auto_cran

Oh this is embarrassing.... Getting ready to install my rebuilt door hinges on the driver's side on this '84 Corvette - and I can't get the battery panel off...

I've done this plenty of times on my '88 and '89 Corvettes with never an issue.

It's the 10mm bolt at the bottom. On my other Corvettes, the hole at the bottom of the panel is slotted. On this car - it's not. It's just a hole for the bolt to go up into the clip attached to the body. Typically I loosen the bolt a few turns and the panel slides straight out. But because it's not slotted, it can't slide out. I even tried to loosen the bolt all the way, but it won't come out -the frame rail prevents it from falling out.

Is this typical for '84s? With all the other screws off and the 10mm bolt real loose, I can see that one could still replace the battery without completely removing the panel. But I need the panel off to best access the lower hinge.

Please advise. I'm tempted to pull out my Dremel and "make" that hole slotted!

Chris

383vett

My 84 panel is slotted. Bring out the dremel.

auto_cran

I think cutting it is my only option here.... Hate doing that.

Here are some pre-surgery pics... Can clearly see the hole isn't slotted. In the pics, the silver on the bottom half of the pics are the inside part of the panel. It's very loose, but the 10mm bolt is preventing it from coming off.

I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything here before I start cutting.

hcbph

When I got mine they'd had the panel off and in putting it back on they had the washer on top of the panel on the bottom bolt. It was almost impossible to get it off. Once it was reassembled correctly, a 10 mm wrench IIRC slips in the slot and the bolt comes out just fine.

WVZR-1

That slot on the fender panel is generally maybe the 'first' modification.

auto_cran

Ok... I don't feel so bad now.

After doing some research, I found that in '84 Corvettes there was a running change - that some cars (probably the early ones - and this is a very early car) didn't have the slotted hole.

This car is definitely getting that modification!