C3 Door Panel Fit

[Roger S.]

The replacement door panels for my '73 do not fit to the door at the rear top. See picture below.

How can I get the panels to fit against the door panel? Can the panel be heated with a blow hair dryer to soften them and then reform?





Roger

[Wayne P.]

Re: C3 Door Panel Fit

Did you use the original screw hole in the door? The mount screw looks too low.

[Roger S.]

Re: C3 Door Panel Fit

It appears to be the original screw hole as there is only one hole in the door inner panel. The passenger side trim panel has its screw in the same location. The passenger side door trim panel has about 1/2 the amount of gap.
Roger

[Harmon C.]

Re: C3 Door Panel Fit

Roger
I have found that replacement door panels only fit good about half the time. To make the panels fit I have had to use a die grinder on the holes in the lock shaft mount and move it to get the panel to fit. I have spent one to eight hours to get a new door panel to fit the door. I have used more than one vendor and it makes no difference.

[Bill C.]

Re: C3 Door Panel Fit

make sure the panel is slipped over the tangs (top side of the door) correctly.

Start the process by fitting the panel correctly on the top side 1st, then swing the door panel down to slide over the window regulator, and other items protruding on the door panel.
Sometimes you have to keep pressure on the top while swinging the door panel down.

I know this all seems cryptic when written, and you are probably wondering what in the heck I'm trying to describe. Tried my best to write it for you

If this does not work, maybe the new door panel is warped.
Did you have the same problem on both doors?

[Chuck S.]

Re: C3 Door Panel Fit

I think Bill's onto something there...at the rear, where the panel is deformed, it looks like the door panel is on the wrong side of the door structure that secures the top of the door panel, and that's holding the door panel out of proper position at the top rear. Like Bill says, most door panels are "hung" or fitted at the top and then the lower portion secured.

[Harmon C.]

Re: C3 Door Panel Fit

The lock shaft if too low it will not allow the panel to stay in the clips at the top. The chrome trim will only fit in one place on the panel and the lock shaft has very little room to adjust the panel. Door panels take time to fit them so don't rush the job and do what it takes to make them fit.