New door panel installation
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Redford Michigan
New door panel installation
Just got the new door panels in the mail for my dad's 74. They look great but we just cant get them to fit. Ive cut all the holes for the door handle and window crank, but they just will not sit tight against the door. No matter what we try, it just wont fit. The velcro looking pieces wont hold it flat to the door, there is a huge gap between the door and the panel. I cant imagine its suppose to look like that so we must be missing something. That coupled with the fact that we still cant get the column back together after starting an ignition cylinder swap has me ready to put it on the trailer and take it to a corvette shop.
Does anything on a vette make any kind of sense at all?! Argh!
Hope someone can help.. thanks
Does anything on a vette make any kind of sense at all?! Argh!
Hope someone can help.. thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 0
From: Warren MI
Originally Posted by noroofmustang
Just got the new door panels in the mail for my dad's 74. They look great but we just cant get them to fit. Ive cut all the holes for the door handle and window crank, but they just will not sit tight against the door. No matter what we try, it just wont fit. The velcro looking pieces wont hold it flat to the door, there is a huge gap between the door and the panel. I cant imagine its suppose to look like that so we must be missing something. That coupled with the fact that we still cant get the column back together after starting an ignition cylinder swap has me ready to put it on the trailer and take it to a corvette shop.
Does anything on a vette make any kind of sense at all?! Argh!
Hope someone can help.. thanks
Does anything on a vette make any kind of sense at all?! Argh!
Hope someone can help.. thanks
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 635
Likes: 118
From: Lakemont, GA
There are special mounting clips that fit into the lower front and rear of the panels. You can buy them from ecklers, mid america etc.. Or they still may be present in the old door panels.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by silver74vette
There are special mounting clips that fit into the lower front and rear of the panels. You can buy them from ecklers, mid america etc.. Or they still may be present in the old door panels.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 844
Likes: 0
From: Central KY
Originally Posted by silver74vette
There are special mounting clips that fit into the lower front and rear of the panels. You can buy them from ecklers, mid america etc.. Or they still may be present in the old door panels.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Chardon Ohio
Originally Posted by robertmc48
Who did you buy them from ? I've been thinking of getting some too but I have read so many bad posts about installing them I am begining to wonder if my old, original ones, aren't so bad. At least they fit.
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Redford Michigan
Originally Posted by fontking1a
Did you lower the panels on from the top and then press down so they "clip" over the retaining trim that runs along the top inside door?
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: Mesa az
I'm in the process of painting my '69 and I removed all the velcro clips since they were trashed. The new ones aren't any good and don't hold nearly as well as the originals, in fact some were so bad they didn't hold "period", so I through them away. I'll wait for my new door panels and see how they fit, but I'm thinking I'll go to a Corvette junk yard and buy some old velcro pads and pop rivet them to the door. I hope the new panels are better than all of you have experienced, but I've order enough of the new interior stuff not to have my hopes up. Most of the interior "restore" part are really bad as far as fit and appearance is concerned.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 32
From: Damascus MD
This seems to be a common problem. I was talking with a local corvette shop and they suggested that you place them in the sun to get them good and warm. Then very carefully bend the sides down so that they are tight on the sides and you have to push in the middle where the pull will grab and pull it in. That combined with the original clips should do it.
If not, do what I did and find some NOS pieces. Mine are black so that helped a lot in finding NOS but they cost a pretty penny and fit perfect.
Bill
If not, do what I did and find some NOS pieces. Mine are black so that helped a lot in finding NOS but they cost a pretty penny and fit perfect.
Bill
