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KIND OF A BIG DILL
Work/Reverse engineering // Automotive interior

Scanned the factory part.
Built a GT pull to replace it.

A GT-style door pull for the MKV Toyota Supra, built for Driveway Labs. I reverse engineered the OEM door pull from a 3D scan, then designed a new 3D printed frame and pull mechanism behind a carbon fiber face plate, with titanium hardware and a webbing strap in five colors.

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Car
A90 / MKV Toyota Supra
Client
Driveway Labs
Reference
3D scan of the OEM door pull
Face plate
Carbon fiber, 9.0 x 3.3 in
Hardware
8 titanium button heads
Status
Built and in use on customer track cars
Case study

Why it exists

The challenge

Replace the factory MKV Supra door pull with a GT-style pull: a new frame and pull mechanism behind a carbon face plate, with titanium hardware and strap color options.

What I did

Scanned and photographed the OEM part, traced the profile, proofed it with paper and cardboard templates, drew the face plate and flat pattern in SolidWorks through three revisions, and designed the printed frame behind it.

The result

A finished pull in five strap colors, in use on customer cars including track cars.

The part

Three pieces that make it

OEM Supra door pulls next to the new 3D printed frames and parts
Factory door pulls (top) next to the new 3D printed parts.
1

3D printed frame and pull mechanism

A new frame takes the place of the factory handle and carries the pull mechanism. Modeled against the 3D scan so it lands where the OEM part did.

2

Carbon fiber face plate

One flat plate with a finger pocket and a slot for the strap. It cuts straight from the flat pattern, so changes are a new DXF, not a new tool.

3

Titanium hardware and strap colors

Eight titanium button heads hold the plate on. The webbing strap comes in blue, magenta, red, gold and lime.

Process

From the factory part to a flat pattern

  1. 01

    Scan

    The factory door pull came out of the car and went on the 3D scanner. The scan is the reference for every fit check after it.

  2. 02

    Measure and trace

    Scaled photos and a tape on the bench, then the profile traced on paper. The CAD outline was laid over the trace to check it.

  3. 03

    Template

    Paper and cardboard templates proofed the outline, the pocket and the hole pattern before any carbon was cut.

  4. 04

    Model

    Face plate and flat pattern drawn in SolidWorks and revised from Rev-0 through Rev-A to Rev-B as the fit tightened up. Printed frame designed to match.

  5. 05

    Build

    Printed frame, cut carbon plate, titanium hardware and a strap in the customer's color.

OEM door pull on the bench with a tape for scale
OEM door pull on the bench with a tape for scale
Profile, pocket and strap slot traced on paper
Profile, pocket and strap slot traced on paper
CAD outline (blue) laid over the hand-traced profile
CAD outline (blue) laid over the hand-traced profile
Cardboard template of the Rev-A profile
Cardboard template of the Rev-A profile
Options

Five strap colors

Supra GT door pull with a blue strap
Blue
Supra GT door pull with a magenta strap
Magenta
Supra GT door pull with a red strap
Red
Supra GT door pull with a gold strap
Gold
Supra GT door pull with a lime strap
Lime
Your project

What this means for your project

For shops and tuners

Turn a factory part into your own product.

Send me the OEM part or a car to scan. I reverse engineer the fit, design the replacement around your look, and hand you files you can build in small batches.

For product companies

Scan, model, prove the fit, then cut.

3D scanning, templates and revisions before you spend money on material or tooling. Flat patterns and print files your vendor can quote.

Got a factory part you want to do better?

Send me photos and what you want it to be. I review every request myself and reply within 2 business days.

Start a project→