door panels
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
Special ordered a set from Corvette America for my '81. They fit terrible.
Vertical gap in the front of the door panel. Will not bend over the top of the door well.
I'll probably end up using a heat gun to TRY to correct them.
Corvette America and Al Knoch are all that I found who made them.
Craig
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
No. From Al Knoch: "Everything we manufacture is made in-house from scratch..."
http://www.alknochinteriors.com/
http://www.alknochinteriors.com/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
I had trouble with door panels from Al Knoch.
The top contour was off causing the panel to rest a bit high on the door. The top center of the panel rested above the top of the door causing the hole for the lock shaft to be above the shaft.
When I compared the originals to the Al Knoch panels I noted the steel insert at the top of the panel was a bit off, the dip in the contour was shallow. I had to bend the steel a bit to get the panel to sit on the door properly. This was for both doors, not caused by an accident. The originals fit okay.
To be fair to Al Knoch, these panels were bought long ago at Carlisle. I didn't try to install them until many years later. Also had problems with poor quality trim on one panel and wrong positioning of the seat release button on the new leather seat upholstery. I wrote it off as a period where they had quality issues. Many who have bought from them more recently don't seem to have these issues. Just reporting my experience FWIW.
The top contour was off causing the panel to rest a bit high on the door. The top center of the panel rested above the top of the door causing the hole for the lock shaft to be above the shaft.
When I compared the originals to the Al Knoch panels I noted the steel insert at the top of the panel was a bit off, the dip in the contour was shallow. I had to bend the steel a bit to get the panel to sit on the door properly. This was for both doors, not caused by an accident. The originals fit okay.
To be fair to Al Knoch, these panels were bought long ago at Carlisle. I didn't try to install them until many years later. Also had problems with poor quality trim on one panel and wrong positioning of the seat release button on the new leather seat upholstery. I wrote it off as a period where they had quality issues. Many who have bought from them more recently don't seem to have these issues. Just reporting my experience FWIW.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,455
Likes: 1,483
From: Little Rock AR
No. From Al Knoch: "Everything we manufacture is made in-house from scratch..."
http://www.alknochinteriors.com/
http://www.alknochinteriors.com/
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 224
From: Pawleys Island, SC
Got panels for my '77 from CA. Did not install them myself so I can't speak to how difficult they may have been to install. (Local hot rod shop installed them no charge as they were doing my carpet.) There were no complaints that I heard about fit and most important, they came out looking perfect. I chose not to order from Al Knoch because I had heard that their quality had declined as of late. Don't have first hand knowledge whether that's true or not.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
The foam core on the repro door panels can warp to a 'new position' if they are stored for long in a fixed position. Several who bought them suggest that they be placed backside-up in the sun to soften a bit before installing. But don't let them get too hot....
