my entire post?

they are held in by nut inserts that were installed into the roof

 

[FordBronco1996]

I have a lot of people complain about how much of a pain in the ass it is to get in the pass side. Especially my dad lol. Well i sourced some new factory ford black grab handles through my local dealer and my dad helped me get them installed this morning. Used some metal nut inserts that use a tool to grab the threads and expand the insert on the back side of the metal securing it in place, the rear hole of the grab handle uses a hole that was already there on both sides just had to be drilled larger for the nut insert. I mocked up the grab handles once the rear nut inserts were installed to mark and drill the front nut insert holes. We took some masking tape and aligned the edge of the tape along the indentation on the headliner that was left from the plastic trim. Stuck a pick through the front upper trim hole and then marked the two nut inserts and transferred the tape to the trim to mark and drill the holes. Since there is a air gap between the trim and nut inserts i ended up using flange nuts that were approx 3/8” thick. I put the flange of the spacer nut towards the trim, that way when the handle bolts get tightened they will slightly pull the trim in but then stop when the spacer nut gets compressed. They turned out great and are super solid. Ended up installing one on both sides.

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Hi....looked through this thread but didn't see the part numbers you used to order those....would appreciate that if you have them or a way to look for them with dealer. My girlfriend is having issues getting up into my Bronco as well.

Thanks!

 

[BigBlue 94]

I remember way back when, I had an uncle that attached a step to the bottom of the passenger's door on his 1976 F150 4X2 that was invisible until you opened the door. I do not know how it attached to the bottom of the door, but it was about four inches in width, and slid through a narrow "guide", if you will, that let the step disappear under the truck when the door was closed. He was over six feet tall, and the step worked great for his wife who barely broke five and a half feet tall.
I have not seen another one before or since then. Don't know if he make it or had it specially made.
TB

4 years late but better than never...

What you describe was a factory Ford option/accessory. Ive only ever seen pictures so i can say how it was mounted to the door.

Door mounted step - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums