94 door panel problems
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2005
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94 door panel problems
I just had the entire car repainted and decided to replace all the moulding at the same time. The body shop can't get the trim panels to stay in place since. The moulding was all OEM except for the top pieces. I don't want to have to start cutting rubber, I suggested they start with something easy like replacing the clips. They say the panels are obsolete?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
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what trim panels. if you are talking about the outside one that is painted body color then there are two bolts on each end and a few clips in the middle. when i bought that trim peice from GM it came with the nuts and exta clips
Thread Starter
Intermediate
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No I am talking about the inside door panels. Both passenger and drivers sides. They had everything off ie: handles lights etc. when they painted and now they won't stay in place. I was wondering if it is the moulding or clips or some other reason?
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,543
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From: Levittown NY
If you are talking about the top of the door panel keep coming off the top lip of the door it is a common problem. If you look at the back of the panel there will be hair line cracks in the ribs that hold the top of the panels shape. Get some J-B Weld adhesive and slop a bunch of it all over the ribs and tightly rap the panel to keep it's shape until it dries. I used packing tape to rap it while it dried. It's been years and my panels haven't come off once.
Elite Torch Red Member
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
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Take some pics so we have a better idea of what you mean.
The door panels are held on by a bunch of screws and those plastic push pins at the bottom. They shouldn't fall off at all. Like stated above, teh ribs that hold them to the top of the door may be broke which is common since we all like to ride with our arms leaning on them and some close their door by grabbing onto the door panel instead of the door pull or handle.
The door panels are held on by a bunch of screws and those plastic push pins at the bottom. They shouldn't fall off at all. Like stated above, teh ribs that hold them to the top of the door may be broke which is common since we all like to ride with our arms leaning on them and some close their door by grabbing onto the door panel instead of the door pull or handle.
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No pictures right now, It is still in the shop where it has been for a month now. 2 weeks to do the paint etc. and another 2 now to get the fisheyes out of the paint on the hood and a few other problems. If the door was open and you are looking at it where the factory decals go the whole panel is sticking out about a 1/2 inch as if it is not even attached. The doors won't even close unless you slam the **** out of them. Really depressed after laying out over 6 grand and still don't have my car back.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Cleveland OHIO
The door panels are held on with plastic push pins and screws. Any GOOD bodyshop could get the panels back on. Do not accept anything less than a job done right. I wish I could help you more but without seeing WTF these idiots problem is it's tough.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
You are gettin screwed. For $6k it better come back just like new. They have screwed up the door panel it can be made to fit exactly right with very little effort. There is a screw in the rear of the door handle that is not right I know that for sure. There are a few plastic screw nuts under the door panel that all of the screws go into. They get brittle and/or fall out. You can get them at NAPA or any Chevy dealer(80 cents a piece there) they are #6 & #8 screw nuts that look oval. You need to look at the FSM for proper instructions on how to R&R the panel but it is not hard especially the driver side. Now the front of the pass side has always been a biotch for me
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Thread Starter
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Thanks for the input. The chevy dealer highly recommended this shop so I am a bit disappointed with their inability to get things right. Hopefully it will get fixed soon! Believe me I will not settle for less than right and the way it was when I took it in.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Since you have a 1994 and if the door panels get ruined, you are screwed. Nobody makes replacement panels that are the same as factory. I know this becase I spent the $1000 on new ones that were no way even close to being the same as original, so I sent them back.
these pics are from my '95, the white circles are where the screws are and the blue are the plastic push pins.
The tops hang on the door and then you start screwing. I always put the door handle bezel in first with the light hanging out then insert the light after the screw behind the light goes in. Then the screw behind the door lock switch and then the door pull. Then the mirror and window switch bezel goes in and the five plastic push pins. Don't forget the hatch switch on the edge of the panel.
On the passenger side it's the same except for the window switch which has a screw behind it which you insert before putting the window switch in.
these pics are from my '95, the white circles are where the screws are and the blue are the plastic push pins.
The tops hang on the door and then you start screwing. I always put the door handle bezel in first with the light hanging out then insert the light after the screw behind the light goes in. Then the screw behind the door lock switch and then the door pull. Then the mirror and window switch bezel goes in and the five plastic push pins. Don't forget the hatch switch on the edge of the panel.
On the passenger side it's the same except for the window switch which has a screw behind it which you insert before putting the window switch in.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
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I already knew the panels were obsolete and that adds to my frustration because there was nothing wrong with the panels prior to taking it in for the paint job. My husband suggested I buy a brand new Vette before I started this project but I like this one. She still runs strong and just needs the seats recovered and the carpeting in the hatch area replaced to look brand new again. I had the rims sent out for polishing and they did a fantastic job on them so who needs a car payment and besides I just like this style. Thanks for the pictures that just might get them back on track.