Need help with my sagging door panels.....
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 256
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From: Oakley Ca
Need help with my sagging door panels.....
Hey everyone...
Haven't posted in one heck of a long time, but......
Here's a good one for all you vette techies out there.
The door panels on my baby are not staying connected at the top part of the door. I just got my baby painted (haven't picked her up yet, maybe Thursday), and my wife dropped off my new emblems at the shop tonight. She told me that the shop guy told her that there are these little "posts" that attach the door panel to the door frame I guess.
Well, the shop doesn't have any, and he said that I should bring the car to a dealer, and they'll tell me what I need to get.
Well.... I really don't want to go to the dealer. Can any of you out there tell me what these little "post things" really are, and where I can find them?
Thanks,
Josh
Haven't posted in one heck of a long time, but......
Here's a good one for all you vette techies out there.
The door panels on my baby are not staying connected at the top part of the door. I just got my baby painted (haven't picked her up yet, maybe Thursday), and my wife dropped off my new emblems at the shop tonight. She told me that the shop guy told her that there are these little "posts" that attach the door panel to the door frame I guess.
Well, the shop doesn't have any, and he said that I should bring the car to a dealer, and they'll tell me what I need to get.
Well.... I really don't want to go to the dealer. Can any of you out there tell me what these little "post things" really are, and where I can find them?
Thanks,
Josh
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 29,937
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Cruise-In 1-2-3-4-5 Veteran
Re: Need help with my sagging door panels..... (Joshua S. Smith)
Josh, I don't know if an '85 panel works like a '92-'93 panel, but -
On my '93, there aren't any posts. There are plastic tabs molded into the top of the door panel that hook over metal tabs on the inner door panel. The plastic tabs on the door panel age and crack off after years of door slamming, and there's no way to fix the panel.
There is a way to get the old panel to hook again. You have to fab up some L-shaped pieces that will bolt to the inner-upper panel retaining nuts, long L-pieces that will reach up into the door panel and hold like the old tabs did.
You can also get a strip of plastic or aluminum and glue or rivet it to the inside of the door panel to replace the broken-off tabs.
New panels still cost an arm and a leg. If you take the panel off some Saturday, you'll be able to figure out the 'new hook' methods.
Pick up last month's "Corvette Fever" with the dark blue C5 convertible on the cover. It has a three-page tech article on C4 door panel and door repair.
On my '93, there aren't any posts. There are plastic tabs molded into the top of the door panel that hook over metal tabs on the inner door panel. The plastic tabs on the door panel age and crack off after years of door slamming, and there's no way to fix the panel.
There is a way to get the old panel to hook again. You have to fab up some L-shaped pieces that will bolt to the inner-upper panel retaining nuts, long L-pieces that will reach up into the door panel and hold like the old tabs did.
You can also get a strip of plastic or aluminum and glue or rivet it to the inside of the door panel to replace the broken-off tabs.
New panels still cost an arm and a leg. If you take the panel off some Saturday, you'll be able to figure out the 'new hook' methods.
Pick up last month's "Corvette Fever" with the dark blue C5 convertible on the cover. It has a three-page tech article on C4 door panel and door repair.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: Need help with my sagging door panels..... (Joshua S. Smith)
The lower screws should be enough to hold it up.. but the plastic clips up top are what hold it tight to the door if I recall. It's easy to install them incorrectly such that the tabs don't fully seat, and the panel tries to pop out. You really have to push the window out, and hook the panel over the door top real good before pulling it down to screw in.
Pro
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 741
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From: Eagle IDAHO
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Need help with my sagging door panels..... (CentralCoaster)
The tops of my 85 door panels pop out too. They will snap back in with a little effort, but pop out again when the door is closed. I have had these panels off about 5 times over the years to solve other problems like loose or mal-adjusted glass, sound deadning etc. What I think has happened is this: The top of the panel has lost its shape over the years due to the thermoplastic losing its molded profile, and the top no longer has the original upside down "J" shape. Thus it no longer can snap into the lip on the door. At one time I read a suggestion that by carefully using a heat gun you can resoften the plastic and bend it back into the original shape. I have never tried this, but probably will next time I have the panels off. Just one of the many problems with teenagers. (Cars, I mean)
PS This really should be in Tech/Perf
[Modified by NHVett, 8:12 AM 4/2/2003]
PS This really should be in Tech/Perf
[Modified by NHVett, 8:12 AM 4/2/2003]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Oakley Ca
Re: Need help with my sagging door panels..... (NHVett)
MattBlack,
I'm gonna go to the book store on my way home tonight, but, if they don't have a copy of it in stock, do you think you can scan it and email it to me, or photocopy it and mail it to me?
NHVett,
I wasn't sure where this thread would go, but, if any of the mods want to move this thread to the correct area, fell free.
Thanks for the responses so far. :D
I'm gonna go to the book store on my way home tonight, but, if they don't have a copy of it in stock, do you think you can scan it and email it to me, or photocopy it and mail it to me?
NHVett,
I wasn't sure where this thread would go, but, if any of the mods want to move this thread to the correct area, fell free.
Thanks for the responses so far. :D
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 29,937
Likes: 22
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Cruise-In 1-2-3-4-5 Veteran
Re: Need help with my sagging door panels..... (Joshua S. Smith)
Check big chain grocery stores magazine sections. If they carry "Import Tuner" then they'd better darn well have a copy of "Corvette Fever"
I don't want to anger Andy and the folks at CFever, who give this forum very good coverage, by robbing them of a news stand sale.
I don't want to anger Andy and the folks at CFever, who give this forum very good coverage, by robbing them of a news stand sale.
