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Hello all, my door panels do not fit worth a darn... I pulled them off and it looks like they use some sort of a velcro type connector around the edges accompanied by a few screws. The top fits "ok" but they bottom is flared out 2 inches. The panel is definitely bowed. The two metal clips , one on each side, are detached from the door panel. Is this how the stock door panels were supposed to be attached to the door skin? Any advise on how to repair them would be helpful. I have my own ideas but thought I'd check before I got in there. Thanks, Paul
All, Thanks for the reply's.... ok I will get working on a solution... I had in mine just adding more of the same clips to the bottom of the door panel that are used on the sides, you can see them and they have to be better than the velco... those things don't stick to one another after a while..
Maybe you should remove them, dampen the area that has the most warp, let that material soften a bit, then assemble them back to the door. As the door dries, it should take a 'set' being straighter. The other option would be to wet & soften the fiber substrate, then lay it horizontal with support under the low areas and put some weight on the higher spots on top, allowing the warp to be removed as it 'sags'. Remove the weight when it has just passed horizontal and allow to dry completely before installing.
Thanks! The panels I have are repos with a plastic backing vs cardboard substrate. I ended up doing essentially what you are getting at using a heat gun on the back and applied weight to them as shown in the pic as you also suggested. They cam out pretty darn good after about 30 minutes. I have some other work to do before I put them back on, but I'm sure they will fit much better now.
Thanks again,
Paul 5 gallon buckets filled with water did a nice job holding these heated up panels in place to unbend them.
My 1968 has the original door panels but with a little heat anything works better. I have been debating using the later clips to hold the bottom on since I will never have my Corvette in any NCRS event. The newer parts are the white clips that pop into the door and then you use a screw to attach the panel to the door. I have a 1988 C4 and they use the clips everywhere.
I love the 1968 Model Year C3 Corvettes. I have had mine for 29 years and still love the feeling of driving it on the open roads.
I try to be as close to stock as I can be, but when faced with something that just is not working I'll employ a better solution. Like many on this forum I have worked on 60s and 70s cars for a long time... you see some great engineering from the factory and sometimes things could have been better. Agree getting your vette on the open road is fantastic. I also have a 4sp Grand Prix I restored... so so so much fun to cruise a car you know every nut and bolt is solid.
Enjoy the weekend everyone, thanks again for the feedback on this one!
Thanks for this info, I will be adapting '68 door panels I recently ordered for my '74. My car is far from stock, so I am building it the way I want it. Any more pictures?
Richard,
See attached pics. In some cases I had to create the new tab vs incorporating the oem tab into the new brace.
Good luck on your 74! I'll be interested to see how it goes putting 68 panels on a 74 :-)
Happy New Year 2021
Paul
1968 door panels
