When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
When installing new door panels in my 65 Convert everything lines up well except the crank handles for the vent windows. One is about 1/4 inch low and centered front to back, the other is centered up and down but about 1/4 inch forward. Are the mechanics in the door for the vent windows adjustable so that these cranks can be lined up properly?
If its like my 63 you can probably adjust the panels' holes to make things work. 1/4" shouldn't be too much to compensate for.
There should be a big nylon washer that goes over the hole and then the fairly large crank handle goes over that to hide any minor adjustments. IIRC Al Knoch panels have perforated backing that indicates where the holes for vent/side window handles should be made. What did you buy ?
I got mine from Corvette America through Willcox. I can get them on but the handles don't fit in the formed indents on the panels well. They are off center by the 1/4 inch.
I got mine from Corvette America through Willcox. I can get them on but the handles don't fit in the formed indents on the panels well. They are off center by the 1/4 inch.
It's odd that the CA panels don't fit. The AK ones are junk but the CA ones for my 65 coupe actually fit better than the original ones, especially around the wing window.
Never have heard the word "junk' and Al Knock in the same sentence before!
Maybe "junk" is too strong of a word. How about "extremely unsatisfactory compared to other manufacturers"? That's what I found with several of their products before I quit using them entirely.
It depends on what parts and even what year. The Corvette America headliner for '63 is a joke...it unglued itself and fell down on my head on the first drive...wasn't even remotely like the original. The AK version is MUCH better (though not perfect). My Corvette America 63 dash pads fit perfectly though. My AK 63 door panels also fit perfectly...although they didn't have the factory 'bend' at the rear of the vent window....had to put that in myself. Its almost a case-by-case basis...
I bought some Corvette America door panels about 10 years ago. I am now attempting to install them. They might end up in the dumpster after I finish burning them. I would have hoped they would have had enough complaints by now to start making them better. Absolute junk!
Dang! Mine weren't that bad. I bought panels with all the trim on them so I didn't have any trim problems. Everything fit pretty good except the vent window cranks. Does anyone have any pictures of new panels installed on their car showing how the window crank handles fit? If so, please post them.
Wow that's some bad repro stuff in both vendors' camps. I wouldn't be happy with that vent handle fit either.
pop23235: My AK '63 coupe door panels fit nicely except I had to add the bend at the vent window rear channel AND be VERY careful when you make the holes for the armrest screws. The 'telltale' perforations for the holes on the rear of the panel are too high. If you go by them exactly the armrest will just barely cover the holes when installed -- make the holes slightly lower to be safe.
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; 01-13-2016 at 07:51 AM.
I bought some Corvette America door panels about 10 years ago. I am now attempting to install them. They might end up in the dumpster after I finish burning them. I would have hoped they would have had enough complaints by now to start making them better. Absolute junk!
.
CA has completely re-tooled since you bought yours 10 years ago. I agree, the old ones were junk. In my case, the new ones fit & look better than the originals.
I went thru this recently with my 66. Had the same alignment problems. I ended up elongating the 5 mounting tabs slots on the back side of the door panels. This gave me some adjustability and I was able to get an OK fit.
I used Al Knock on my 67 in 04 and Corvette America 0n 65 in 13. The CA ones were much better; fit better, felt better.
Al Knock Carpet really crappy, too. Don't like to bad mouth but CA was better all around.
I have come to the conclusion that most of my problem with the vent cranks lining up is due to my doors more than the panels. Looking closely at the pictures, the originals are also off in the opposite directions. Passenger side low and driver side forward, just not quite as much. It's hard for me to believe that all the beautifully restored midyears out there had this same problem. My car is just a nice driver. It is far from perfect. It had a hard life before I bought it in 1983. Sending these door panels back to get different ones is probably going to produce the same result. Looks like I am going to live with it and get use to it. The new ones look great otherwise.
01-11-2016, 12:27 AM
Installing new door panels in 65 Convertible
