Door Interchangeability
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,683
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
I don't think that coupe and vert doors are interchangeable. I know that the weather strips, door glass and felt/window rubbers are different. There are also the locators though you could move those. Not sure how big the differences are, but they are not the same.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Doors didn't change change thru the years....( well 68 did have the odd year skin with outer push button ) hardware and stampings did change.
A big change with the 80-82 inside handles and locks and related hardware and all but purist reasons aside...you can use the 74 coupe door on the 73 convertible but the big change is you must use Convertible glass...and related seals and junk....this is how it was done on all those 76-82 that were made into convertibles.....
A big change with the 80-82 inside handles and locks and related hardware and all but purist reasons aside...you can use the 74 coupe door on the 73 convertible but the big change is you must use Convertible glass...and related seals and junk....this is how it was done on all those 76-82 that were made into convertibles.....
Last edited by The13Bats; Mar 29, 2010 at 06:29 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
-68 is all by itself because of the pushbutton. Same door for coupe and vert.
-69-77 coupe is the same and this door is also used on 69 convertible. (68 and) 69 vert has a small brass wedge at the top where the 70-75 have a large wedge on the door with a receiver on the door jamb.
-70-75 convertible all have the wedge indention at the top, you can use this door on all 69-77 coupes as well.
-78-82 are all coupes.
-Physically all doors interchange if you don't look at the convertible door wedge issue. Coupe doors can be modified to fit convertibles, Paragon sells the indention that can be welded in. The main difference in 68-77 and 78-82 guts is the interior panel and the locking and latch system on the inside. 68-69E have a different glass retaining system than 69L-82. You have to use coupe glass in a coupe and convertible glass in a 'vert. Finally there is an extra bar for side impact protection inside the door for 73 up I believe, but this does not affect fitment.
-69-77 coupe is the same and this door is also used on 69 convertible. (68 and) 69 vert has a small brass wedge at the top where the 70-75 have a large wedge on the door with a receiver on the door jamb.
-70-75 convertible all have the wedge indention at the top, you can use this door on all 69-77 coupes as well.
-78-82 are all coupes.
-Physically all doors interchange if you don't look at the convertible door wedge issue. Coupe doors can be modified to fit convertibles, Paragon sells the indention that can be welded in. The main difference in 68-77 and 78-82 guts is the interior panel and the locking and latch system on the inside. 68-69E have a different glass retaining system than 69L-82. You have to use coupe glass in a coupe and convertible glass in a 'vert. Finally there is an extra bar for side impact protection inside the door for 73 up I believe, but this does not affect fitment.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 330
Likes: 44
From: Cincinnati Ohio
You can convert a coupe door to use in a vert by cutting out an opening and welding in a piece to accept the vert alignment piece. I think you can get the piece from various suppliers. I had one included with a door I bought and had to modify for a vert. The piece came from Volunteer. It isn't a hard modification to make if you have a welder. A template came with the part.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Pictures please....
Okay..the posters car is a 73 mine is a 69,
Can you more purist savvy fellows please post me some pictures of the door wedges and which year/years they were one convertibles...
Many thanks!
Can you more purist savvy fellows please post me some pictures of the door wedges and which year/years they were one convertibles...
Many thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Look on this page
http://www.corvette-paragon.com/c-23...-hardware.aspx
This shows the kit to convert coupe doors to 70-75 convertible. The 68-69 verts had a brass wedge on the upper part of the rear of the door that mated to a plate on the sill. The 70-75 verts have a recess at the top of the rear of the door with a male cone shaped wedge. The door jamb has a female cone sticking through that the male cone goes into. This adds ridgidity to the verts. Finding either of these NOS now is very hard and expensive, luckily Paragon is reproducing both.
If you look carefully at the photos in this add, you can see both parts.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-...item4839fe81c1
http://www.corvette-paragon.com/c-23...-hardware.aspx
This shows the kit to convert coupe doors to 70-75 convertible. The 68-69 verts had a brass wedge on the upper part of the rear of the door that mated to a plate on the sill. The 70-75 verts have a recess at the top of the rear of the door with a male cone shaped wedge. The door jamb has a female cone sticking through that the male cone goes into. This adds ridgidity to the verts. Finding either of these NOS now is very hard and expensive, luckily Paragon is reproducing both.
If you look carefully at the photos in this add, you can see both parts.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-...item4839fe81c1
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Vert door, I think this is a 70. I kept this pic for reference for the blue sticker, and it happened to be from a vert.
Glenn
