Door Panel Gap
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 105
Likes: 12
From: Rockford, IL
Door Panel Gap
I finally got around to installing my interior door panels from Corvette America. It involved a little trial and error due to the vague instructions, but I figured it out.
The problem that I'm running into is a decent gap between the panel and the door towards the bottom. The retaining clips don't really hold the panel flush to the door.
Anybody have any ideas (that doesn't involve putting a screw through the door panel) to reduce this gap?
The problem that I'm running into is a decent gap between the panel and the door towards the bottom. The retaining clips don't really hold the panel flush to the door.
Anybody have any ideas (that doesn't involve putting a screw through the door panel) to reduce this gap?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 350
From: No Where USA
I had the same problem with a 77. I got big wood clamps and clamped it to the door than used a heat gun to heat it up and it got the shape it needed. I got the panels from Corvette America. Just be careful with the heat gun.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
I think the 'accepted' approach is to warm the panel (using sunlight is more gradual and has less risk of damage) with some weighting on it so that it will straighten before installing. With factory panels (fiber core), the fiber core needs to be dampened first. With a styrene core, turning the panel upside down and supporting it underneath at top and bottom, some time in bright sun with some weight placed in the center of the panel should do it.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
I think the 'accepted' approach is to warm the panel (using sunlight is more gradual and has less risk of damage) with some weighting on it so that it will straighten before installing. With factory panels (fiber core), the fiber core needs to be dampened first. With a styrene core, turning the panel upside down and supporting it underneath at top and bottom, some time in bright sun with some weight placed in the center of the panel should do it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
I had the same issue, this was my solution.
With the door panel off, I drilled out the rivets on all of the plastic velcro pieces. I then drilled small slits in the panel, and small holes in the door, so that modern panel retainers could be used. I placed the retainers in the center of where each of the velcro retainers were.
This worked very well, and if I ever want to go back to stock retainers, then I can simply rivet the original plastic velcro retainers back into the car, and they will cover the holes.
With the door panel off, I drilled out the rivets on all of the plastic velcro pieces. I then drilled small slits in the panel, and small holes in the door, so that modern panel retainers could be used. I placed the retainers in the center of where each of the velcro retainers were.
This worked very well, and if I ever want to go back to stock retainers, then I can simply rivet the original plastic velcro retainers back into the car, and they will cover the holes.
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
I had the same issue, this was my solution.
With the door panel off, I drilled out the rivets on all of the plastic velcro pieces. I then drilled small slits in the panel, and small holes in the door, so that modern panel retainers could be used. I placed the retainers in the center of where each of the velcro retainers were.
This worked very well, and if I ever want to go back to stock retainers, then I can simply rivet the original plastic velcro retainers back into the car, and they will cover the holes.
With the door panel off, I drilled out the rivets on all of the plastic velcro pieces. I then drilled small slits in the panel, and small holes in the door, so that modern panel retainers could be used. I placed the retainers in the center of where each of the velcro retainers were.
This worked very well, and if I ever want to go back to stock retainers, then I can simply rivet the original plastic velcro retainers back into the car, and they will cover the holes.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,705
Likes: 983
From: Orlando FL
I had the same issue, this was my solution.
With the door panel off, I drilled out the rivets on all of the plastic velcro pieces. I then drilled small slits in the panel, and small holes in the door, so that modern panel retainers could be used. I placed the retainers in the center of where each of the velcro retainers were.
This worked very well, and if I ever want to go back to stock retainers, then I can simply rivet the original plastic velcro retainers back into the car, and they will cover the holes.
With the door panel off, I drilled out the rivets on all of the plastic velcro pieces. I then drilled small slits in the panel, and small holes in the door, so that modern panel retainers could be used. I placed the retainers in the center of where each of the velcro retainers were.
This worked very well, and if I ever want to go back to stock retainers, then I can simply rivet the original plastic velcro retainers back into the car, and they will cover the holes.
VERY interesting!
(I just may try this!)
