Door Panel clips...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
They're embedded in the exotic material that is more like cardboard, than wood. I fixed mine by positioning them carefully and filling the area with two-part epoxy. I made sure that the epoxy spread out to the undamaged.areas for support. Messy fix, but it worked and it's held up (so far...)
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
Ohhhhhhhhh.....so I carefully position it, epoxy it to the door panel, then it gets screwed into the door......
(My new panels don't have the clips on them....but I have clips)
Yes?
(My new panels don't have the clips on them....but I have clips)
Yes?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,160
Likes: 4,236
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi MrJ,
I believe the 'clips' are part of the interior door panels and fasten to the door frame with screws.
If yours have broken loose from the trim panel I think you'' need to do a repair with epoxy or something like it.
Regards,
Alan
I believe the 'clips' are part of the interior door panels and fasten to the door frame with screws.
If yours have broken loose from the trim panel I think you'' need to do a repair with epoxy or something like it.
Regards,
Alan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
Alan, your door panel innards are beautiful! Mine were totally rotted out with the damage extending out an inch or more beyond the fastener! It was a challenge to fix and alignment was, oh so key!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
Alan....that is exactly what I'm talking about...
Brand new $435 each from Al Knoch.....no clips at all.
Not to mention I had to Dremel out. Tons of extra material around the handle hole....
Not impressed....
But thank you....I will carefully epixy the clips where needed....
Brand new $435 each from Al Knoch.....no clips at all.
Not to mention I had to Dremel out. Tons of extra material around the handle hole....
Not impressed....
But thank you....I will carefully epixy the clips where needed....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 273
From: Dunedin NZ.
If you have new panels aren't the clips supposed to slide into slots and then you can put a screw through from the outside into the clip to hold it in place? At least that is what I did on my new panels (which have a bit more substance to them compared to the original backing), the original clips were missing from my doors and others had been roughly fabricated so I made new ones from aluminium so I didn't have to worry about corrosion. On reflection epoxy will work well but wouldn't have been my first choice.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
Lessee, $870, plus shipping the pair, probably closer to $1K the pair. You'd think that the whole core could just as easily be made of composite material and even laid up with structure. That'd be one stiff, exact shaped door! Heck, I bet you can glass one even.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 83
From: Titusville Florida
Alan....that is exactly what I'm talking about...
Brand new $435 each from Al Knoch.....no clips at all.
Not to mention I had to Dremel out. Tons of extra material around the handle hole....
Not impressed....
But thank you....I will carefully epixy the clips where needed....
Brand new $435 each from Al Knoch.....no clips at all.
Not to mention I had to Dremel out. Tons of extra material around the handle hole....
Not impressed....
But thank you....I will carefully epixy the clips where needed....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,033
Likes: 503
From: myrtle beach sc
Army
I think that Al Knoch has both the original cardboard door panels and also the plastic one's. Which pair did you get? If you have to glue the clips in, you will not be able to maneuver them around to correctly orient them to the holes. Doesn't anyone sell the door panel clips? Lou.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
Yes they sell clips...but that's not the point.
Read the part about me having to dremel out the extra material in the door handle holes too ?
About 3/16" of extra material past the chrome bezel....
Not pleased
Read the part about me having to dremel out the extra material in the door handle holes too ?
About 3/16" of extra material past the chrome bezel....
Not pleased
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 83
From: Titusville Florida
Do you have a picture of where/what you had to dremel, I'm trying to picture it in my head and not having any luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,413
Likes: 1,552
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
You guys got me worried! I just got new panels too and I had to see if I had slots and yes I do. The rectangular slot.
Here's the other slot
Question:
The old carpet covered the bottom completely the new one is different, yours like that?
About the inside wood trim, any way to get a deep shine on those?
Clips sold separately! Give me a break! Tack on $20.00 more and keep us buyers happy.
You 100% correct, at near $1,000.00 20 more won't stop the sale.
Here's the other slot
Question:
The old carpet covered the bottom completely the new one is different, yours like that?
About the inside wood trim, any way to get a deep shine on those?
Clips sold separately! Give me a break! Tack on $20.00 more and keep us buyers happy.
You 100% correct, at near $1,000.00 20 more won't stop the sale.
Last edited by Peterbuilt; Apr 13, 2013 at 10:21 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
I'm thinking that they make YOU cut the hole so that you have no recourse when it comes out in the wrong place. I don't think there are any differences in that hole position between model years. But, maybe they used to put the hole in and folks had problems with the hole position.
Easy to change....just make it the customer's responsibility to put the hole in....
Easy to change....just make it the customer's responsibility to put the hole in....
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
On the 'wood trim' question:
Yes I know how to get a really thick, glossy finish on those [or any other veneer] panels. If they are already stained, just lightly buff them with #0000 steel wool, working in the lengthwise direction; just enough to smooth the panel down. Then, blow off the debris and use a 'tack rag' to remove any that is left over. Now, give them a coat or two of polyurethane finish. You can brush or spray, but make sure that you use fine sandpaper (400-600) to smooth each coat after it dries, then the #0000 steel wool, then tack rag following each coat.
The final step is to put a final coat of spar varnish on top of the polyurethane. If you brush it, use a good brush and go very slowly so that you don't put any air bubbles in the varnish as it is applied. After drying, use the #0000 steel wool to buff it, then some paste wax to bring out a high luster.
Sounds like a lot of work, but if you really want that deep, glossy wood look (can you say Bentley?), you gotta do what you gotta do....
Yes I know how to get a really thick, glossy finish on those [or any other veneer] panels. If they are already stained, just lightly buff them with #0000 steel wool, working in the lengthwise direction; just enough to smooth the panel down. Then, blow off the debris and use a 'tack rag' to remove any that is left over. Now, give them a coat or two of polyurethane finish. You can brush or spray, but make sure that you use fine sandpaper (400-600) to smooth each coat after it dries, then the #0000 steel wool, then tack rag following each coat.
The final step is to put a final coat of spar varnish on top of the polyurethane. If you brush it, use a good brush and go very slowly so that you don't put any air bubbles in the varnish as it is applied. After drying, use the #0000 steel wool to buff it, then some paste wax to bring out a high luster.
Sounds like a lot of work, but if you really want that deep, glossy wood look (can you say Bentley?), you gotta do what you gotta do....
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
I know I ranted...I will say they are beautiful....
But I just think when you pay a premium, they should be complete.
I will epoxy the clips as there are no slots on mine....and after I dremeled the holes, they are fine now.....
We ALL go thru this with aftermarket parts...but it sucks!
I am at 99% ready for my interior reveal....very excited!
My 39 year old interior was horrible....now I love love love it.....
Here's a peek...
But I just think when you pay a premium, they should be complete.
I will epoxy the clips as there are no slots on mine....and after I dremeled the holes, they are fine now.....
We ALL go thru this with aftermarket parts...but it sucks!
I am at 99% ready for my interior reveal....very excited!
My 39 year old interior was horrible....now I love love love it.....
Here's a peek...