door panel lock trim plate ?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 65
From: Kissimmee fl
Finalist 2021 C3 of the Year - Modified
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
door panel lock trim plate ?
To those of you that have replaced your door panels with a basic version and had to reuse your lock trim plates. As they are peened on with a washer from the factory and you pretty much lose that set up when removing them, how did you reattach the plates on the new door panel? TIA
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: Nashville Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '10
I had the same question about the "rivets" in the door lock **** trim. I e-mailed "Corvette America" about this and they very promptly replied with the info that what looks like a rivet is really a bead of solder. They said to simply remove the bead with a soldering iron and the trim pieces should come right out. They can then be re-installed in the same manner....or with screws.
I suppose this is a plug for "Corvette America". They are more than helpful and super fast with a response. Shoot them an e-mail and see what they tell you.
I decided to purchase the panels with new lock trim installed...so I haven't actually done this process...
Good Luck,
Bobby
I suppose this is a plug for "Corvette America". They are more than helpful and super fast with a response. Shoot them an e-mail and see what they tell you.
I decided to purchase the panels with new lock trim installed...so I haven't actually done this process...
Good Luck,
Bobby
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
The 'rivets' and plate are pot-metal. If you drill into them go slowly and use lube...or they could melt. I just used some JBWeld epoxy to hold it together; I've had no problem at all. Or you could drill a bit out so the epoxy will fill the 'rivet' shank and hold better. The drill, tap, & screw approach sounds fine...but is more trouble.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 65
From: Kissimmee fl
Finalist 2021 C3 of the Year - Modified
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Thanks for all of the replies. I was wondering how they got them rounded so nice since they are pot metal. The solder thing sounds logical. I can drill them but drilling a 3/16" post that is only about 1/4" long does not leave much room for threads. I did pick up some push nuts to try but I think I will try the solder route first.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
We used to drill and tap the plate which is ultimately the best way to install them but time consuming too! We found that using epoxy and letting the lock **** hold the plate in place works just as well. If you grind off the **** and re-furbish the plates, the lock **** will hold them in place just fine.
This may help you some too!
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=113
This may help you some too!
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=113