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Door panel question

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Door panel question

Posted: 10/3/04 7:02pmMessage 1 of 13
M
Former Member
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San Antonio, TX - USA
Joined: 9/8/2003
Posts: 117
Vette(s): 1973 Corvette Roadster Elkhart Green, 300hp 4-spd // 2003 Millinium Yellow Coupe
I’ve noticed this on many convertibles, the door panels at the top have rolled inwards some, mine are bad enough that they slip off of the top retainers.

Has anyone ever tried to heat them up on the back side and bend them back?

These panels are in great shape other than that.

Rick
|idea|
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Door panel question

Posted: 10/13/04 6:14pmMessage 2 of 13
M
Former Member
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San Antonio, TX - USA
Joined: 9/8/2003
Posts: 117
Vette(s): 1973 Corvette Roadster Elkhart Green, 300hp 4-spd // 2003 Millinium Yellow Coupe
Was this such a bad idea that nobody will comment?

Rick |headscratch|

|UPDATED|10/13/2004 6:14:04 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
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Door panel question

Posted: 10/13/04 6:21pmMessage 3 of 13
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Waterford, MI - USA
Joined: 9/13/2002
Posts: 1795
Vette(s): 1973 Red coupe
A picture of the area might help.

Brian - NCM Lifetime Member

73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System

Dewitt radiator and dual electric fans
Borgeson Steering box
 


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Door panel question

Posted: 10/13/04 6:35pmMessage 4 of 13
M
Former Member
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San Antonio, TX - USA
Joined: 9/8/2003
Posts: 117
Vette(s): 1973 Corvette Roadster Elkhart Green, 300hp 4-spd // 2003 Millinium Yellow Coupe
The gap area I am speaking about is at the very top, at the window. I was thinking about taking the door panel off, heating it up on the inside at the top fold area, and slowly bending it back.

Rick
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Door panel question

Posted: 10/14/04 3:39amMessage 5 of 13
d
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KERNERSVILLE, NC - USA
Joined: 1/13/2004
Posts: 1355
Vette(s): 1968 L-71 convertible
It's not necessarily a bad idea.......... Kind of risky.
Are yours original? my old ones had a fiberboard back, the new repos are plastic. The plastic may respond to heating and reshaping, but I can't see the original types taking too much heat.
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Door panel question

Posted: 10/14/04 4:47amMessage 6 of 13
Y
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Louisville, KY - USA
Joined: 11/11/2003
Posts: 97
Vette(s): 1971 LT1 Convertible PS PB 43K miles
Mine are the same. Did'nt notice it until someone else pointed it out recently. I was able to more or less force them back into the proper position over the retainers but they have probably been in the wrong position for so long they may not stay there for long.
Will try again on a nice hot summer day.

Rgds Neil
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Door panel question

Posted: 10/14/04 2:47pmMessage 7 of 13
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Joined: 4/20/2004
Posts: 15
Vette(s): 1972 LS5, Onatario Orange, Numbers Matching, T-top car, in process of body-off restoration. 1992 LT1 roadster, showroom new condition.
My door panels were the same way as yours, curled at the top with a gap big enough to stuff a small cat in. I found the best place for them was in the trash!!! They were OE with the masonite (fiberboard) backing. The only hope of making fiberboard bend into shape is to wet it down and the set some sort of weight on it (50lb or greater) and hope that it returns to original shape. Otherwise, call Eckler's or Corvette America.
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Door panel question

Posted: 10/14/04 2:57pmMessage 8 of 13
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Hot Springs, AR - USA
Joined: 4/24/2004
Posts: 3236
Vette(s): 69 Conv #'s match 427, TKO-600/.64, 3.36HD-Posi, HT, T/T, PS, PB, PW, SP, Leather, Comp XE264HR & Roller Rockers & Lifters, Air-Gap RPM intake, Holley St Av 770 VS, MSD 6AL+Dist+Blaster SS, K&N, Jet-Hot Hooker Side-Pipes, Steeroids, Al Rad, Spal Fans
I tried very unsuccesfully to straighten original panels

sold on ebay as is (was)....

and bought new ones..
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Door panel question

Posted: 10/14/04 6:20pmMessage 9 of 13
M
Former Member
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San Antonio, TX - USA
Joined: 9/8/2003
Posts: 117
Vette(s): 1973 Corvette Roadster Elkhart Green, 300hp 4-spd // 2003 Millinium Yellow Coupe
I can't remember if they were fiberboard or plastic backed, I'm thinking plastic. Either way I'll be the ginnie pig and give it a try and post results when we get back from losing money in Vegas.

Maybe I can pocket some cash for a set of new ones and tell my wife the tables took it?

Rick |thumb|
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Door panel question

Posted: 10/14/04 6:55pmMessage 10 of 13
d
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KERNERSVILLE, NC - USA
Joined: 1/13/2004
Posts: 1355
Vette(s): 1968 L-71 convertible
 Mavrick331 said: I can't remember if they were fiberboard or plastic backed, I'm thinking plastic. Either way I'll be the ginnie pig and give it a try and post results when we get back from losing money in Vegas.

Maybe I can pocket some cash for a set of new ones and tell my wife the tables took it?

Rick |thumb|
 

Now there's a man that's thinkin'!!!!!!!!!!! |bouncy|
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