C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Regular maintenance while door panels are off?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 9, 2012 | 02:43 PM
  #1  
ninjaneer911's Avatar
ninjaneer911
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: charleston sc
Default Regular maintenance while door panels are off?

Gentlemen,

I pulled out my 86 digital dash and sent it to bob perkins (ebay) for a refurbish (ill definitely let you know how it works out). While shes getting some beauty rest, I pulled the door panels to replace the pass lock switch and replace the window sweeps. The switch is on the way, and the outer sweeps went in with only a small amount of body fluids (the sweep clips are sharp as chit).

Well, first thing im seeking is advice on the inner sweep replacement. The old inner sweeps are stapled in. Now that the door plastic is brittle, staples will not due. Does anyone have advice on how to attach the new sweeps (rivets)? General tips here?

More importantly, the new outter sweeps cause the windows to rooooolll uuuupppp vveeerrryyy slllooooow. Im afraid they will stress the regulator, and motor, and cause failure. Is there anything i can do to address this?

What should i do while im in there (as far as general maint) besides lube the ribbon?

Ive seen the inside of Agents doors and they look nice with the dynamat. I think im also going to remove the blose speaker housing while im in there and make a speaker box for the door. Thoughts on the speaker box?
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2012 | 03:43 PM
  #2  
pmihaltian's Avatar
pmihaltian
Slingshot
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
Default

Originally Posted by ninjaneer911
Gentlemen,

I pulled out my 86 digital dash and sent it to bob perkins (ebay) for a refurbish (ill definitely let you know how it works out). While shes getting some beauty rest, I pulled the door panels to replace the pass lock switch and replace the window sweeps. The switch is on the way, and the outer sweeps went in with only a small amount of body fluids (the sweep clips are sharp as chit).

Well, first thing im seeking is advice on the inner sweep replacement. The old inner sweeps are stapled in. Now that the door plastic is brittle, staples will not due. Does anyone have advice on how to attach the new sweeps (rivets)? General tips here?

More importantly, the new outter sweeps cause the windows to rooooolll uuuupppp vveeerrryyy slllooooow. Im afraid they will stress the regulator, and motor, and cause failure. Is there anything i can do to address this?

What should i do while im in there (as far as general maint) besides lube the ribbon?

Ive seen the inside of Agents doors and they look nice with the dynamat. I think im also going to remove the blose speaker housing while im in there and make a speaker box for the door. Thoughts on the speaker box?
Replace the Door Ajar switches while you are in there. Also, take a hard look at the power door lock actuators while you have the door cards off. If the door locks are slow or require more than one push of the power lock button to slam closed, consider replacing them while you are at it. Finally, replace the upper door panel trim covers if they are in bad shape. Make sure you get the replacement trim covers with the metal studs and not the plastic ones.


http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1984-1989.html
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2012 | 09:29 PM
  #3  
1986coupe's Avatar
1986coupe
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls ON
Default

Slow can mean that the motors are getting weak. It can also be as simple as corrosion on the connections going to the motor. That is easy enough to check and clean.

Agreed, check and replace the power door lock actuators if needed.
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2012 | 11:34 PM
  #4  
65Z01's Avatar
65Z01
Team Owner
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

I used staples when replacing my inner sweeps but drilled two tiny holes through which I pushed the staple and bent over the ends. Time consuming but it works well.

If the sweeps are really slowing the window and you have cleaned & lubed the mechanisms it may well be time for new regulators. Since you have the door apart and the Al panel off it's a (relatively) easy job to do.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2012 | 02:13 AM
  #5  
GREGGPENN's Avatar
GREGGPENN
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,222
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Default

Originally Posted by ninjaneer911
Does anyone have advice on how to attach the new sweeps (rivets)?
That's the way I did it. (pop rivets)
Reply
Old Feb 13, 2012 | 12:37 PM
  #6  
ninjaneer911's Avatar
ninjaneer911
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: charleston sc
Default

Thanks, I think im going to try the rivets.

And just an aside, the door panel frame was severly cracked and pulling off the interior sweeps broke it more. I repaired using 3M bondo "plastic Metal" with thin aluminum backing for additional support.

The "plastic metal" worked well, bonds very quickly, is cheap at walmart, and has a hell of a bond.
Reply
Old Feb 13, 2012 | 12:37 PM
  #7  
pmihaltian's Avatar
pmihaltian
Slingshot
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
Default

Originally Posted by GREGGPENN
That's the way I did it. (pop rivets)
I used self-tapping sheet metal screws on mine so I can easily get them off if and when I ever have to replace the sweeps again. However, pop rivets will work just fine.
Reply
Old Feb 13, 2012 | 12:42 PM
  #8  
pmihaltian's Avatar
pmihaltian
Slingshot
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
Default

Originally Posted by ninjaneer911
Thanks, I think im going to try the rivets.

And just an aside, the door panel frame was severly cracked and pulling off the interior sweeps broke it more. I repaired using 3M bondo "plastic Metal" with thin aluminum backing for additional support.

The "plastic metal" worked well, bonds very quickly, is cheap at walmart, and has a hell of a bond.
My passenger side door card was also broken (cracked) down the middle. Some GM service tech had tried to pull the door card off without having ALL the screws out first !@#!@$~!!~!$~.

I used a fiberglass repair kit to patch it back together before installing new parts and switches. Worked great and as the repair in on the inner side, you can't tell it was ever damaged.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-8

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
Old Feb 14, 2012 | 03:09 PM
  #9  
Michael Dowd's Avatar
Michael Dowd
Advanced
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 80
Likes: 3
From: East Longmeadow MA
Default

When you the door panels off there are a lot of things you can do that will be easy to get at.
You get some white lithium grease and grease the window tracks. When I had my doors apart this winter season I also pulled the door latches, thoroughly cleaned them, oiled, and reinstalled. My 1990 convertible has 26K on it and has never seen rain or snow but you would be surprised how much dirt and grime gets into them. I also put sound deadening mat on the inside before I re-assembled. I am not sure what if anything it is going to do but when you hit the outside of the door it made a big difference in the way it sounds. The fiberglass knock that you get is definitely muffled.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Regular maintenance while door panels are off?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:18 AM.

story-0
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-2
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-5
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE