Loose door Panels
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Assuming you refer to the panel being loose along the top of the door, here is how I handle such.
The door panel folds over at the top which hangs over a ridge along the top of the door.
The panel plastic can crack and/or distort over time causing it to slip off the door ridge.
If this is the case, first order is to repair the cracked panel. Here I use some JB Quick with a screen backing.
If the panel still slips off the door ridge, I cut 2 steel "L"s (local H/W store) to length, use the felt pad bolts to hold them to the door top.
It may take a little trial & error to get the correct height for the "L"s.
The door panel folds over at the top which hangs over a ridge along the top of the door.
The panel plastic can crack and/or distort over time causing it to slip off the door ridge.
If this is the case, first order is to repair the cracked panel. Here I use some JB Quick with a screen backing.
If the panel still slips off the door ridge, I cut 2 steel "L"s (local H/W store) to length, use the felt pad bolts to hold them to the door top.
It may take a little trial & error to get the correct height for the "L"s.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 917
Likes: 25
From: College Station Tx
Pull your door panels off and inspect the ribs on along the top. More than likely they have begun to separate. Here is a link to a fix for that problem:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...panel-fix.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...panel-fix.html
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: No.Va.
Here is what I did.
Made patterns of the panel ribs that had failed.
Cut 2 of each rib from 1/8" aluminum plate.
Re-curve the door panel so the ribs match up(I used a soft rope to hold the bend in the panel)
Pop riveted a pair of aluminum ribs to sandwich the failed rib.
Then poured epoxy mix between the aluminum plates.
After cure I covered with duct tape (must have duct tape involved somehow)
http://s1147.photobucket.com/user/aspect2012/library/
Made patterns of the panel ribs that had failed.
Cut 2 of each rib from 1/8" aluminum plate.
Re-curve the door panel so the ribs match up(I used a soft rope to hold the bend in the panel)
Pop riveted a pair of aluminum ribs to sandwich the failed rib.
Then poured epoxy mix between the aluminum plates.
After cure I covered with duct tape (must have duct tape involved somehow)
http://s1147.photobucket.com/user/aspect2012/library/
Last edited by inedajob; Jul 19, 2013 at 06:24 PM. Reason: trying to add photos
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 19
From: Arkansas
I drilled a hole in the top part of the broken ribs and ran a wire to one of the screws on the lower part of the door panel and tightened it up. The wire holds the ribs together and keeps the door panel top jeld down.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 23
From: mesa az
[QUOTE=inedajob;1584449226]Here is what I did.
Made patterns of the panel ribs that had failed.
Cut 2 of each rib from 1/8" aluminum plate.
Re-curve the door panel so the ribs match up(I used a soft rope to hold the bend in the panel)
Pop riveted a pair of aluminum ribs to sandwich the failed rib.
Then poured epoxy mix between the aluminum plates.
After cure I covered with duct tape (must have duct tape involved somehow)
http://s1147.photobucket.com/user/aspect2012/library/[/QUO
All I can say is ART WORK !!! Awesome and if I was skilled enough to do that I would and never have another issue with cheap plastic. Too bad you can't sell that improvement and make GOOD money to other Corvette owners.
Made patterns of the panel ribs that had failed.
Cut 2 of each rib from 1/8" aluminum plate.
Re-curve the door panel so the ribs match up(I used a soft rope to hold the bend in the panel)
Pop riveted a pair of aluminum ribs to sandwich the failed rib.
Then poured epoxy mix between the aluminum plates.
After cure I covered with duct tape (must have duct tape involved somehow)
http://s1147.photobucket.com/user/aspect2012/library/[/QUO
All I can say is ART WORK !!! Awesome and if I was skilled enough to do that I would and never have another issue with cheap plastic. Too bad you can't sell that improvement and make GOOD money to other Corvette owners.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 23
From: mesa az
I bought my 1988 off a monkey who had taken wood screws through the top of the panel through the long trim piece and right into the plastic inside the door panel. REAL CLASSY. I replaced my panels for $500. Word of advice for whomever reads this, if you are looking at a C4 and the interior is shot you can bet the rest of the car is standing domino's waiting to fall.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 19
From: Arkansas
Pro
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 697
Likes: 162
From: Huntington WV
[QUOTE=C4in mesa;1584454499]
You would only need to make one good one then use that one as a template to cut more. Would take some time but you could cut one and trim it up with a dremel until it fit the way you wanted. I do like that solution though. I'll be doing that to mine eventually.
Here is what I did.
Made patterns of the panel ribs that had failed.
Cut 2 of each rib from 1/8" aluminum plate.
Re-curve the door panel so the ribs match up(I used a soft rope to hold the bend in the panel)
Pop riveted a pair of aluminum ribs to sandwich the failed rib.
Then poured epoxy mix between the aluminum plates.
After cure I covered with duct tape (must have duct tape involved somehow)
http://s1147.photobucket.com/user/aspect2012/library/[/QUO
All I can say is ART WORK !!! Awesome and if I was skilled enough to do that I would and never have another issue with cheap plastic. Too bad you can't sell that improvement and make GOOD money to other Corvette owners.
Made patterns of the panel ribs that had failed.
Cut 2 of each rib from 1/8" aluminum plate.
Re-curve the door panel so the ribs match up(I used a soft rope to hold the bend in the panel)
Pop riveted a pair of aluminum ribs to sandwich the failed rib.
Then poured epoxy mix between the aluminum plates.
After cure I covered with duct tape (must have duct tape involved somehow)
http://s1147.photobucket.com/user/aspect2012/library/[/QUO
All I can say is ART WORK !!! Awesome and if I was skilled enough to do that I would and never have another issue with cheap plastic. Too bad you can't sell that improvement and make GOOD money to other Corvette owners.