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Recently acquired a '71. Are the door panels interchangeable through the C3 years? I am going to remove mine to clean up the locks from years of gunk and old grease. The Assembly Instruction Manual shows screws that hold the panel to the door frame, (At the top of the panel in the right and left corners as you face it.) Mine do not have these screws so maybe they are not 1971 panels? Also the panels themselves are a plastic core. Not a fiber type or pressed board. Is that typical Corvette? Sorry for all the questions. As you can see,I am new to Corvettes.
Ed
I think a few years will interchange, but I`m not sure how far forward & back from 71 you can go before seeing some differences. Plastic core is a re-pop panel. They did not come with the holes in the front skin.... you have to make the hole when you install it. If yours are missing the 2 screws, then the previous owner ( or whoever installed your panels) did not punch the holes and put the screws in.
Last weekend, my youngest son & I wrestled all day to get one of our new re-pop panels on our 71......
OLDGTO I hear ya. I just put new aftermarket door panels in my 72 and you definitely have to fight them. The shape to the doors are off and I got them on but the little Velcro like plastic fasteners will not hold together because there is too much tension because of the mis-shaped door panels. The only thing holding mine on are those two screws at the top and the two metal L shaped metal straps.
Same issues here. Just replaced my '73's original panels with Corvette America's panels . The Velcro type fasteners are usless and I did not install the upper screws as the panels fit tight against the door. I aim to keep a check on them and see if they stay tight. I think the 70 to 76 panels are the same fit.
Hi Ed,
The original door panels for your 71 did have the pressed board backing as you describe.
They also had the screw with special washer shown in the AIM in each upper corner.
As posters have noted the reproduction panels (with the black ABS backing) are difficult to fit well.
Regards,
Alan
Last weekend, my youngest son & I wrestled all day to get one of our new re-pop panels on our 71......
I should add..... once it was on, the door would not lock or unlock from the outside with the key, only from the inside ****! So we had to take the panel back off. Checked the AIM to see what was wrong, and we found that one of the lock rods was installed backwards on one end.... causing the panel to put pressure on it and binding it. Turned the rod around, put it all back together again, and all works fine now. So be sure everything is like it should be before you put the panel on!
Damn I have the same issue on the drivers side. I though the plastic was warped so I'll have to look into that.
For us, it was the lower rod, where it hooks to the **** mechanism. It`s supposed to go from the inside, pointing out (toward the door panel). We had it pointing inward. Once it got turned around, it worked fine. Hope this helps you!
Many thanks guys for the info on the door panels! Didn't think they looked right as installed.
Ed
You may also try the ABS panels in the sun or better yet a haet gun on low makes the panels a touch more flexible to install and attach tighter to the plastic Velcro pieces. Worked on my 76 before I sold it.
r
Interior door panels
