Door Panel Repair
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 899
Likes: 0
From: Copperas Cove TX
Door Panel Repair
I purchased a fine 86 one owner. The one problem was the 'Ol Gentleman decided he wanted CD capability, instead of going the CD Changer route he bought a, not so swift, Pioneer and some aftermarket speakers and had them put in. They cut a bunch of wires and screwed it up. I decided to reinstall the Bose system, my last step was to hook up the front speaker boxes that had been unhooked so they could use the wires for the nasty little speakers. Pulled the door panels this morning and did I find a mess. They had broke the mounting flanges off both door lock switches, broke 4 of the 6 the plastic mounting bolts off the upper black trim pieces. The door lock switches I ground off the remainer of the flanges, bent 90 degree angles in some light metal and epoxied them in place of the flanges, worked great. The broken plastic studs on that upper trim had enough of the studs left that I was able to put washer on them, took my soldering iron and melted the remaining plastic over the washer, held good. Don't buy new parts see if you can repair what you have. :flag
[Modified by LoneStarSoldier, 2:31 PM 9/23/2003]
[Modified by LoneStarSoldier, 2:31 PM 9/23/2003]
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 670
Likes: 1
From: charlotte nc
Re: Door Panel Repair (LoneStarSoldier)
i had a similar problem with my 86 except i was the one who broke the plastic studs on the upper panel. I removed and used the original pal nuts but i used small(real tiny) brass screws, drilled and screwed into the end of the broken plastic studs to secure the pal nuts. that way they are secured in exactly the same position as they were before they were broken. By the way, anyone who has to remove their door panels should be very careful of all the attach points as you can scew up a lot of things that will take a lot of time and patience to repairespecially all the very brittle old plastic parts. Just ask me how i know. :cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 871
Likes: 0
From: Costa Mesa CA
Re: Door Panel Repair (LoneStarSoldier)
Yeah,
I have completely rebuilt my door panels as well. Underneath the upholstery they are just ABS plastic but it sure beats the cardboard ones of yester-year.
For the price those thieves get for a new door panel, it's much easier to repair the old panel no matter what the condition. You can buy those upper door panel strips and the window seals at a resonable cost and just repair and reupholster the rest.
BIG JIM
I have completely rebuilt my door panels as well. Underneath the upholstery they are just ABS plastic but it sure beats the cardboard ones of yester-year.
For the price those thieves get for a new door panel, it's much easier to repair the old panel no matter what the condition. You can buy those upper door panel strips and the window seals at a resonable cost and just repair and reupholster the rest.
BIG JIM
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,884
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: Door Panel Repair (BIG JIM 54)
:iagree:
Got some fiberglass material and soaked it in a superglue and hardner mix and applied to back of door panels to repair stress areas and reinforce, but did buy top trim pieces and carpet panels...
Got some fiberglass material and soaked it in a superglue and hardner mix and applied to back of door panels to repair stress areas and reinforce, but did buy top trim pieces and carpet panels...
