1967 Convertible Door Panel Fit Issues

[Richard M.]

After doing some interior door work I'm trying to decide what to door with these panels. I feel they are older reproductions from the 80/90/00's era. Not sure where from. There's a handwritten "BRH" on the back, but I think it's ....."Back Right Hand".

Much research in archives and elsewhere. This post has a bit when Patrick asked, and Gene, you said you massaged in a press. I think I need to do more than that....

As you can see, there is a 3/8" + gap at the vent window.

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Here is the Pass side apart with some better views of the issue....
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I asked Al Knoch for some photos of their recent reproduction panels last week. Nothing back yet.

I'm in a bit of a quandry. I'm torn between trying to fix these nice panels or not. I'm afraid I may make them worse. My thought is to remove the front staples for the stainless and peel the vinyl back and dremel off a bit of the reinforcement, then carefully try to bend the SS trim a bit, or maybe even cut off some at a angle.

Also, there is not enough metal on the backside to catch the protrusion of the inner skin. There's a recognizable tab that according to the AIM, the panel should fit over that. I'm thinking of adding a small tab to the back of the panel to catch it firmly.

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Any thoughts about my thoughts?

Does anyone have recent panels from AK or elsewhere that can share some fitment photos?

Thanks,
Rich

[Donald O.]

Re: 1967 Convertible Door Panel Fit Issues

Rich
Those are definitely repops. The originals were date coded with an ink stamp.

I'll try to get some pix of my originals later today for you, these do not have a gap at the vent window.

Don

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Convertible Door Panel Fit Issues

Thanks Don...

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Convertible Door Panel Fit Issues

A buddy sent a photo of his original '66 panel....
RJM_66_1.jpg

Clearly a slight radius to the area.

I decided NOT to try to modify these panels. Instead I did this....I made a reinforcement from flat stock.
P3280038.jpgP3280042.jpg

It tucks behind the inner skin tab/with metal behind it, and helped pull it in.
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I may quit while I'm ahead and do the same on the Driver's side.

Rich

[Ralph P.]

Re: 1967 Convertible Door Panel Fit Issues

Richard, one problem seems to be the bolt connecting the inner panel support through a hole in the vent window assembly. Looks like the thin fiberglass is broken, resulting in the inner panel not being drawn closer to the vent assembly.... a very common failure. There have been previous
posts showing how to fabricate a metal reinforcement bridging this gap. The bolt can then go through this support & the panel pulled closer to the vent assembly. It's trial & error to fabricate, but, it works.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Convertible Door Panel Fit Issues

Hi Ralph, Yes but this one isn't that bad. It's the panel being so straight.

This is how I've repaired those areas, and you are right.....tedious. A weak link from day one.

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[Ralph P.]

Re: 1967 Convertible Door Panel Fit Issues

I see what you mean.... the door panel should definitely have a slight curve .

[Leif A.]

Re: 1967 Convertible Door Panel Fit Issues

A buddy sent a photo of his original '66 panel....
[ATTACH=CONFIG]69565[/ATTACH]

Clearly a slight radius to the area.

I decided NOT to try to modify these panels. Instead I did this....I made a reinforcement from flat stock.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]69566[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]69567[/ATTACH]

It tucks behind the inner skin tab/with metal behind it, and helped pull it in.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]69571[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]69568[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]69569[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]69570[/ATTACH]

I may quit while I'm ahead and do the same on the Driver's side.

Rich

Rich,
Not sure if these will be on any help. '67 Coupe door panels. Note bend at vent window.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Convertible Door Panel Fit Issues

Thanks Leif,

That gap looks pretty nice, not too big. The kink in yours is more pronounced than these.

Rich

[Donald O.]

Re: 1967 Convertible Door Panel Fit Issues

As promised.

Sorry about the size
Passenger side



and then drivers side

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Convertible Door Panel Fit Issues

Thanks for those photos Don. I can see there is minimal gap. Certainly not 3/8" like on these here before my "fix".

It does appear that the top SS trim is still quite straight but the bends at the vent window rear channel make it a better looking transition.

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Convertible Door Panel Fit Issues

It's always interesting when we take these cars apart. The Driver's side had some unusual "features".

The rear sash height stop rubber bumper was comprised of a clutch pedal push-rod bumper from a C1.....

Correct bumper on the right.
P3280051.jpg

The door opening knob was always a bit "unsure" of itself, loose and not a good springy return. Now I see why. The return spring was broken and a interesting fix was done with bailing wire and a C-Clip. A new spring will fix it.
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DS Vent Window now has it's new regulator also.
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This was the main objective of this exercise to take the doors apart. Of course there are always other things that need work once the panels come off. I still have to make my modification the the DS door panel for a better fit, but other issues always interrupt the plans.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Convertible Door Panel Fit Issues

Door latch mechanisms complete. New spring on DS latch and peened both loose knob shafts.
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So I go to reinstall the vent window on the DS side after replacing the VW regulator. I cannot seem to get the VW adjusted properly to the windshield sideframe. When I tilt the VW assembly forward, the sash slips out of the rear channel when i get a good VW frame to WS frame fit. It was never a good fit. I found out why.

I soon recalled this saying from years ago that someone had on his wall, with a picture above it. The picture was a swamp and alligator. The caption read.......

"When you're up to your a$$ in alligators, try to remember that the main objective was to drain the swamp"

So just replacing a vent window regulator is now turning into a swamp drain. The gators are getting bigger.

The original sideglass is set wrong into the sash. We talked about this in another thread here.

The assembly cannot move forward properly into the vent window rear vertical channel. It was always like this. The rear edge of the glass is too far into the rear channel, hitting the channel before the vertical glide of the sash.

The glass must come out of the sash and be moved forward 1/4" to allow proper adjustment. I would expect to see 3/4" from the rear of the glass to the sah. I see 1" on this one.
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Let the alligator biting commence.

[Stewart L.]

Re: 1967 Convertible Door Panel Fit Issues

It looks like a reproduction vent regulator you are using. Once you get it in can you give us a report on how well it works and if it would pass PV?
Stewart

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Convertible Door Panel Fit Issues

Stewart, I have both installed and there is minimal play in the crank handle before the glass starts to move, about 1/16" or less. Grabbing the handle moves the glass slightly right away, so it's pretty solid.

With the vent window open half way, I get about 1/8" of play in the window when I grab it and rock it back and forth.

I'm happy with them......

However, I had to grind ends of the shafts a bit on a grinder to get these original cranks to fit the shafts. After that they both fit fine.

Rich