door panel
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Brandon MS
door panel
My door panels aren't fitting against the window like they should. I saw the thread about using the el brackets to hold the top of the panel in, but there doesn't seem to be anywhere for the edge of the panel to snap into the bracket. It's almost like the panel is sitting straight up when it should be curved over and down towards the window. All of the plastic fins are in good shape. Looks like I could heat the panel and bend it, but I wanted to see if anyone here had any ideas or solutions. The car is a 93 coupe.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
On my '88 the panel has a lip that should catch edges of the frame. Over time it takes the little "L"s to snag the edge of the panel.
BTW, said "lip" is what is used to hold the inner felt against which the window rubs/seals.
BTW, said "lip" is what is used to hold the inner felt against which the window rubs/seals.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 27,118
Likes: 135
From: Montgomery, Alabama
2017 C6 of Year Finalist
I have the same problem with the panel on the passenger door. It seems to be warped and the glass wiper will not contact the glass no matter how I try to set it. It was apparently allowed to be loose for a while and mother nature heated it up allowing it to warp.
I have been using packing tape for about a month to hold it as close to in place as it will get. Put one strip about 2 inches from the top edge and a second just below that. Overlap the panel about 3 or 4 inches and run it to the far edge of the door frame. The tape will not get in the way of the door closing properly, The tape has to be redone about once a week, It seems to be working as the wiper is now contacting the glass about three quarters of the way from the front towards the rear. Do not use duct tape as it will not hold as well and it will leave some grey residue. Also, you will need to protect the weather stripping so that it does not get damaged.
I hope this works for you. Applying heat to it may cause problems. Let mother nature reshape it as she did the warping. As soon as mine gets back in shape, I will have to tackle the attachment problem.
I have been using packing tape for about a month to hold it as close to in place as it will get. Put one strip about 2 inches from the top edge and a second just below that. Overlap the panel about 3 or 4 inches and run it to the far edge of the door frame. The tape will not get in the way of the door closing properly, The tape has to be redone about once a week, It seems to be working as the wiper is now contacting the glass about three quarters of the way from the front towards the rear. Do not use duct tape as it will not hold as well and it will leave some grey residue. Also, you will need to protect the weather stripping so that it does not get damaged.
I hope this works for you. Applying heat to it may cause problems. Let mother nature reshape it as she did the warping. As soon as mine gets back in shape, I will have to tackle the attachment problem.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,060
Likes: 214
From: Epping NH
I went with this fix...not too bad of a job to do. Panels have been rock solid since doing it 3 years ago.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...panel-fix.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...panel-fix.html
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Florida
I went with this fix...not too bad of a job to do. Panels have been rock solid since doing it 3 years ago.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...panel-fix.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...panel-fix.html
That's a good one, I took the shortcut and used zip-ties 
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 27,118
Likes: 135
From: Montgomery, Alabama
2017 C6 of Year Finalist
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
I went with this fix...not too bad of a job to do. Panels have been rock solid since doing it 3 years ago.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...panel-fix.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...panel-fix.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,384
Likes: 56
From: West Chester PA
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '25
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Brandon MS
Just looked at my passenger door panel, and the large ribs towards the rear of the door are intact, they are the correct el-shape that all of the pictures of fixes show. But they are seperating from the door panel at the bottom of the rib where it meets the panel.