Door Panels
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 192
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From: Matawan NJ
Door Panels
For those of you who have taken off your door panels, I was looking at mine last night. The tops of the door panels are loose, I have seen the post in the tips section showing where the 11 screws are to take them off, my question is how do the top of the door panels stay on?
Has anyone done this before?
Kevin 94 Coupe
Has anyone done this before?
Kevin 94 Coupe
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 573
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From: ALAMOGORDO NM
Re: Door Panels (86shark)
I just went out and bought the C5 West door panels. They were a lot cheaper than the stock ones. The only thing I didn't like was, the individual who made the panel didn't do a good jod making them. one of the panels had air bubbles in the fiberglass. It took forever to fill them. Other than that, they look awesome and will last a lot longer than stock. It even updates the interior a bit.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 871
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From: Costa Mesa CA
Re: Door Panels (86shark)
Yours would be the same as my '87.
The tops of the door panels are held on to the door by a lip molded into the door itself. The door panel has a corresponding lip and is installed on the door by holding the bottom of the panel out at an angle away from the door and putting the two lips together at the top. Once the panel is under that lip the panel can be push flush with the door surface and the screws put in.
What happens is the door panel is plastic and heat and age deform the panel and allow the two lips to separate. Replacing the top black trim piece on the door panel helps a lot and a heat gun takes care of the rest of the deformation to the main panel. Or buy a new door panel for about $300.
There's two ways of having a nice older C4. Have lots of money or be good with your hands.
The tops of the door panels are held on to the door by a lip molded into the door itself. The door panel has a corresponding lip and is installed on the door by holding the bottom of the panel out at an angle away from the door and putting the two lips together at the top. Once the panel is under that lip the panel can be push flush with the door surface and the screws put in.
What happens is the door panel is plastic and heat and age deform the panel and allow the two lips to separate. Replacing the top black trim piece on the door panel helps a lot and a heat gun takes care of the rest of the deformation to the main panel. Or buy a new door panel for about $300.
There's two ways of having a nice older C4. Have lots of money or be good with your hands.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,978
Likes: 2
From: San Antonio Texas
Re: Door Panels (86shark)
I bought a $15 fiberglass kit from A-Zone..... made the lip on the panel slightly longer for more grip, and it reenforced it as well, as mine were cracked. Just my .02 worth.
:chevy
:chevy
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 218
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Re: Door Panels (86shark)
Kevin,
Check the back of the door panels, the ribbing that provides support for the panel can crack. When that occurs the panel will slightly deform out of shape and that can cause the panel to pop loose at the top. That's what's going on with mine right now. A quick way to check without removing the panel is to look for some 'flat' spots in the curved surface of the door panel's upper edge. For every place you have a crack, you'll probably have a slight flat spot from where the panel is now deformed. I've heard of people using rivets and bracing to repair the cracked ribbing. Also some people have used fiberglass. I can't tell you which is better to be honest.
Check the back of the door panels, the ribbing that provides support for the panel can crack. When that occurs the panel will slightly deform out of shape and that can cause the panel to pop loose at the top. That's what's going on with mine right now. A quick way to check without removing the panel is to look for some 'flat' spots in the curved surface of the door panel's upper edge. For every place you have a crack, you'll probably have a slight flat spot from where the panel is now deformed. I've heard of people using rivets and bracing to repair the cracked ribbing. Also some people have used fiberglass. I can't tell you which is better to be honest.
