Ok, I used the search and nothing seems to directly speak to what my current problem is with removing the inner door panels on my 1987 coupe.

I have all the screws on the bottom of the door panel and the sides as well as the speaker cover off. I've removed all the screws around the triangular shaped black trim cover where the door handle is located.

It seems that there is another screw somewhere. I can lift the panel and pull it carefully away from the door, but only a very short distance.

I've read that there is a screw behind the door light. I've also read that the door light cover can be pried out to get at these. In my case, the black plastic trim is over it and it can't be simply pried out, the black trim prevents me from doing this. I can't seem to get the black trim panel around the handle out and away as it's held in by the padded arm rest on the panel and seems to be almost made as part of the panel itself.

Strangely, everyone mentions a screw behind the door lock slider. I've removed the slider and there is no screw behind there at all.

How can I get at the screws behind the door light? There is no way to pry the white plastic cover out with the black trim over it and no apparent way to remove the black trim plate either. I can see the light assembly (jsut barely) when I pull the panel slightly from the door. There are plastic tabs that hold the assembly on, but they have a bevel to them that would seem to prevent a simple pry job from removing them.

Sorry if this sounds dumb, but I wonder if my Vette was made in Afghanistan or somewhere other than Bowling Green!

Thanks much for any help. I'm on a bit of a deadline here and appreciate your assistance.
Brad

 

RIght in the middle of the "alcove" of the black triangle thing (right under the door handle) is a screw it points outward. There should also be screws in the arm rest right where you pull the door closed. Those point down. Those need to be removed as well. As far as the "middle" of the door, that's about it.

 

I have the screw under the door handle out as well as those by the armrest that point down that you mentioned. There are also two screws on mine that angle upward just above the door handle that I removed. There still seems to be something holding the center of the door in.

I don't think I need to remove the armrest pad although my shop manual mentions that it is possible by pushing in on the armrest to release it from the door panel. I tried that and it won't budge at all.

There still seems to be something holding this thing on that evidently is in the center area around the courtesy light. It's just impossible to get the courtesy light out to get at it. There has to be some way to do this... at least I hope so! Thanks for the reply. I'll go out and check again.

Anyone else? Please?

 

Got it! Thanks for the reply. The problem was part car and part owner. Someone has had this off before and has managed to mess up a few parts and warp a few others. It appears that all I really needed to do was to bow it out a bit and slide it forward and it released. Hard to explain, but it looks like previous owners tinkering had warped the panel enough to make it a very tight fit trying to get it off from around the door handle. I may need to replace a few thing, but all is well now. Thanks for the moral support!
Now to get the outer weatherstrip off!
Brad

 

The door lock lever is what is holding in the door panel in this location after you have removed all the screws. The actual slider needs to be removed first, by pulling toward the center of the car at the raised portion. Have the doors unlocked when you do this. Then you will have to slide the whole door panel forward and try to push the remaining lock rod through the opening. Be careful, all the plastic tabs are very brittle by this point and will break easily.

 

Once you remove the black plastic "handle" from the lock slider the panel can be slid forward till free of the slider.

Then you only need to be careful to not stretch some of the cables too far.

 

Thanks guys! I appreciate all the help. I didn't realize how tightly the lock rod would hold this to the door! Now I need to post another thread on a different subject. This is turning into a bit more involved project than I had originally planned! Again, thanks, you folks are great!
Brad