Door Panels
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 842
Likes: 3
From: Woodruff SC
St. Jude Donor '10
Door Panels
I've been looking at new door panels. You can buy them 3 ways: Bare, Standard, or Deluxe. Is it a pain to transfer the hardware if you get the bare ones? Or is it worth the $$ to go ahead and get the deluxe with everything new and in place??
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If your hardware is in good shape [chrome good, trim not marked up or dented], then I recommend you transfer yours to a new "basic" door panel. If you are reasonably careful in removing your trim, it shouldn't be a problem. You can cut off the overlapped tops of the rivets on the armrest chrome piece; then you can drill and tap the remainder of the rivet and screw it together with small screws...or you can do as I did--epoxy the remainder of the rivets in place with JBWeld.
P.S. Look at the locations of the pin holes from the armrest "U" trim on your old panels and try to duplicate the same pattern when you put the trim in the new panel...it will help you get good alignment in the groove.
P.S. Look at the locations of the pin holes from the armrest "U" trim on your old panels and try to duplicate the same pattern when you put the trim in the new panel...it will help you get good alignment in the groove.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 709
Likes: 1
From: Lakewood Colorado
Took me 4-5 hours of not hurrying time and some "while I'm at it" touch up painting. From other threads, I'm about 1/3 slower than someone that knows what they are doing, or has done it before.
Note bottom chrome trim exact location for transfer. Angle and alignment can shift a little if transferring carpet wedge over.
It was worth getting basic and transferring hardware for me.
Note bottom chrome trim exact location for transfer. Angle and alignment can shift a little if transferring carpet wedge over.
It was worth getting basic and transferring hardware for me.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 172
Likes: 17
From: Canada
I agree with the above replies that you can buy the basic panels and transfer the hardware. I did my 77 this summer however, if i had to do it again I would buy the deluxe panels. For the extra $$ I think you would get a better job, less frustration, and save a lot of time and also have all new harware.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,628
Likes: 132
From: Duvall, WA
I did this a while back and transferred my old hardware to the new bare panel. The dealer who sold the panels recommended this method because, according to him, the hardware that comes installed with the panel is imported junk. I thought transferring all of the stuff was very easy and I am quite happy with the results.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by rcread
I did this a while back and transferred my old hardware to the new bare panel. The dealer who sold the panels recommended this method because, according to him, the hardware that comes installed with the panel is imported junk. I thought transferring all of the stuff was very easy and I am quite happy with the results.
Hmmm imported hardware-that would be worth considering.DP77 I didnt mean to imply this was a really hard job-mainly time consuming but if the hardware is junk then you might want to consider doing it yourself.You just have to be careful and the use of a hair dryer makes it easier.I use a dremel to make any holes.I would caution you about using a blade.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Be careful about using the hair dryer. While it will smooth out some wrinkles on the flat areas and the "outside" curved surfaces, it can do a lot of damage in the "inside" crevices like the armrest surface. Heat makes this material shrink...and shrinking an inside curve is bad news. Use the heat gun sparingly. 