Loose door panels - how hard to fix?
#21
Pro
Thread Starter
Member Since: Jun 2001
Location: West Dundee IL
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the clarification, it helps. Tried to bid on some manuals on eBay but like someone said, with shipping the bid keeps going over what a new one would cost anyway. I'll just get them new.
#22
Advanced
Member Since: Jan 2006
Location: Fairhope Alabama
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Door panel
A low cost option is the Haynes Manual. It's not as good as the real thing but it gives a lot of good info. Bought mine at Books A Million right after I got my 89 back in 2000. Also Newton's 101 Projects is good bathroom reading that will help.
Art
Roll Tide
Art
Roll Tide
#24
Door panel repair
#27
That's the same way I cut the little brackets I used. I purchased a small square piece of sheet metal that had small holes equally spaced throughout. This was at the hardware store, it is like a metal plate maybe 6 inches by 6 inches. I have no idea what its really meant to be used for, all I know is I didn't have to drill holes through the sheet metal as they were already there. I cut the rib brackets out of it with shears, drilled tiny holes in the plastic ribs to line up with the brackets and bolted the brackets on. I believe Travis93 cemented his aluminum ribs on. Either way the door panel is as good as new as far as structural rigidity. Next time I have my passenger side door panel off I'm going to give it the same treatment.
#29
After trying ALL these ideas I gave up and shot 2 screws down through the top of the panel right into the door. Since they are down where the window felt is, you can't really see them. THIS worked and is holding for about 1 year now.
#30
Pro
Thread Starter
Member Since: Jun 2001
Location: West Dundee IL
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well the door is getting a lot worse due to it closing over and over and being loose, so I'll have to try something this week I can peek enough inside now to see that at least the outside rib is cracked.
#31
Le Mans Master
The door panel is still as flat as a flounder though with the cracked ribs on the backside. When the ribs crack the door panel loses some of its formed shape, spreads out and sticks up at the top over the door sill.
#32
Pro
Thread Starter
Member Since: Jun 2001
Location: West Dundee IL
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok, I'm getting ready to do this and I am gathering up my materials. I have the JB Weld and some cardboard to protect the door while strapping. I'm going to grab some straps this week. My neighbor said he has a ton of pop-rivets I can use. So I think the only thing left to get is the aluminum to shore up the ribs and the brackets.
What thickness aluminum should I get? Is this something I can pick up at a big box hardware store?
What thickness aluminum should I get? Is this something I can pick up at a big box hardware store?
#33
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Aug 2004
Location: Metairie Louisiana
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Ok, I'm getting ready to do this and I am gathering up my materials. I have the JB Weld and some cardboard to protect the door while strapping. I'm going to grab some straps this week. My neighbor said he has a ton of pop-rivets I can use. So I think the only thing left to get is the aluminum to shore up the ribs and the brackets.
What thickness aluminum should I get? Is this something I can pick up at a big box hardware store?
What thickness aluminum should I get? Is this something I can pick up at a big box hardware store?
Thanks
#35
Let us know how it goes with pics if possible. I would think not too thick becuase you may have difficulty bending it. I have not done this yet but I need to soon. I'd also like to know what brackets to use. I read 1" L-Brackets but is that 1" horizontal or vertical on each side of the L? How many are needed to do both doors?
Thanks
Thanks
#36
Ok, I'm getting ready to do this and I am gathering up my materials. I have the JB Weld and some cardboard to protect the door while strapping. I'm going to grab some straps this week. My neighbor said he has a ton of pop-rivets I can use. So I think the only thing left to get is the aluminum to shore up the ribs and the brackets.
What thickness aluminum should I get? Is this something I can pick up at a big box hardware store?
What thickness aluminum should I get? Is this something I can pick up at a big box hardware store?
#37
Drifting
Do you have any pictures of this? What type of screw did you use?