Convertible door interchangeability
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 320
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Convertible door interchangeability
OK, for those who may have already run across this ... finally got my car to my bodyman this past weekend to get started on a repaint, replace the bumpers and replace my driver's door and bought what I thought would fit as a replacement door from a fellow member (really just needed the metal frame, new skin will be added). My car is a "late" '74 'vert and the replacement doors VIN was from an earlier '74 'vert but the "new" door doesn't appear to have the same notch for the locking pin as my current door has? I know that coupe & 'vert doors are NOT interchangeable but shouldn't all 'vert doors (except the '68 which has a push button handle) be interchangeable? My bodyman is going to take a few photos to show me the difference but thought I would pose the question here as well ... will update the thread with photo links when I get them. Before I start to search again for a door I guess I need to check more closely ... 
By the way, he figures my car has been repainted about 7 times! (from original orange to metalflake gold, back to orange twice and then two shades of red ... one on top of the other ... he says if anything my mileage should go up just by removing all of this old paint!!!)
By the way, he figures my car has been repainted about 7 times! (from original orange to metalflake gold, back to orange twice and then two shades of red ... one on top of the other ... he says if anything my mileage should go up just by removing all of this old paint!!!)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
As far as I know all 70-75 Vert doors are dimensionally identical. Only difference is the impact bar on the inside of the later ones. 68 has the pushbutton. 69 does not use the wedge at the back. Paragon sells the weld-in indention to make a coupe door a vert door. It does not say there are year differences. I'd ask him to look again.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 320
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mod possible?
That's what I had thought as well ... probably should have looked more closely at the replacement door but as I checked the VIN tag and it was definitely from a '74 'vert I wasn't very concerned. If there is an easy mod that I can instruct the shop to do I'll do it.
By the way, Paragon's site lists a separate part # for the '74's door if that makes any difference. I had checked last year and they didn't have any used ones in stock.
By the way, Paragon's site lists a separate part # for the '74's door if that makes any difference. I had checked last year and they didn't have any used ones in stock.
Last edited by J R C; Jun 1, 2005 at 01:54 PM. Reason: additional info
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Hard to say. I'd make him show me the difference. Did the 74 you got the doors from have the alignment wedge? Maybe it was a coupe that was convertible-ized? As far as I know all 70-75 Vert doors interchange. 73-75 have the side impact bars inside.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 320
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Photo side-by-side
Well, my bodyman was right ... these doors are definitely different. See link below. The one I need requires this recess at the top (my door is on the left in red, the blue one on the right was the parts door I bought) does this mean I actually ended up buying a coupe door or a 'vert from '69? I've emailed the seller who says he has a few more doors but now the search will be on for a correct one as the "new" one would require too much rework. Keeping my current door is really not an option because it appears to have had a lot of rework already. I didn't have him check it but the "new" door is a lot lighter so I'm assuming it might be an earlier door w/o the impact bar as well. Look like I'll be posting for a new door in the parts wanted section. 
http://home.comcast.net/~jrcongdon2/DSCN2569.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~jrcongdon2/DSCN2569.JPG
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 320
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VIN not totally readable
As you may or may not be able to tell from the photo the VIN on the "new" door was smudged just enough so I couldn't tell a "6" ('vert) from a "3" (coupe) enough. It came off an early '74 that was a 'vert according to the seller but of course now appears to be from a coupe ... could have been converted as the car was in "parts" condition but the funny thing was is that I also bought an interior piece from the same car that's unique to 'verts! Already have an email out to the seller and have posted in the WTB section in case someone has a correct door frame for sale (or would like to trade a coupe door, etc.). Hopefully I can get one quick as the car will be worked on next week.
checked you're earlier mention on Paragon ... my bodyman does a fair amount of welding/fabrication as well, I'm going to run this option by him as we may not have much luck getting a "true" 'vert door in time for the work to continue
checked you're earlier mention on Paragon ... my bodyman does a fair amount of welding/fabrication as well, I'm going to run this option by him as we may not have much luck getting a "true" 'vert door in time for the work to continue
Last edited by J R C; Jun 3, 2005 at 03:07 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
It is hard to find good convertible doors that are not rotten or rusted out where the upper outer trim attaches. If that door is solid, you can buy the adapter piece from Paragon and weld it in. Can't find my catalog right now, but I'm sure they should still have it. If that door was on a vert, it was a coupe that was converted. Not uncommon in the day I'm told. Or the vert got hit on that side and they just used a coupe door without the alignment wedge.
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