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The passenger door did not line up just right on the striker. It was hitting a little low so I took the bolts out of the striker and the back plate and retainer that are behind the body panel of the car fell. How can I get in behind the panel to get to these parts? I looked all over and can't see a way in. Do I have to remove the seat? HELP Joe
The passenger door did not line up just right on the striker. It was hitting a little low so I took the bolts out of the striker and the back plate and retainer that are behind the body panel of the car fell. How can I get in behind the panel to get to these parts? I looked all over and can't see a way in. Do I have to remove the seat? HELP Joe
Congratulations on being able to even get those striker screws out in the first place. Unfortunately, the retainers for the nut plate were only held on by a couple of thin rivets which often rust or break from loostening the screws (or trying to). As said, you will have to remove the gas tank cover to fish out the plate. It would be a great opportunity to clean the gas tank and surrounding area and repair/replace any tank hoses if needed. Pilot Dan
It would be a great opportunity to clean the gas tank and surrounding area and repair/replace any tank hoses if needed. Pilot Dan
And add 10 gauge ground wire from the gas tank sending unit, to a good frame ground.
And ditto on replace the fuel inlet hose and vent hose. Make sure you tighten the fuel inlet connector hose clamps two or three times before you put the cover back on.
If you have some fiberglass skills, you could also go in through the wheel well. Even when you remove the gas tank, your access to that area is pretty limited. I usually cut a good sized hole in the wheel well, from the tire side, about 4" X 6". Locate it just about even with the striker, or a little below. You can then get your hand in there to not only get the broken junk out, but you can hold the cage/plate to re-rivet from the jamb side. Then, 30 minutes of bodywork to refit the piece you removed, a little 1613, and you're done!!
Moving down this stricker plate is getting hairy. I thought I would be able to grind a little off the bottom of the 3 holes and put it back together. When the plate in the back dropped and I started looking for the opening I new I was in for a project. I can't even spell fiberglass no less use it. That's way above my pay grade. I'm going to get my son who is more agile and thinner to help with this one. Thanks guys Joe
Can you post a picture of the piece(s) you've dropped ?
Or link to a picture on Corvette Central or somewhere else ?
I bought some misc door parts a while back (I'm in Florida too) and never used them. They are for the driver's side and I don't know if they work for the passenger side but if so (and I really do have them) I'll ship them out to you if you like. That is if you really can't retrieve the dropped item.
I know I have the "anti-skid" plates but also some other items too.
BTW - you were lucky to even get the striker plate screws to loosen up. I beat on mine with an impact hammer until the wife came out of the house complaining about the noise -- never could get them out and gave up.
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Mar 8, 2011 at 09:33 AM.
Mike, what is 1613? you guys are to advanced for me.
Bill I am going out now to see what I can do and maybe a magnet is the anwser to getting them out.
Frankie thanks for the offer and I'll let you know. I believe the parts are all there it's just getting to them and then putting them back on.
I read where someone said that the back plate should have been riveted. Is that true? I going out to get started. Frankie knows I've been working on my tail lights, he got that one right for me. Now it's the door. Thank god I'm semi-retired so I can spend 12 hours a day on the car. Joe
Joe,
1613 is semi flat black Krylon lacquer. It's used a lot for correct black out, but there are a lot of other paints that will work. The original nutplate "cage" was riveted, and the rivets were smooth with the jamb. If you use pop rivets, you'll need to grind a small divot in the jamb glass, and then fill it flush. Typically, the nut "cage" is rusted away, which is why they fall off. Good luck.
I'm in Fort Lauderdale and retired (via unemployed) for the time being. I've been in every nook and crevice of my '60 by now if you want a second set of hands. You'll have plenty of room to fish the retainer out IF you remove the tank (small hands if you don't). Still gonna be tricky to get new rivets in there.
I squeezed some epoxy around the retainer as a future just in case.
Mike's suggestion of cutting a small hole in the wheel well is purrrtty smert. I got over my fear of fiberglass last year when I figured out I had a "no hit fender" car. Get it? HAHA!
You don't really need to put that keeper back on unless you absolutely want to. Just have someone with a skinny arm hold the backing plate long enough to get one screw started then you can finagle a small phillips screwdriver through one of the other holes to align it and get the 2nd screw in. The 3rd screw is a piece of cake.
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I read where someone said that the back plate should have been riveted. Is that true? I going out to get started. Joe
Joe, that's the big problem when working on a car that already has the paint work done. Above all, you dont want to mess up the finished paint on the door jamb just to rivet this retainer back in. I am in the same boat with my 59. The retainer fell off (fished it out) and my screws won't budge come hell or high water and my paint is done.
My plan is to eventually replace my Gas tank and I will probably have to drill out the old screws and take the nut plate off anyway. I was thinking about putting the retainer plate back on with some bonding adhesive in place of the rivets from the back. You might want to consider that idea or else like people have said, just leave it off. Pilot Dan
My plan is to eventually replace my Gas tank and I will probably have to drill out the old screws and take the nut plate off anyway. I was thinking about putting the retainer plate back on with some bonding adhesive in place of the rivets from the back. You might want to consider that idea or else like people have said, just leave it off. Pilot Dan
I was able to drill two of mine out that were froze. Slowly stepped up in bit sizes until the bolt was paper thin around the edge... then just took a pick and folded the metal in on itself and pulled it out. Ran a tap through it and good as new.
Thank god I'm semi-retired so I can spend 12 hours a day on the car. Joe
I'm trying to polish up some of my '61s stainless steel and in 48 hours I've had a Mr. Coffee coffee maker catch fire in the kitchen...the wife was closing some curtains and the rod and curtain pulled out of the wall and fell down on her head (I did NOT laugh if anybody asks.) and now the electricity is out in two of my guest bedrooms (which are occupied)...WTF ??
all of my paint is done. I think I will use some bonding adhesive. I am going in through the gas tank area. I got side tracked this morning when my 5525 John Deer came. My wife didn't think my tractor was sexy. I guess after 38 years I'm asking for to much. I'm going out of town for a couple of weeks and will be fresh to start on this fun job. My son is thinner and may be able to get in these places. Romulus I will PM you to see how your schedule is going and if you have time you can visit Miami's farm country. We live in the Redlands about 8 miles from the entrance to the Keys. Frankie, good luck with the home improvement and the Mrs.. Thank you guys for the input, insight and your time. I greatly appreciate everyone's help. Joe
My son and I finally worked on the striker plate. We went in through the gas tank cover. My son was able to grab the back plate and we able to adjust the door so it closes perfectly. Thanks for the help. I would not have been able to do it without all the help. Joe
Hay Romulus, Thank you again for the offer to help. Come on down, just call any time I'll PM the tel. #. I'm usually around. There's a corvette show in Clematis, West Palm Beach on April 9th You can go to the Renegades Corvette Club web site and get the details or call me . You live in Ft. Lauderdale, they are a great bunch of guys in this club. You should come to one of our meetings on the 2nd Thursday of each month at Ed Morris. Joe
Last edited by stingray6507; Apr 3, 2011 at 10:36 PM.
Reason: spelling