Help with tub handles

[Littlasskicker]

Hello! I am new here so thank you so much in advance for any help you can offer.

My husband and I have been DIY-ing our entire bathroom reno for the past year. We just finished the tiling and are onto attaching all the fixtures to actually make things work. The tub/shower plumbing and fixtures, we realize, are something a smart person would have done before actually tiling, but here we are. This is also when a smart person would call in a pro, but we're broke. So again, here we are. (Dumb and broke, what a combo- aren't you just dying to help us?)

The last time this bathroom was re-done was the 60's/70's-ish, so the fixtures are the old style with 3 separate handles for hot, cold, and the shower.
http://m.imgur.com/4EMPM6z

We'll pretty much do anything to avoid ripping down the tile we *just* put up, so we'd really like to keep this setup. However, because of the rooms layout, we can access the pipes from behind (that's what she said) if we need to.
http://m.imgur.com/deybMRy
The current valve things look like this:
http://m.imgur.com/gugPoYi
And the handles I purchased don't come anywhere close to fitting:
http://m.imgur.com/JW3IyOG
http://m.imgur.com/JPvSu62
The current valves are leaky and probably either need new rubber washers and/or to be completely replaced anyway. So, now that I've told you my life story, my question is if it's possible to switch out those valves to ones that work with those fixtures without having to rip up the tile? If yes, how do I know what valves actually do work with them?? We have soldered before and if it's possible to open up the wall from the back and re-solder, we're willing to do that.

If this all is not possible, how do I know what fixtures to get that work with these valves? There's a million fixtures out there, yet explanations of what types work with what are harder to find than balls on a cow.

Thank you so much.

 

[frodo]

where is the old handles and trim?

take the stuff you bought back, it doesnt fit.

take your old thrim with you to a plumbing supply house. not homie depo or blowes

see if you can get new trim..

if not. cut into the wall in the toilet room. remove and replace.



ok,,,why? ..you bought trim without ......what?... never mind, i dont wanna know

the box it came tn, should have the name of the valve the trim fits.

get the valve, we will help you install it;


WAIT!!!!! put your keys down<<< you need to open the wall behind the valve first.
look see, is it a sweat connection, threaded with unions,,,,take a picture.

you can buy a valve with different connections, you need to get what ever it is you have.

HEY!!1 look at the brite side, you can sit on the toilet as you work

 

[Littlasskicker]

Thanks for the reply. Thought the trim came with valves. Turns out, nope. There's only a basic spec sheet in the box, says absolutely nothing about valves. Checked that, as well as googled the crap out of it before I came here. Thinking these handles are not meant for this set up, now that I have them, looks like they're maybe replacement handles for a whole trim kit. Of course they can't tell you that in the description. Or maybe I was just blinded by shiny pretty handles.

Gonna have to give these up I guess. Generic cheap ass handles here I come.

Will be opening my wall in the near future. I'm sure I'll be back.

 

[Mr_David]

Pull one out. Pretty sure it's this.

image search american standard aquaseal parts.

 

[Mr_David]

Only saw the one picture in original posters 1st post saw the second picture on his double post. sometimes when the post are to wordy I skip some of the text. This one for sure because I knew exactly what he had.
American Standard Aquaseal.


Change the seats inside the valve. The diverter stem is going to be a little different. You can tell they did not change that the last time it was repaired

 

[Littlasskicker]

Mr. David- yes thank you! That is the original handle. Here's a better look- http://m.imgur.com/a/gtxKT
The new handles I got are Price Pfister Ashfield line, but I now know they're not for this set up.

If replacing the seats and diverter works, how do I know what handles are compatible? Only american standard? All american standard or only particular ones?

Thank you so much.

 

[Mr_David]

only te trim for AM STD will fit on the threads of the body. anything with the same Broach pattern will work on the stems. But you should just stick with American standard Aquaseal handles.

you want to change the look , change the entire Valve