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Now the big problem is the bottom of the door panel isn't even close (1 1/2" gap) to meeting the bottom of the door. The boards and clamps got it within 3/4, but that's as far as it would go.
These are the original panels with a new outer skin.
Oh well, just another challenge to add to a long list.
I cannot think of one piece of interior that fit like it should either old or new.
i just went through the door fitment thing and if you want a perfect fit i fear these are not the cars for you.you will find yourself thinking and hoping the panel will relax and blend in over time.it seems to some extent that it does.good luck!
Well at this stage I'm sure not looking for anything to fit perfect, just get close enough to get a screw in the little clips. Also the Velcro pads are a real joke.
The contour of the door panel is no where close to the contour of the door.
I am thinking I will take a cut off wheel and do major surgery to the inside if the panel. I am just tired of ill fitting pieces.
Also to top it off I pulled out my new repop door lock ***** and the **** remover tool will not work. The groove it fits in is not cut deep enough for the clip remover.
the key for me on this job was to walk away twice.at one point i was ready to fling the panel over the fence.a recurring voice in my head kept saying,$450,$450.
The **** will only fit on the car one way and sometimes this is part of the problem.
However, in the shop we install the ***** this way. We place the plastic spacer on and then the ****. I then hold the **** in place with a hard rubber mallet and whack this mallet with a large hammer. This prevents you from damaging the **** and will get it on the car with little effort.
Willcox, what about the bottom of the panel not pulling up to the door? There is no way the two clips will hold that much stress without pulling away from the panel.
I am working with original panels that when removed were kept inside my a/c house. Thanks
To pull in the bottom of my door panels I used trim screws with "decorator" or specialty furniture washers colored to match the interior panel color.
My interior is black so you don't notice the screws.
mine is similar to yours in fitment but is not as noticeable because my panels are black and the gap blends in with the shadow.i put reinforcing metal plates to reinforce the lower metal clips and allow it more power to pull in.my velcro is useless as well.
After working all morning trying to get the original door panels to fit as they came from factory, I had to declare "calf rope", an old east Texas saying which means "I give up".
I went and got some long SS screws and here is the results.
Last edited by oledave60; Jul 23, 2013 at 08:28 PM.
Glad they finally went on for ya. Looking good. When trying to install my CA t top panels I had the same issues, they just didnt want to snap on the panel and stay put, moments later they would pop off. I had to slowly and carefully use a heat gun on the plastic along the center line on the back of them from side to side, then put that area over a peice of wood on the ground and actually bend the panel just a little to bring the plastic snaps closer to the ones on the t top.
I searched on here and did the conversion to modern plastic clips, removed all the while Velcro-ey thingies and one the inside lower corner, one on each door panel I installed a modern plastic press in clip, I epoxied it in place in the door panel, then drilled the correct size hole in the door, where one of the plastic white factory Velcro-ey thingies were...then for the rest of it I used black, industrial Velcro, came out nice, cant see a thing, must better than the metal clips which I replaced and still were keeping my door panel an inch off the bottom edge where it meets the door...