door issue
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 22
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From: Stephens City VA
door issue
Does anyone know how to fix the top of the door panel from popping of when I close the door. all I have to do is push it back and it seems to stay until I shut the door again. I hope I explained this well enough. Thanks
Nate
Nate
Pro
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 648
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From: weems va
If you search you will find alot of info on door panels. The plastic ribs on back of panel will crack and that will stop the top from holding on to the door frame. When you remove door panel you will probably see this. Good luck and dont feel like you are are alone with this problem. Dave
Last edited by davewhtt; Sep 30, 2015 at 08:12 AM. Reason: spelling
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
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http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...panel-510.html
not sure how well it works though. most times you'll also find the plastic sub-structure of the door panel in need of repair.
Last edited by Joe C; Sep 30, 2015 at 08:52 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 229
From: Pennsylvania
You can use a couple scrap pieces of hard flat plastic and "Epoxy" glue them onto the inner side top edge of the door panel where the panel has cracked. You can easily see where the stress cracks are that cause the panel to come loose every time you shut the door. The reinforcing plastic strips you glue over the weak areas will keep the door panel firmly in place once you reinstall the door panel back onto the door. I fixed my passenger door and a few of them for my friends over the years. Always worked!
Last edited by FOURSPEEDVETTE; Sep 30, 2015 at 12:28 PM.
Race Director
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a better approach to repair the door panel plastic is to use .016 aluminum, JB weld, and 1/8" pop rivets. I brought my 85's door panels back from the dead with this method. I had 11 patch panels between the two doors. the aluminum cuts easily with aviation snips, and can be bent and fabricated with only flat jaw welding pliers, a bench vice, and a small hammer. easy home shop project.
scuff and clean, and coat surfaces with JB weld, and pop-rivet together. the end result will be as good as new.
on thing I might add - some of the catalog companies have steel door pull inserts, called armrest fillers. they attach to the interior pull recess where the plastic filler goes. it anchors to the interior of the door structure. as you pull on the door panel, you are not pulling on a bunch of plastic. I added it to my 85, along with the late model C4 door insulator, and the whole door panel is quiet and feels solid as a rock. here's the item I bought from corvette central -
http://www.parts123.com/corvettecent...50f&ukey=24740
http://www.parts123.com/corvettecent...50f&ukey=47576
scuff and clean, and coat surfaces with JB weld, and pop-rivet together. the end result will be as good as new.
on thing I might add - some of the catalog companies have steel door pull inserts, called armrest fillers. they attach to the interior pull recess where the plastic filler goes. it anchors to the interior of the door structure. as you pull on the door panel, you are not pulling on a bunch of plastic. I added it to my 85, along with the late model C4 door insulator, and the whole door panel is quiet and feels solid as a rock. here's the item I bought from corvette central -
http://www.parts123.com/corvettecent...50f&ukey=24740
http://www.parts123.com/corvettecent...50f&ukey=47576
Last edited by Joe C; Oct 9, 2015 at 04:15 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 37
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From: La Jara Colorado
Joe C: I was just thinking of making brackets exactly like that for my 93. I'll see if I can get a camera and document the process, it seems like a very common problem. Often the ridges only snap. Not mine, it just cracked out all over.
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
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From: Pennsylvania
These metal door pull inserts can easily be fabricated in your garage with a small amount of metal, a vice to bend it, a file or grinder to clean the edges, and black spray paint. I made them myself in about 30 minutes. Cost about $3.00 and they are identical.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2015
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From: La Jara Colorado
You know that little piece of pot metal that holds the center console lid down? Damn thing broke (or the previous owner broke it) so I just built one out of a nice aluminium strip when I bought the new lid. So this should be no problem after that fitment and alignment nightmare. Thanks for the pic Fourspeed
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. the items I got seemed to be quality made, had a nice powder coated finished, a perfect fit, and ended up as a 5 minute "plug and play." your cost - $3.00, my cost - $20 -- to me, a difference of $17, just doesn't seem worth the effort!
Last edited by Joe C; Oct 10, 2015 at 06:51 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: lincoln ri
there is actually a sticky describing the simple repair using a 90 degree corner bracket from lowes, home depot, etc. Simple fix, did it several years ago, still holding up!
Intermediate
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From: La Jara Colorado
Race Director
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