Doors help (inner panel and hardware)
 

My doors have had a few ongoing issues that I decided to deal with today. I have two questions as a result.

1. On the right door, the rear door panel screw (right by the hatch release switch) nylon anchor crumbled when I tried to put it back together. Anyone know where to get that?
2. The right door panel "hooks" over the door at the top. I "settle" the panel onto the door, make sure all harness, etc are out of the way, but the bottom of the panel is still ~2" away from the bottom of the door. When I try to align the lower screw holes, it pops the top of the door panel off the top of the door. I think the "pivot point" is the upper door/grab handle tin anchor. It seems like that thing is too long and the door panel pivots about that part. Here is what the top of the door panel looks like after it's "popped" off, and also a pic of the inner/underside of the top of the panel....


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...6d97d254ff.jpg


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...7c4d6a743a.jpg





Anyone have experience with this PITA?

Can you get a couple of pictures of the ribbing at the top of the panel? it looks like (without seeing close ups) that the panel ribs are cracked.. that would explain why the door panel does not stay in place. I know the 94-96 design panels have this issue.. While I prefer the 94-96 look and pattern, the 90-93 seem to be better constructed but are not without issues.

Sure. When I get home tonight I can. I don't think the ribs are broken, but I'll look and take pics.

Car is a '92.

Is the nylon insert identical to those across the bottom of the door frame that secures the door trim panel?

It appears to be. I'm glad you popped in. :)

It's crumbled to pieces, but yes, I think it's the same as the bottom ones.

if that insert is the same as the bottom those can be found on eBay and several corvette part vendors

I have an early door here and it's identical on it as the ones on the bottom,.

GM # 1377030 or an equivalent.. Local shouldn't be an issue. I don't have any loose ones. It might be wise maybe to just buy a few and do the lowers at the same time.

Thanks to you both. W'that part number, I can get a handful. Thank you.



Here you go. '92. It just feels like you're bending the panel way too much to get it stay on, on the top, while you're trying to force the bottom toward the door.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...0e8f1574b7.jpg



https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...d4fb55e8c8.jpg


In this last one, I'm pointing at the door handle mount/brace that I believe the door panel is "pivoting" on...I think if I cut that and made it shorter, the panel would go on, O.K.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...f40dc3c56e.jpg

Seems like a completely obvious thing to do...right? Buuuut, I hadn't thought of it. This is why we post on forums; to get a fresh take. Thank you. I'll give that a shot tomorrow and see how it fits.

I agree. It needs to be there one way or another.

I think the door panel is bent (warped). I removed the metal brace for the handle, but the panel on and it behaves virtually the same way. Here is how it sits w/all wires moved out of the way, etc....


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...b9c353c0ba.jpg





I believe this is where the issue is. This protrusion hits the door, the harder I push in on the panel, the more that part is pressed against the door, and the panel seems to want to pivot about that point.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...87ecfa6e0c.jpg



https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...2eaeb1e9ae.jpg


Anyone have any luck heating these things and "encouraging" them to have some different shape?

Before you try to heat the panel.. is the inner metal structure out of shape? the inner piece is just bolted to the door.. maybe all the years of pulling the door closed caused the inner piece to bend slightly causing your issue..

That is an excellent point. I'll check. Thank you.

What is the latest with your door panels?

I haven't even looked at it. :( I worked on the 'Vette Kart this weekend instead. I'll post up what I see for sure though....

Are you saying the door panel is piviting on the door handle?

Just under/behind the door handle, is what I'm seeing.

I don't see any bending of the metal panel behind the door handle at all....


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...985943cd2e.jpg



This is the part of the door panel that I think is hitting. I know it's hitting, and there may be another place that's hitting, but I don't think so. I think it's all that point...
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...532e545a48.jpg



Does this amount of "offset" Or "protrusion" look right? In the foreground (dark/fuzzy) is the top of the door panel and you can see the bottom on the "horizon", allowing you to see that that protrusion sticks up (in toward the door) about 2" more than the top and bottom of the panel...

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...55fbb93f27.jpg