Door panel installation question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 22
From: Marina CA
Door panel installation question
Finally the interior is going in but the door panels were a real bear to install. The original door panels were a fiber board type of material and seemed to have more flexibility than the ABS plastic replacement ones.
I bought AL Knoch deluxe panels for my 68 but they took a lot of massaging to get a good fit. Would it have been beneficial to put them out in the sun on a warm day for more flexibility? Or heat them with a rose bud tip on the torch!
All of my past experience with door panels has been take them out of the package, cut any needed holes, install any hardware and on they go.
Any tips or hints from other forum members on their experience would be appreciated.
I bought AL Knoch deluxe panels for my 68 but they took a lot of massaging to get a good fit. Would it have been beneficial to put them out in the sun on a warm day for more flexibility? Or heat them with a rose bud tip on the torch!
All of my past experience with door panels has been take them out of the package, cut any needed holes, install any hardware and on they go.
Any tips or hints from other forum members on their experience would be appreciated.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
Be careful. Too much heat on the vinyl skin will cause it to shrink (and make your problem worse). Keep the panel under 150F and that should soften the material enough to get it to fit. Also look for any interference of the door panel with the door structure.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,812
Likes: 469
From: Wichita Kansas
Even my original ('72) is/was a sonafagun to put back on, when I'd hook the top lip over that metal part of the door (only did right side), it would never stay while I swung the panel down, after about a million attempts I said screw it, put that hardware and screws on it and went on down the road. The panels need replaced but the first set was worse to install then the ones I have. One of these days............. Just wish I could be sure of a good fit before I buy replacements.....
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