Al Knoch Door Panels

[Roger G.]

Has anybody had recent, within the last five years, experience with Al Knoch door panels? I'd like to know how they fit, whether the top steel plate followed the contour of the door correctly, whiskers seted flat against the glass, panel fit flush to the door at the bottom. Any experience with paper backed or plastic backed panels? I'm considering giving them another try, bought some door panels from them many years ago which never fit properly. I hear good things about them in general, recent postings.

[Mark E.]

Re: Al Knoch Door Panels

A few years ago I pre-ordered and then picked up their ABS door panels at a car show to save shipping costs. One fit, the other didn't. I returned them ($60 shipping), Knoch adjusted them and shipped them back to me. The same one didn't fit. I called Knoch; they said they trial fitted them on a door before shipping so I must be doing something wrong. I took them to a local Corvette shop; they couldn't get them to fit either. I returned them with my original panels ($80 shipping) so they could repair and recover my original panels. When received, the door lock trim wasn't installed properly on one and the whisker trim on another was bent. So I returned them ($60 shipping). They fixed the trim, shipped them back.

After all that and $200 of extra shipping costs, the repaired and recovered panels fit ok and look decent (although the fake plastic wood trim they use on deluxe panels looks cheesy).

[Frank D.]

Re: Al Knoch Door Panels

I generally like AK products and used them on my '61, conv top, kick panel & door sheet metal inserts, etc. But I'll have to say that 5-1/2 years ago their 1963 deluxe door panels were less than perfect. The coupe panels were dead straight across the top and I had to (CAREFULLY) put the proper bend in them with my knee to conform the panels properly where the front vertical channel for the side glass that abuts the vent window meets the top of the door

Moreover the fit at the very top of the door - on each end - wasn't satisfactory (and still isn't). These aren't areas amenable to an owner bending the steel to fit without distorting the entire panel. The panels are malformed enough that the inside tubular metal bead for the coupe window garnish won't transition properly to the inside of the door panel (last picture). In fact, in re-looking at this again, I'm disgusted enough with the fit I may revisit new panels as a fall project...

I have heard some owners send AK the original top door panel steel to be re-skinned and that works well; but I didn't have the original steel to do so.

Their offerings might be much better today, or be perfect for other year cars - I can't say. I DO know that their 63 coupe headliner is very close to an original look whereas Corvette America's headliner is a joke but the CA dash pads are first rate. Seems like "cherry picking" interior components for some cars from different vendors is the best approach.

[Leif A.]

Re: Al Knoch Door Panels

In recent years I've seen better results for your C3 door panels coming out of Corvette America. No personal experience with them, but those I've spoken with seem to be quite happy with their product.

[Bruce W.]

Re: Al Knoch Door Panels

Roger,
AK door panels will not fit correctly. I found an original pair and sent them to AK. They came back perfect fit. Your best bet is to try and find an original pair and send them to him.

[Michael M.]

Re: Al Knoch Door Panels

Al has purchased many original door panels from me. He told me he used these panels to help him with proper fit and color match on his new panels.

[Harry S.]

Re: Al Knoch Door Panels

Roger,
AK door panels will not fit correctly. I found an original pair and sent them to AK. They came back perfect fit. Your best bet is to try and find an original pair and send them to him.

Did your chrome have a few dings? if yes, did he fix the chrome also? Price point?

[Bruce W.]

Re: Al Knoch Door Panels

Harry,
no dings that i remember. was about 900.00 if i recall correctly. but they are perfect.
Bruce

[Russ T.]

Re: Al Knoch Door Panels

Within the past 24 months I have purchased C2 & C3 door panels from AK.

They may not be absolutely 100% flawless, but they are much better than the panels
I had previously purchased form Corvette America.

I have not purchased their C3 dash panels, so I can't speak to that.

I can tell you that the last C3 dash panels I purchased from Corvette America
didn't even come remotely close to fitting properly. This was about 3-4 years ago.

I had to purchase a nice set of original '68 dash panels off of Ebay and re-dye them.
They fit right in and look fine. However they're 42 years old and cost me as much
as the new CA panels that didn't fit at all.

Russ Trotter
NCRS # 15044

I

[Don L.]

Re: Al Knoch Door Panels

FWIW, I bought a set of the fiber-backed panels for my '72 approximately 5 years ago. While still not perfect, they fit a ton better than the ABS-backed panels I took off. I am not the original owner, therefore, I can't say who made the ABS panels. I ordered the fiber-backed panels from Al at Carlisle. He told me that he had a stock of fiber panels left over from when he supplied finished panels to GM. I didn't ask if he meant OE or service replacement. The fit was good and I only received minor deducts at a recent Regional judging. I'd say I am generally happy with my panels.

Hope this helps.

[Roger G.]

Re: Al Knoch Door Panels

Thanks. I have OEM panels which fit but are cracked, fiber backing has some damage. Are you saying he will replace the backing and reskin original panels?

[William H.]

Re: Al Knoch Door Panels

I just bought 68 door panels. They look good and fit ok

[Bruce W.]

Re: Al Knoch Door Panels

Roger,
i don't know about the fiber backed panels but he did re-skin the door panels fit and look perfect.
Bruce

[Joseph S.]

Re: Al Knoch Door Panels

Within the last 2 months I purchased a set of "bare" '63 AK door panels. Just recently finished installing them. I transferred the steel plates, and SS trim and applied the fuzzy window seals without any real issues. Panels looked and fit great, (except for two tiny glue marks on the vinyl) some adjustment requires but primarily around the staples used to attach the fuzzies to the steel plate. Predrilled holes in the panels all lined up with the doors. Good experience- Joe

[Mark E.]

Re: Al Knoch Door Panels

Thanks. I have OEM panels which fit but are cracked, fiber backing has some damage. Are you saying he will replace the backing and reskin original panels?

Yes. If you use AK, I highly recommend having them recover your original door panels. They remove the skin, do any needed repairs to the fiber backing, then reskin them. This method helps ensure they fit your doors.

In contrast, I had terrible fitment problems with their new ABS panels.