Difference between Convertible and Coupe Door
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 491
Difference between Convertible and Coupe Door
Hi all,
What exactly is the difference between a convertible door and a coupe door, and are they interchangeable without modification? I have watched the following video for a 73 convertible, but it looks different than my door on my '69 convertible. One of my doors has some damage and my paint guy recommended it would be better to replace than try to repair (and likely cheaper).
Can someone please help here, as I am looking to replace my door, but all the doors I'm seeing are from coupes. Pics would be of great value too.
Thanks everyone!
What exactly is the difference between a convertible door and a coupe door, and are they interchangeable without modification? I have watched the following video for a 73 convertible, but it looks different than my door on my '69 convertible. One of my doors has some damage and my paint guy recommended it would be better to replace than try to repair (and likely cheaper).
Can someone please help here, as I am looking to replace my door, but all the doors I'm seeing are from coupes. Pics would be of great value too.
Thanks everyone!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 1,812
From: Apple Valley, MN
Sometimes better to deal with the devil you know than the devil you don’t.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,810
Likes: 469
From: Wichita Kansas
If the door opens and closes fine it may well be worth repairing. Sounds like the issue is the steel structure is bent. I’ve straightened a few over the years so you may want to consider that option as obtaining a replacement door will involve the cost of shipping, plus all of the associated work in removing and/or replacing the window/related hardware, remove/replace the weatherstripping, stripping the paint, repainting the jambs, repairing hidden damage, potential modifications if you get a later door, etc, etc, etc.
Sometimes better to deal with the devil you know than the devil you don’t.
Sometimes better to deal with the devil you know than the devil you don’t.
This
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 491
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 491
If the door opens and closes fine it may well be worth repairing. Sounds like the issue is the steel structure is bent. I’ve straightened a few over the years so you may want to consider that option as obtaining a replacement door will involve the cost of shipping, plus all of the associated work in removing and/or replacing the window/related hardware, remove/replace the weatherstripping, stripping the paint, repainting the jambs, repairing hidden damage, potential modifications if you get a later door, etc, etc, etc.
Sometimes better to deal with the devil you know than the devil you don’t.
Sometimes better to deal with the devil you know than the devil you don’t.
It does appear that the steel structure of the door was damaged - not by rust, but some sort of impact. I do not quite understand how something like that could happen and not do damage to surrounding components, like the original frame/chassis (which I recently replaced), which show no signs of damage whatsoever, aside from the usual rust....
Last edited by Corvette-ZL1; Nov 11, 2022 at 06:24 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 1,812
From: Apple Valley, MN
I wholeheartedly agree. I'll talk to my body/paint guy more about this. Plus all the original stickers are in the door jam. I really don't want to replace the door.
It does appear that the steel structure of the door was damaged - not by rust, but some sort of impact. I do not quite understand how something like that could happen and not do damage to surrounding components, like the original frame/chassis (which I recently replaced), which show no signs of damage whatsoever, aside from the usual rust....
It does appear that the steel structure of the door was damaged - not by rust, but some sort of impact. I do not quite understand how something like that could happen and not do damage to surrounding components, like the original frame/chassis (which I recently replaced), which show no signs of damage whatsoever, aside from the usual rust....
Drifting
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,545
Likes: 405
From: Brampton, Ontario Canada
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,368
Likes: 787
From: Redondo Beach, California
The early C3 convertibles did not have this alignment pin bolt. My 68 does not have them. Don't know when they first appeared. 69? 70? I assume this pin can be removed easily? Otherwise I believe the doors are the same. The window glass is not interchangeable.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 491
Also, here is why I'm contemplating replacing the door (below).... Door opens and closes fine. I would prefer to not replace it, but this is what I'm dealing with. When you look at the door from the outside when it is closed, you can actually see where it is warped outward toward the bottom of the door. I didn't take pictures of that, but that's what it does. Absolutely abysmal bodywork by the previous owner.
Last edited by Corvette-ZL1; Nov 14, 2022 at 01:53 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 491
That's next on the list after bolting the body to the frame. I agree that that is the only way to truly assess the extent of the damage.