C2 - Ill fitting door panels solution?

[Richard G.]

I recently went to purchase replacement door panels as the first set didn't work out.
I ended up calling a different company, Al Knoch interiors, the second time around.
I spoke with the supervisor of the door panel department about some issue I had with finish and fitment with the other panels.
I was told I could remove the top steel plate from my originals and send them into Al's and they would make the panels to specifications using my original steel top plates. I had no idea they offered this service.
I took a picture with the Original Top Steel Plate removed from the original panel and installed onto the door. The fit is amazing.
They have a curve to them in both axis and the offset along the top next to the wing window post. I would like to see the originals next to the reproductions with out the panels attached. It is quite the compound bend stamping.
Sending the old one in saves $90 off the price of the panels. Off they go in the morning.
Rick

[Bob W.]

Re: C2 - Ill fitting door panels soluton?

Richard, Please post back on how this worked out. I have Al's panels without uppers as I plan on using my old uppers also.

Bob

[Frank D.]

Re: C2 - Ill fitting door panels soluton?

Its great if you have the original panels..... My Corvette America 63 panels came with the steel support dead straight a few years back (I understand they corrected that). I had to bend the repros CAREFULLY with a knee to get the curve closer at the bottom of the vent window. A bit nerve-wracking but I couldn't stand the wide gap without doing it.

[Chester C.]

Re: C2 - Ill fitting door panels soluton?

Have you received your panels back from AK using your original upper plates. How did it work out.

[Richard G.]

Re: C2 - Ill fitting door panels soluton?

Chester;
I couldn't be happier. The quality difference was stark.

All the panel screws lined up with the ones in the door.
The "L" stainless fit without slotting the upper hole in the steel support.
The vinyl embossing matched the "S" curve next to the top hinge.
They even included some matching vinyl for the top of the door pull if you wanted to use it.

The Corvette Central panels could have been good if they were assembled correctly.
The top steel and the press board stapled together incorrectly so everything was off.

Because Al Knoch gave me $90 credit for using my old steel panel tops they even were less money than what I paid for the CC ones.
I had to call to get the information about reusing the steel tops as I couldn't find this option on their web site.
Turn around time was about two weeks including shipping times.
You have read this before, if you need C2 interior parts AK is the only place if you plan on replacement.
Cheers
Rick

[Chester C.]

Re: C2 - Ill fitting door panels soluton?

Thanks Rick. I was curious if they were able to get the original plate on the new board correctly so that the panel screws lined up. They must have some sort of fixture for doing this. What about the whiskers. Did they fit the original plate OK and how is the quality. chet

[Richard G.]

Re: C2 - Ill fitting door panels soluton?

Chester;
I believe there are holes in the press board and the top steel plate have holes that are used to aligned the parts before they are stapled together.
One could see the mismatch in the alignment holes in the CC panels. And measurements taken from the original set confirmed the difference. The AK panels had the familiar alignment holes. They are about 3/16 in diameter. It looks like AK even used them as I could see both the alignment holes in the steel and the press board.

I will post a couple differences below;
First picture is the original panel next to the CC panel.




This picture shows the patter on the CC vinyl visible on the wrong side of the "L" stainless.


Below is a picture of the cutout for the vent window handle. You have to remove one of the two cutouts depending if you have a coupe or a convertible. You can see the top steel protruding into the cutout. This should not be there. Another indication the steel panel and the press board were assembled incorrectly.



A picture of the CC panel installed;

Doesn't look too bad but you can see the missing screws because I couldn't get them in.

The Al Knoch panels had new whiskers stapled onto the steel upper section when they arrived. I didn't get pictures as I accepted it as is. I wasn't go to change it even though I have replacement whiskers. This would be a real pain to do at home and part of the built in value of replacement panels. Both the CC and the AK panels came with the whiskers installed. Both seemed to be installed correctly. Unsure what the judges might think about the part and or installation.

[Joe R.]

Re: C2 - Ill fitting door panels soluton?

Richard,

The door panels that Corvette Central sells are from Al Knoch. That's all they have ever sold. Presently only Al Knoch or Corvette America are making C-2 door panels.

JR

[Chester C.]

Re: C2 - Ill fitting door panels soluton?

Thanks for your pictures Rich. Anyone that has seen an original upper plate knows there is no way AK or CA can even come close to reproduction. It would take a special design press to fabricate with all the bends and curves. No one would have that kind of equipment.

[Richard G.]

Re: C2 - Ill fitting door panels soluton?

The press board backing panels were not even close to the same. They were even stapled together much differently. The AK had embossed areas where the staples were to be inserted which the CC panel lacked. The CC staples were inserted somewhat randomly. Even the textures of the press boards was different.
Purchase times was just over a month apart.

This is from an article in SuperChevy;
Thanks to decades of research and development, their experts are able to finely craft Corvette interiors and related components to support your C1 through C6 models at their exclusive facility located in Reedsville, Pennsylvania.

Below is a picture of CC manufacturing panels.


Al Knoch is in Texas, not Pennsylvania.

I have been told CC makes a really nice C3 panel. However, If you need to purchasing a C2 panel I would recommend AK unequivocally.
Rick

[Jim D.]

Re: C2 - Ill fitting door panels soluton?

Richard,

The door panels that Corvette Central sells are from Al Knoch. That's all they have ever sold. Presently only Al Knoch or Corvette America are making C-2 door panels.

JR

I can't speak for the 63-64 panels but the 65-67 panels from Corvette America are FAR superior to those from AK. The fit at the vent window is identical to the OEM panels.

[Richard G.]

Re: C2 - Ill fitting door panels soluton?

For the record the CC panels I purchased had the offsets next to the wing/vent window. I understand the earlier versions didn't have the offset and many an owner was forced to bend their new panels to make the look correct. Otherwise they had a large gap from the concave on the door. I believe that issue has been dealt with by both CC and AL. I have no idea if CC will use an owner's original upper steel to manufacture a panel.
I marked the steel sections I sent to AK for use in my door panels. I am confident I received the same ones I sent in.
Rick

[Bob W.]

Re: C2 - Ill fitting door panels soluton?

Rich I spoke to Al Friday at Carlisle about him doing the same for me. Did you buy Al's whiskers and did they have the bend in them?

Thanks Bob

[Patrick H.]

Re: C2 - Ill fitting door panels soluton?

For the record the CC panels I purchased had the offsets next to the wing/vent window. I understand the earlier versions didn't have the offset and many an owner was forced to bend their new panels to make the look correct. Otherwise they had a large gap from the concave on the door. I believe that issue has been dealt with by both CC and AL. I have no idea if CC will use an owner's original upper steel to manufacture a panel.
I marked the steel sections I sent to AK for use in my door panels. I am confident I received the same ones I sent in.
Rick

Rick,

As JR mentioned above, Corvette Central does not make door panels, or really much of any soft interior parts.
Your first set were either made by Corvette America or from Al Knoch. Corvette Central is just the reseller.

If you can determine who made your first set it would be more helpful.

Patrick

[Richard G.]

Re: C2 - Ill fitting door panels soluton?

To clarify; First set was purchased through CC and were Corvette America's panels.

Both door panel sets, I purchased, had whiskers that were preinstalled and they were bent to match the panel. I didn't see where either company sold the panel without the whiskers preinstalled. The whiskers bend easily and I don't see this as an issue as the steel panel is much stiffer than the whiskers.

At this time, to the best of my knowledge, both companies only sell panels with the factory style dog leg in the top section.
Rick