Porch40

Am having a most hateful experience replacing the door panels on my 74. Mid America reproductions. Look nice. But, I cannot get the psgr side panel down far enough for the lock **** to completely protrude thru as it should. All of the other pieces/fasteners seem to be at the proper height but the door release lever and the lock **** stalk both look like the panel needs to come down just a hair. Have only done the psgr side so far. The original door panel on that side had the same problem which I assumed was due to the door panel bowing with age. Nope, new one has the same fit around the handle/lock **** minus the bow at the bottom.

And, the other major question is, if the panel it is down as far as it can go, how do you get the door release lever back on ? I can't find a way to hold it open and still get the handle in there.

Thanks for your help. 3 hrs and still don't have it

ddawson

If it's being difficult to slide down all the way you can tweak the metal at the top of the door a very tiny amount.

Because the door slides in at an angle sometime the top part of the door is getting in the way.

For the release lever assuming it's removed is to take a screw driver and move it out like you are opening the door then slide the handle on. Yes it's a pain on the ***.

ddawson

The metal taps that stand straight up.

Porch40

Thanks a lot!

F22

Yep, push it out, while shoving the door panel towards the back! You'll sometimes get a little rain of particle board as it scraps in, but keep pushing and it will plop in! Agree with PITA comment and isn't that typical of a C3... Sheesh, (thank God, We love these cars like we do!)

Porch40

Got it finally. Took some tweaking of the upper metal brackets. All is good.

YES!! always some interesting engineering to contend with. Like having to drop the gas tank to change a rear light bulb (at least on a 74) Who thought of THAT ?!?!?

Thanks for all of your help!

Porch40

Oh yeah, and the door handle, ... went many rounds with that critter. Finally got it popped in. Was like Rocky vs. Apollo Creed.