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So my wife decided to put a heavy steel toolbox in the back of the vette and cracked the rear compartment frames and master frame. I am looking at buying a set of charcoal rear compartment unit door frames and master frame. Anything I should know about performing the swap? I plan to reuse the current lock and release button on the current compartment along with reusing the carpet. Any tips or hints appreciated!
So my wife decided to put a heavy steel toolbox in the back of the vette and cracked the rear compartment frames and master frame. I am looking at buying a set of charcoal rear compartment unit door frames and master frame. Anything I should know about performing the swap? I plan to reuse the current lock and release button on the current compartment along with reusing the carpet. Any tips or hints appreciated!
Only thing that caught me out as extra work was when I undid my 77 master frame (unscrewed the screws and drilled out the rivets ) was that it allowed me to take the steel reinforcement plate that runs along under the car off ! Its a piece of sheet metal bent like an L shape to reinforce the hinge mounting points in the fibreglass .I took mine off and sandblasted and repainted it !
I just presume the 82 year still has it .
So if you don't want to mess with that , I think there's a couple of rivets that seem to be doing nothing ,so just leave them alone!
so after looking at the doors in the vette, it looks like trying to remove the original carper section of the doors will be a nightmare? Has anyone done it? It's $80 to just buy new frames or $180 to buy the whole setup with new carpet inserts. I think the extra money may be worth it, and maybe down the road I will replace the rest of the interior carpet to match the newer stuff on the compartment doors.
so after looking at the doors in the vette, it looks like trying to remove the original carper section of the doors will be a nightmare? Has anyone done it? It's $80 to just buy new frames or $180 to buy the whole setup with new carpet inserts. I think the extra money may be worth it, and maybe down the road I will replace the rest of the interior carpet to match the newer stuff on the compartment doors.
I replaced the door frames on my 1980. The most difficult part of the job was removing the old frames. I painted the new frames with SIM brand spray paint to match the old paint. I secured the new frames with small screws.
If your carpet is in good shape, the advantage of just replacing the door frames is that you keep the matching carpet.
I also replaced the outer frame which was easier than removing the old frames from the doors. I painted the new one and secured it with screws.
So I bought the Corvette America rear compartment assembly with the charcoal colored carpet. Overall very happy with the replacement. Pictures below. My only complaint is the kit was 3 screws shy of being able to replace all the original screws.
Original frames removed from car
Replacement rear compartments with included replacement Charcoal carpet inserts. Not too much different from the original carpet inserts.
Open view of replacement compartments, note how the undersides of the carpet inserts differ from original.
Last edited by pleasants9; Jan 31, 2018 at 07:27 PM.
Replacing Rear Compartment
