1946-1948 Lincoln Pushbutton Door Handle Install - When Push Comes To Shove - Tech

A pair of panel clamps are used to hold the plate in place while it's welded. Note that I drilled out two of the three mounting holes for the button mechanism before installing the plate.

I made another template for the inner button mechanism when I did the driver side, which I used to mark the hole in the passenger door.

Here's the interior button all bolted up.

To finish off the interior, I needed to cut a hole in the 5-Star door panel. Note the rust in the upper left side, I'll be replacing that section using what's left of the one I have.

I used the cut off section of door panel that came with the truck for the forward piece. This will replace the rusted portion of the new panel and will include the hole for the door button. First I cut a section out around the button...

...then I buzzed a 2-inch hole in a spare piece of 16-gauge sheetmetal.

I then trimmed the sheetmetal piece to fit the section cut into the door panel and tacked it into place.