C3 Door Compatibility?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 737
Likes: 3
From: Pennington NJ
C3 Door Compatibility?
Hello,
My 1974 Corvette has completely rusted out and destroyed doors. I found a set of doors off of a 1978-82 car for a good price. Would these doors work on my car? I know the door panel is different. Could I use all of my 1974 hardware on them like the locks and power window parts, and use '74 door panels on it instead of the later style?
Thanks,
Will
My 1974 Corvette has completely rusted out and destroyed doors. I found a set of doors off of a 1978-82 car for a good price. Would these doors work on my car? I know the door panel is different. Could I use all of my 1974 hardware on them like the locks and power window parts, and use '74 door panels on it instead of the later style?
Thanks,
Will
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
I had 2 81's and the locks are different as far as in the 81's the **** isn't that cool twist thing but it pulls and pushes in the end of the arm rest/door pull,
If you are handy I would think the rest would swap over and you could do the locks to fit your year but I do not know if the door shape itself changed....
If you are handy I would think the rest would swap over and you could do the locks to fit your year but I do not know if the door shape itself changed....
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,524
Likes: 61
From: Medina Ohio
If you have complete 74 doors, you can swap the internals and linkages over to the newer doors. Mounting the handle assembly will require the use of nuts rather then the nuts welded on the door like the 74. You will also have to remove the brackets for the later door to fit your older panels. All in all it is not a big deal.
I had both sets of doors and managed to configure the newer doors for use with older door panels without swapping the internals. It required custom fabbing a bracket for the reverse pull/push handle mechanism and mounting the handle assembly.
I had both sets of doors and managed to configure the newer doors for use with older door panels without swapping the internals. It required custom fabbing a bracket for the reverse pull/push handle mechanism and mounting the handle assembly.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 737
Likes: 3
From: Pennington NJ
If you have complete 74 doors, you can swap the internals and linkages over to the newer doors. Mounting the handle assembly will require the use of nuts rather then the nuts welded on the door like the 74. You will also have to remove the brackets for the later door to fit your older panels. All in all it is not a big deal.
I had both sets of doors and managed to configure the newer doors for use with older door panels without swapping the internals. It required custom fabbing a bracket for the reverse pull/push handle mechanism and mounting the handle assembly.
I had both sets of doors and managed to configure the newer doors for use with older door panels without swapping the internals. It required custom fabbing a bracket for the reverse pull/push handle mechanism and mounting the handle assembly.
I had 2 81's and the locks are different as far as in the 81's the **** isn't that cool twist thing but it pulls and pushes in the end of the arm rest/door pull,
If you are handy I would think the rest would swap over and you could do the locks to fit your year but I do not know if the door shape itself changed....
If you are handy I would think the rest would swap over and you could do the locks to fit your year but I do not know if the door shape itself changed....
) I think these doors might be worth the purchase if it's that simple.
Will
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 737
Likes: 3
From: Pennington NJ
If anyone has any insight into the compatibility or rust, feel free to chime in!
Will
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,422
Likes: 792
From: Redondo Beach, California
In the early 1980's here in Los Angeles, I was at a local body shop and they had a C3 that someone had bought in Florida and brought to Los Angeles. The body shop owner showed me that the steel door pans on this C3 were practically completely disintegrated by rust from the humid, and probably, salty air environment you can find in Florida.
I'd think that salvage doors are pretty available...have you tried J&D Corvette in Bellflower, Ca. With a Ca salvage car, you're more likely to find less corrosion...I've bought a bunch of salvage parts..California and Arizona parts are more likely to be not corrosion damaged.
I'd think that salvage doors are pretty available...have you tried J&D Corvette in Bellflower, Ca. With a Ca salvage car, you're more likely to find less corrosion...I've bought a bunch of salvage parts..California and Arizona parts are more likely to be not corrosion damaged.