Sittingray door restoration...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area CA
Sittingray door restoration...
The only thing that works on my 78's doors are the hinges 
I gutted the passenger side door completely. Looks like someone has taken apart the doors before and there are a lot of missing parts.
Are there any step by step instruction books to put the doors together?
Are there any old threads on this forum that talks about door rebuild?
How do I determine if the window motors are good or not ?
Any advice will be appreciated
I gutted the passenger side door completely. Looks like someone has taken apart the doors before and there are a lot of missing parts.
Are there any step by step instruction books to put the doors together?
Are there any old threads on this forum that talks about door rebuild?
How do I determine if the window motors are good or not ?
Any advice will be appreciated
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,268
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota in the summer, Las Vegas in the winter
I used the assembly manual for the doors on my 72. If I did not have any illustrations available to me and if the door was a mystery to me I would take the panel off the other door and study that one. As door innards go these are not too complicated. Be careful, the "while I'm at it" monster is in there........
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area CA
The "while I'm at it" monster is killing me
The windows dont work. I am not sure if it is the motor or the switch or the harness.
The windows dont work. I am not sure if it is the motor or the switch or the harness.
I used the assembly manual for the doors on my 72. If I did not have any illustrations available to me and if the door was a mystery to me I would take the panel off the other door and study that one. As door innards go these are not too complicated. Be careful, the "while I'm at it" monster is in there........
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area CA
Thanks to all of you who responded with advice.
I took apart the door parts. "While I am at it" I am going to paint the inside. There was a lot of rust inside. After a few hours of degreasing and rust fighting, the parts looks clean.
Pics below...
BEFORE...
AFTER...
I took apart the door parts. "While I am at it" I am going to paint the inside. There was a lot of rust inside. After a few hours of degreasing and rust fighting, the parts looks clean.
Pics below...
BEFORE...
AFTER...
Last edited by rajsid; Feb 4, 2007 at 11:18 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
The AIM will be your best friend for getting the door/window hardware reassembled. It also has the best procedure for adjusting the door glasses.
Be extremely careful with the door glass. You can lose a finger if that glass happens to fall unexpectedly.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Also, use lots of lithium grease [tube type...not spray] on the slides. That will keep wear to a minimum. I'm assuming that you are replacing all of the plastic wear components.?? Looks like you are doing a great job so far. 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area CA
I sprayed soaked everything (except the motor) in rust remover for half an hour and then soaked for another half an hour in degreaser solution. After that I used a plastic brush to brush off the old grease. Washed and blow dried everything in the end.
I am thinking of cadmium spraying the rusted parts to prevent rust in the future.
Am I over doing it ?
Is this necessary ?
I am thinking of cadmium spraying the rusted parts to prevent rust in the future.
Am I over doing it ?
Is this necessary ?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area CA
I purchased an AIM from corvettecentral. The reproduction/copying was extremely bad and I can hardly read anything. Besides it does not have any instructions or procedures detailed out.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 3
From: Surrey
No & yes. You're doing a good job, so why not go all the way & make sure that you'll never have to pull it all apart again due to corrosion? The insides of the doors are notorious for rot, so anything that stops it is a good thing.
Regarding the post title (Sitting ray), I vote that any Vette undergoing any sort restoration/fix is henceforth to be known as a "Corvette Sitting Ray" until such time that it's back on the road
Regarding the post title (Sitting ray), I vote that any Vette undergoing any sort restoration/fix is henceforth to be known as a "Corvette Sitting Ray" until such time that it's back on the road
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area CA
No & yes. You're doing a good job, so why not go all the way & make sure that you'll never have to pull it all apart again due to corrosion? The insides of the doors are notorious for rot, so anything that stops it is a good thing.
Regarding the post title (Sitting ray), I vote that any Vette undergoing any sort restoration/fix is henceforth to be known as a "Corvette Sitting Ray" until such time that it's back on the road
Regarding the post title (Sitting ray), I vote that any Vette undergoing any sort restoration/fix is henceforth to be known as a "Corvette Sitting Ray" until such time that it's back on the road
