Rusty door shells...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 242
Likes: 4
From: deland fl
Rusty door shells...
Hi Guys-
I'm in the process of restoring another '75 convertible and have found that the bottom of the doors are badly rusted with holes through. I've restored a few vettes and never encountered this before. Next time I'll check these areas before purchase. To my point....I spent many hours online yesterday looking for replacement doors with no success.
Do any of you have any experience repairing this area and are there any manufacturers of patch panels out there ? I'm planning on selling this car when completed so I don't want to just "bondo/bubba" it.
Thanks !
Larry
I'm in the process of restoring another '75 convertible and have found that the bottom of the doors are badly rusted with holes through. I've restored a few vettes and never encountered this before. Next time I'll check these areas before purchase. To my point....I spent many hours online yesterday looking for replacement doors with no success.
Do any of you have any experience repairing this area and are there any manufacturers of patch panels out there ? I'm planning on selling this car when completed so I don't want to just "bondo/bubba" it.
Thanks !
Larry
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
There isn't anyone making the inner steel panels, but if it's just the lower section you should be able to use a donor coupe door and remove what you need. The upper area would be different from the striker, but the lower is the same.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 242
Likes: 4
From: deland fl
this is probably the best way to the well.
Thanks again..
Larry
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,705
Likes: 983
From: Orlando FL
I got a little impatient today and went ahead with heating, beating, welding, grinding, filling, and sanding. Took all day to do one corner of the three that are rusted but it looks pretty good. Guess I'll tackle the others too. Seeing as how my budget on this job allows more time than money ( I'm retired so my time is free)
this is probably the best way to the well.
Thanks again..
Larry
this is probably the best way to the well.
Thanks again..
Larry
Last edited by oldgto; Jun 21, 2014 at 06:57 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
The shop I work with purchased a pair of used doors to replace a couple of rusted out door shells. When the doors came in the shells looked good on the bottom, but at the top where they are bonded to the door skin they were rusted through and there is no way to get to them to repair them without removing the door skin. Rust was not evident in the pictures and the seller refused to take them back. 
If you do purchase a used door be sure to look over the the top of the door (around the window opening) as well as the sides and bottom where rust is more common.
Good luck... GUSTO
If you do purchase a used door be sure to look over the the top of the door (around the window opening) as well as the sides and bottom where rust is more common.
Good luck... GUSTO
