C3 Door panels not seating right
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 206
Likes: 44
From: San Antonio, TX
C3 Door panels not seating right
I'm not sure that I ever really noticed it before I replaced the felt on the door panels. The old felt was brittle and basically non-existent. A month or so ago I pulled the panels and installed new ones. After a day of not looking at them I realized that the interior door panel sits a lot higher than the exterior. I'm not sure of the correct fitment but would imagine that the panel is supposed to sit flush with or below the exterior trim. I realized that the rivets I used to attach the new felt was riding exactly where the lip of the door is so I figured that the rivets were maybe keeping it up. I pulled panels and moved the rivet locations to sit in the valleys of the lip. It seems to fit better but I still feel as though its sitting too high. I cant see anything that would be keeping it from sitting fully.
When I pull the panel outward from the bottom of the door, I do not see anything that is catching it or keeping it from sitting further down.
From what I can tell, these panels are original. Any ideas of things to check? Can anyone confirm how the interior panel is supposed to sit flush/raised/lower compared to the exterior?
When I pull the panel outward from the bottom of the door, I do not see anything that is catching it or keeping it from sitting further down.
From what I can tell, these panels are original. Any ideas of things to check? Can anyone confirm how the interior panel is supposed to sit flush/raised/lower compared to the exterior?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
I could put of pictures of my door panels for you.
But you have a 82. So yours are different from mine.
None the less. Your door panels along the top edge should be roughly flush with the exterior trim.
I can't imagine how anything else would line up if they were sitting high..
As in door pulls and latches, levers, etc. Not to mention mounting screw holes.
Perhaps you could post some pictures of your problem so others can see the issue.
But you have a 82. So yours are different from mine.
None the less. Your door panels along the top edge should be roughly flush with the exterior trim.
I can't imagine how anything else would line up if they were sitting high..
As in door pulls and latches, levers, etc. Not to mention mounting screw holes.
Perhaps you could post some pictures of your problem so others can see the issue.
