How to replace/repair threaded insert on interior qtr panel trim

[Mark E.]

How can I repair a couple of holes in the interior quarter panel trim that are missing their threaded female insert? These are for the screws that attach the metal door jam trim pieces on a '70 coupe.

Is a repair kit available?

First photo shows the trim pieces; second photo shows a good hole with its threaded insert; third photo shows a hole with missing insert.

Thank you!

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[Dick W.]

Re: How to replace/repair threaded insert on interior qtr panel trim

EC Products/Corvette Pacifica has a repair kit. Pt#10716

[Mark E.]

Re: How to replace/repair threaded insert on interior qtr panel trim

Perfect. Thank you Dick!

[Edward J.]

[Mark E.]

Re: How to replace/repair threaded insert on interior qtr panel trim


Thanks Edward. I wish I had the old inserts because the repair kit is expensive!

[Bill C.]

Re: How to replace/repair threaded insert on interior qtr panel trim

The repair kits are available from all the usual sources, Corvette Central, Ecklers, Zip Corvette, etc. Anyone needing one or two pieces is welcome to PM me and I can help.
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[Mark E.]

Re: How to replace/repair threaded insert on interior qtr panel trim

Update: This weekend, I installed three threaded repair inserts into the quarter panel trim pieces. I used a kit offered by Bill Caldwell and it worked great. A shout out to Bill, Dick and Edward for their guidance and help.

Also this weekend, I finished fitting the carpet, and installed the seat and shoulder belts. Next is the radio, center gauge cluster, RH dash and consoles.
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[Patrick B.]

Re: How to replace/repair threaded insert on interior qtr panel trim

Mark -- I see in your photos that your console wiring is exposed, and I would like you to check if your car has a peculiar black wire in the console that I discovered in my July 3 built 70 Corvette. I partially disassembled the inside of my console seeking access to the studs holding the gage cluster to the console as shown the the attached (I hope) photo. Besides the orange wire for the cigarette lighter, the lamp wire for the lighter, and the black ground wire attached to the heater blower switch, there is another black wire that I tagged with some yellow masking tape. There is no connector on the wire, and I don't know what is is for. I had seen this wire years ago when changing transmissions, and I just grounded it with a clip lead because it looked like a ground wire for something.

The Assembly Manual (Section 12 B 5) shows a console ground that looks like the ground attached to the blower switch, and notes that the console ground was changed on 1/16/70. My car is pretty late but maybe the second black wire is some vestige left over from an earlier ground arrangement?

[Mark E.]

Re: How to replace/repair threaded insert on interior qtr panel trim

Patrick,

Looking at the wiring diagram and my car, the connector for the console ground has two 14 gauge black wires attached to it. In your photo, that connector is plugged onto the right side of the ventilation control, just above and to the left of the loose wire. So just reattach the wire to that connector.

[Patrick B.]

Re: How to replace/repair threaded insert on interior qtr panel trim

Thanks, Mark. That solves the long mystery of where the wire should go. Oddly enough, I don’t think it was ever crimped into the other connector. Does your connector look like mine? The Assembly Manual shows what looks like a connector with a plastic cover and only one wire attached.
BTW, your car looks great in Donnybrooke Green and Saddle.

[Mark E.]

Re: How to replace/repair threaded insert on interior qtr panel trim

Here's a photo. I think we have the same style connector but it's hard to tell from your photo.

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[Patrick B.]

Re: How to replace/repair threaded insert on interior qtr panel trim

I am at my garage now, and I see that the upper tab on the connector in my photo had once been lightly crimped on the mystery wire but it had never been soldered like the other wire. I think it is the same as your connector, but it never had the plastic cover. I had not noticed this before. Thanks for the picture of you car. Now I can fix it correctly.