I decided to order a door panel in the midst of replacing my rear suspension. I figured while the car is out of commission I would have time to snap it in. When I pulled the old panel off I found that Bubba had been there, and I think he had his drunken neighbor help him.

It looks like Bubba didn't like the GM engineers' location of choice for the panel attachment screws so he drilled a bunch of extra holes and put in some wood screws. Of course, after the screw heads got lost in the meat of the panel he added a washer. What happens when the washer digs in?...add a bigger $@# washer. What happens when that doesn't work?...add a few more screws...in fact...add 11 more screws. What a mess! Then of course there's the duct tape. You get the idea.

I'm having trouble figuring out what this thing is SUPPOSE to look like. The assembly manual shows a couple of screws at the top of the panel. There are 2 more attaching the door pull. Are these the only ones? Does this panel snap into place somehow?

OH, and what are these things?



Do they attach the door somehow.

Also, I notice remnants of weatherstipping around the inside rim. But there also seems to be some goey stuff behind the door panel on the face of the metal "liner". It looks like weatherstipping in the picture but it seems more like an adhesive (for the panel?). See below



I thought this was gonna' be easy!!! :cry :cry :cry


[Modified by vett70, 10:24 PM 12/3/2002]

 

vette70

There are two screws at the top (front and back) of the door panel. There are also two screws on the sides (f and b), these screw to the door with an L shape piece of metal that is attached to the door panel.

The riveted velcro on the door attaches to the same type of piece on the door panel. These are the same as the ones that hold the t-top liners in.

The adhesive you are talking about held the plastic moisture barrier to the door. It's just light plastic sheet.

Hope this helps
Terry

 

See this site for a picture of the clips, they are the 2 "L" shaped black things.
http://www.parts123.com/PartFrame.as...rvette_Central


Darn it, the site won't work, just go there and search for"door panel clips" and they should be at the bottom of 1st page.
hope it helps


[Modified by 72GACRZR, 6:30 PM 12/3/2002]

 

What fun. Nothing is easy, is it? :crazy:

 

vette70
I'm not sure about the rest of the stuff, but the goey stuff you mentioned is to hold the plastic moisture sheet in place. Its on the inside panel of my 81. Its just a thin sheet of plastic. :seeya

 

Is this vapor barrier something I should replace? Where can I get that (GM dealer?). What about those little velcro fasteners? Where can you get them? I don't seem them offered on any of the online catalog companies.
Thanks!

 

The sheet plastic, you can buy at any store and glue on. Yes you should use it. It protects the door panel from mosture.

The fasteners are available at the Drs. Listed as K door panel fasteners 5 per door @ 1.75 per.

http://www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/DR-PAN4.PDF

Hope this helps
Terry

 

my advice is, before you install the new panel, get some dynamat for the door, (OR GET THIS STUFF THEY SELL AT LOWES THATS JUST LIKE DYNAMAT,,,,,,,,,SELL IT IN 6"*25' ROLLS, IN THE SAME SECTION AS THE KOOLSEAL) $12.00 :yesnod:

 

Those little velcro like clips are essential to holding the door panel. You should have corresponding grippers on the door and also on your new door panel. With the panel in place, you "pop" these velcro gizmo's together. These fasteners are in addition to the 2 chrome screws on the top, and the 2 screws which go through the metal brackets on the front and rear edges. Chuck

 

trw (or anyone)

re: "There are two screws at the top (front and back) of the door panel. "

Where are these two screws located exactly? I recently put a couple of new (but in the boxes for the last 15 years!) panels on and the top is giving me trouble - screws would probably solve the problem. There were no panels on the doors when I got the car, so I have no reference. A picture would be VERY helpful.

Thanks,
Paul

[Modified by pws69, 10:35 AM 12/4/2002]


[Modified by pws69, 10:36 AM 12/4/2002]

 

The top edge of the door panel hooks around the steel door lining. one screw is on the top rear corner and the other one is in the top forwaqrd corner. There are no holes provided for these in the panels themselves so you must look at the door itself and find the proper location for the holes. As I remember, I just drilled and tapped my own holes.
Also the moisture barrier is held in place w/butyl tape.

 

Would someone mind taking a picture of the two screws in place for me. You can either post here or send to me @ pws@speakeasy.org.

Thanks!
Paul

 

Here's a pic, Paul.

 

Chuck, are those the panels I sent you or the ones you are taking off?

Bill and all, The plastic liner that originally went into the car were formed to the shape of the door panel. I have not been able to find anyone who makes a factory replacement for them, as if it matters. About 15 years ago you could still buy them from GM. I do not know if you even need a liner if your door panels are replacement ones with an ABS plastic backing but if they are the original pressboard types, install new liners.

The new replacement plastic Velcro clips all seam to have prongs where the rivets go. Can ones with holes still be found? …or must one cut off the prongs and drill out for the rivets? From the photos it looks like Buba put some glue on the clips. These must be clean to work.

Good luck.

George

 

Hi George. Haven't gotten around to installing "your" panels yet. :) The pic is of the panels on my car now. The picture hides a bunch of flaws. BOTH of the ones I got from you are overall "better" than the ones on the car now. Chuck