Thanks, I'm modifying both where possible, will keep going. I have the OER repro of both and the handle is well oversized that it would never fit inside the recess of the bezels. I've filed the handle slots larger which was also limiting movement but after that only filing and trimming handle ends, yet to have one that fits, ran out of time.
I figured most original handles were tugged out of shape yet the bezels were likely fine, for the typical swap using a reproduction. But I'd expect they would find similar issues. My handle was left off when dash retrimmed in leather, might be a good way to stay.
I certainly wasn't expecting to have to spend so much time on a new part that is meant to go together. It would be interesting to have a GM and repro comparison, prior to mods, compare the grain and end size.
I'll measure the depth of the bezels now and mark on end of handle as the area to cut down. I was only chamfering the edge before and still didn't get one to fit inside bezel, let alone seat.
One of the Firebird restoration shops that sells these and offers them repainted at an extra cost. But naturally, their sample photos of painted item and installed are clearly a used original, complete with kinks. The same shop sold me a set of painted seatbelt sleeves years ago. They were terrible condition, complete with rough casting and plastic hanging off, but still painted over. I still have them years later, cleaned-up, repainted and looking 10x better, have been listed at 1/2 price on ebay for years. Yet when a shop lists them like that we just pay top price, get crap, and pretend we are happy with the quality. Anyway...
