VancouverL71

I have just stumbled upon a brand new unused C3 drivers door just a few blocks from my home so bought it for $75. My car needs a new inner door because the metal was creased (probably due to a stuck lock mechanism or something) so someone tried to bully their way into the doors internals. My car is an early build 1969. This door looks identical but has the metal protection bar in it. I recall someone saying it will still work.
Can someone confirm that my early 1969 roadster internals and window can be moved over to this door without any problems.
It looks like the metal bar is pretty beefy and takes up much of the inside door space.
Thanks, Pete

69Vett

my bet is that is a 70 door, 69 did not have the reinforcement.
but I have used reinforced door with 69, regulators, and rails.
you can also interchange the early late window channel/glass.

Alan 71

Hi,
There was a thread about the appearance of the door 'beam' a couple of weeks ago.
Tooch1 confirmed that the beam first appeared on cars for the 73 model year.
Regards,
Alan

VancouverL71

Thank 69Vett,
I was hoping someone had done the change over without issue. The guy once worked at a GM dealership and said it was listed as a 69 - 77 corvette door so I guess a little more protection on the drivers side will not hurt.

As always, thanks Alan!

Pete

Alan 71

Hi Pete,
Here's my 71 door.
Am I seeing a difference in the area of the fastener (screw) for the top of the interior door 'pull'?
Regards,
Alan

VancouverL71

Hi Alan, it must be more like a 1977 or something, I will have to do some more homework.
The part tag says 14019979 which shows 1969 to 1977 corvette door but perhaps the tag is incorrect. I will try to find a part number on the actual door itself.
If worst comes to worst I will cut my present door pull handle support and weld it in place on the new door. It is mainly the side metal where the side striker latches that is creased on my old door so hopefully I can make this new door work since it is in such nice shape. I will have to check carefully that the rest it the same.

Though I am not a great welder, I can weld.
Thanks Alan for your keen eye. My interior panel is on the door at the moment so I will have to remove it to compare properly.

Pete

Alan 71

Hi Pete,
It could well be that the new door will work…. perhaps you won't know for sure until you try.
I don't think though that the beam itself will be a problem…it might be some other small detail.
In my mind I've always 'lumped' 69-77 doors together too.
Regards,
Alan

VancouverL71

Thanks Alan,
I will use whatever part of the old door that I need and cut and weld it too the new. I was quite surprised to find how difficult it was to locate a clean rust free 1969 door.
Do you have any idea where the part number is located on a door. I see nothing!
Pete

Alan 71

Hi Pete,
I'm unaware if there's a part number on the doors or not.
I've not had occasion to look/search for one so there could be.
Perhaps someone else knows?
Often when a part became a 'service replacement' part the part could be physically 'different' than a 'preceding' original or service part but the variation didn't prevent the new part from being a satisfactory replacement.
An example would be a spare tire tub….. for years the tubs have been available from dealer parts departments…. but the tub you get isn't made from the the dark fiberglass that the tubs were made from during 68-72.
This difference doesn't stop it from being a viable replacement to most people.
Regards,
Alan