Soooo, I have to replace my 30 year-ole door panels, as the plastic uppers have all broken. I'm looking at the kits w/metal uppers offered by Paragon, Corvette America and Corvette Central. Prices range from $330 to $460 plus shipping. Would one say that the panels are, more than likely, the same quality? No, I'm not going for the leather ones, though, I'd love to.

 

I would go with Corvette America at this point only because they might be a scootch nicer than Al Knoch; if you know a distributor they can save you a bunch of money on the purchase...

 

Thanks Frankie. I wanted to confirm they offer as good or better parts as the others. My car sighs when it hears me say "Corvette America", as almost all her rebuild parts came from there.
Dave

 

[QUOTE=Frankie the Fink;1601162090]I would go with Corvette America at this point only because they might be a scootch nicer than Al Knoch
That's good to know

 

Another option would be to have them re-done by an upholsterer.

When I had my seats reupholstered, I had the door panels done at the same time.
The process involved using new vinyl, carpet, and cardboard backer, and re-using all the trim, reflectors, and the like.

They not only came out beautiful, but I now have door panels that are part original.

Good Luck

 

if your door panels are plastic where they hook onto the door they are not original. Original door panels had a metal backing. I use Al Knock door panels on my 63 they fit very well and I personally had trouble with corvette America panels. They are really the only two manufactures everybody else is just distributors.

 

Thanks for the input, guys. These are 30 y/o and not original, as the plastic tops have finally given-up the ghost. Unfortunately, the panels look wonderful other than that. If I were any good with fiberglass, I would attempt to save them somehow, but since I'm not, I'd just screw them up further. I'll put them for sale so maybe someone with more know-how can resurrect them for their car.

 

Al Knoch panels did NOT fit my 63 well ... I have heard they've improved....

My replacements were straight across at the top and did not have the bend at the vent window rear vertical channel, I had to bend the panel with risk of damaging it. The fit at each end is also pretty bad - to the point the metal bead around the coupe's window channel couldn't be tucked behind the panel as original..


As I said, I've been told these things are fixed now - but can't verify it myself.

 

Wilcox sells corvette Amercia products and always runs sales so I would look into them

 

Yes. Willcox is having his "End of The World" sale or whatever he's calling it right now - door panels included:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ale-is-on.html

 

I used Corvette America after some research. I did spring for the leather given I originally had a leather interior and it is now not even close to stock.

I still have my original ‘64 panels that were silver until some PO dyed them black. They are actually in pretty good shape, but need to be restored. My new panels are silver again and they fit perfectly. I’d post a picture, but I pulled them off to do some work on the power window wiring.

 

The old panels are definitely repairable. The chrome piece at the top of the panel that Frankie showed can easily be replaced. The originals were stapled on and many have said that you need to reattach the new ones by drilling holes and either stapling or screwing them to the door panel. That is a big project. However I attached mine with clamps and epoxy and it worked great. Also, if the felt is gone but the chrome piece is still good then you can grind down the old felt and use Velcro and epoxy to replace the felt. It worked great and it is indistinguishable from the new chrome piece’s felt. As has also been pointed out you can easily redye the leather or vinyl panel using Corvette America dye. I had a few bubbles in my door panels where over time the vinyl had separated from the backing. I got a hypodermic needle and some “flowing” crazy glue and injected the bubble and held it down for a few seconds. Eliminated all bubbles. Lastly there are also vinyl and leather repair kits to fix small nicks and tears.

So the point is don’t easily give up on your old door panels. They are expensive to replace and the new ones are not necessarily as good a fit as the old ones. I think i did a pretty good job of repairing mine and I have never worked with upholstery before. Nobody could have less natural talent than I do.

 

I agree....worst case, if I had had original panels to work with I would have removed the horizontal steel at the top and had Al Knoch (or somebody) incorporate them into new panels - apparently many folks do that...which gives you a much closer to original fit (I'm told).