I bought some door savers(metal pieces - helps to save door trim) from MAD, but for the second time, on two Corvettes, the holes are in the wrong place? The holes are off-set from center......the wrong way! Had to drill new holes, and it was a PITA. Anyone else have this problem? :mad

 

I just installed a set of those a few weeks ago. I got mine from Zip. It took some effort to get the holes lined up, but I managed to do it. I also replaced the door plastic anchors into which the screws go. I don't know if that had anything to do with it. I don't think so though, because the longitudinal opening is fore/ aft on the car, not side to side. Last time I had the door panel off I replaced the gnarled plastic anchor with a 'generic' one from the local auto shop. Those were to tall and not nearly as slim as the GM ones. This time I had the panel off for some other things and replaced the crappy generic ones with the nice GM plastic anchors. I did need to really push outwards on the door handle with my knee to get them lined up and the screws started. It was a tight fit. But they did fit! ~Juliet

 

That knee trick always works...I even do this when just reinstallng the door panels alone.Something always seems to make them come off easy but never seems to align back up as they came off!!
:crazy:
Btw,Keep in mind people,most of the Vendors/catalog companies sell the same stuff.They get it from the same supplier,so the same problems with the design will still be on the others.
As with most aftermarket parts,they never fit as intended.Always a little work here and there needed to make it fit right,eh?
:crazy:
:)


[Modified by Bill's86Coupe, 1:13 AM 8/5/2002]

 

i bought them. they are now sitting in my tool box waiting for me to fabricate them into somthing useful! they made my door panals look like poopie! :nonod:

 

Same here. They fit so badly I couldn't stand having them installed so I removed them and now they're landfill. :(

 

I got a set from ecklers, Installed with no real problems. Fit great, Can't tell there there unless you hard.

 

I haven't tried to install "door savers", but did remove the door panels and have hell getting them back on. So did the previous "mechanic", apparently. They just ran the screws through new holes in the aluminum bracket! There were threads cut into the plastic inserts, so I know that screws were in there at one time.

As has been said, the holes seem to be inboard of the slots in the brackets. The panel has to be "forced" outboard to get alignment. Sometimes you will just barely make it. Sometimes you cannot make it.

Assuming they had no such trouble on the assembly line, I was determined to see why this was so difficult. I found that the wiring harnesses behind the door were in the way and blocked the panel from setting "in" far enough! I checked and reset the harnesses so that they did not impede the placement of the panel. The one running back to the hatch release must rest in a groove. After that, the holes aligned nicely. The "knee thing" was still necessary, but only a little. It's snug, but not in any kind of a bind. Beforehand, the holes misaligned by about 3/8" and there was no way I was going to get the screws in. I couldn't even see the slots! Afterward, with a gentle nudge, all aligned nicely.

Play with your harnesses and/or connectors. I think you'll find that they are the culprit. Also, you can get replacement inserts (called bathtub nuts) at Autozone and other places that carry a good selection of that "Keep-Tite" and "Body-Tite" stuff. They are not as long as the GM version, but are plenty long and work just fine. They are far cheaper, too!

 

Katy..............thanks for the wire interference tip. That may be the problem since the door savers were off a good 3/8"? I'll check the wires, as I need to replace the "bathtub" washers also. GM service department made a mess of install on new door panel. Easier to fix myself, after 3 tries to have several items corrected, they "fix two, break new one each time". They just "don't get it" when an owner is trying to keep a Corvette original and in good condition. Any one know if the door button rod (wire piece) is available for an 87, as they bent it also and it binds a little?