pmr2000

Got my new door panels back on my 75 coupe. I reused the original trim, have the lock plate lined up decently centered and tight to the panel. However it seems they are still a hair thicker, having a hard time getting the ***** to clip back on. Have one original **** that I did not try, these are new repo ***** that fit fine on the old door panels.

Any tips or tricks, can I dremel out the lock plate or do I need to pull off the panels and thin out the ABS backing?

Thanks.

Eliredandblack

Before taking out the Dremel make sure there’s nothing keeping the door card (ABS) from fitting tight again the metal door. Are you using the clear plastic water vapor that is attached with rooked caulk to the door metal? My fired did his C3 and ended up braking out his heat gun to make the top part (at the wipes) fit correctly. Also the lock handles go on the ribbed post ONE WAY ONLY!

walleyfisher

The lock shaft has to be almost exactly on center of the hole on the door panel to provide enough clearance for the ****. I can't tell by your picture. I would try next removing all the screws you have holding the door panel attached to the door (but leave handle attached) and let the door panel "float" on the door and now try snapping the **** onto the shaft (on mine I had to use a plastic hammer)

If this doesn't work I would guess you will have to get the heat gun out and warm up the plastic backing to make it fit tighter to the door like the previous people have posted.

pmr2000

Thanks will float it and retry....should have done this first since its a pain to get this thing on.

I noticed my old **** does look like the cut differs from the repo on the left:

walleyfisher

also make sure you notice that the ***** are "keyed" can only go on one way

pmr2000

Got them on used a hair dryer to get the area hot they clicked on after that. Thanks for all the tips would give the panels a 8 out of 10 for fit not as good as originals.

augiedoggy

I Bought Al Knoche? (I hope I remembered that right) door panels last year for my 74 and had the same issue your reporting. I havent finished transferring all the hardware from my old panels to my new ones yet but I too was told using a heat gun will help. Good Luck!

I discovered that respraying the hardware with a satin spray paint and then wiping it off the raised chrome with a fine damp cloth with acetone works wonders in making things look new.

Eliredandblack

The restoration door cards, dash panels, headliners for hard tops are not the same as the OEM products. Even though my door cards have issues, they are cheap to keep compared to the restoration ones. I guess there is no way to reproduce door panels and all the other vinyl covered egg crate parts.

kansas123

You heat with hair dryer on the back side of the panels right? Thanks I was thinking of putting them under a electric blanket lol