Coupe Door panel problem...

[johnny butt]

I hate to post a thread, I'm sure this has been answered somewhere else, but I couldn't find anything about this other than how to convert from old convertible door panels to new coupe door panels.

I've already got the coupe panels I want (for now), but the problem is that they do not connect to the door at the bottom. Every time I close the door from the inside of the car it feels as if I am very close to just ripping the panel off of the door completely. I've attached a few pictures, the first two are of the drivers side, last one of the passenger's side

This is of the driver's side. These clips are at the bottom, but they don't seem to clip to anything properly...:



a second, closer look at the drivers side:



And here is the passenger's side. There are more in-tact clips here, but they also don't seem to be clipping to anything:



So, I guess my question is for anyone who has done the conversion already, did you have any problems similar to this? Either way, what would be a simple solution to get the clips to fit into the holes? They go in fine but do not stay when pulled on even slightly. I noticed that some of the clips are broken, and some are even missing, but I couldn't find any part# information in regards to them so that I can get some new ones ordered. The panels are also power-windows/door locks, and it is on a 1993 convertible.

I'm trying to avoid removing the panel entirely, but if thats what I'm gonna have to do to fix it, I wouldn't really mind. I just want to be able to shut my door without fear of ripping the panel off. Thanks.
Modified by johnny butt at 3:53 PM 11/16/2007

[wmdavis007]

So you converted your convertible doors by cutting off the seatbelt pillar right? If so you may not have taken all the brackets off that were there for the convertible type doors. My suggestion is to take off the door panels and take some pics of the door for us to see. I'm sure it's one of those brackets that you just need to remove to get the panel to fit properly. Good luck.

[ishkabibble]

-some of the clips don't work and need to be removed-the very bottom of the coupe door panel needs to be bent down with a pliers due to a small vert door brace getting in the way a bit-you need to get the passenger grab handle hardware and coupe door panel cup metal brace things off a junker

[johnny butt]

Thanks for the responses. I should've taken the panels off initially, here are two pictures of the drivers side, and one of the passenger's. Sorry, it's already dark here so I hope the flash illuminates everything enough.

Driver:





passenger:



if better pictures are needed I could try and take them..

Also, anyone know where I could find these clips, or what a more specific name for them would be?

-you need to get the passenger grab handle hardware and coupe door panel cup metal brace things off a junker

The grab handle works fine, and is mounted properly, you can see the bracket for that in the passenger side pic. Unless there is something else you are talking about and I don't understand...

Thanks.

Modified by johnny butt at 4:35 PM 11/16/2007
Modified by johnny butt at 4:37 PM 11/16/2007

[ishkabibble]

There are also also these two U shaped metal things that wrap around the cup where the power window switches are located.

You might be able to find those clips in an auto parts store. They might be called something like upholstery clip or trim clip.

[whoflungpoo]

I'm running into some fitment issues as well, but have pretty much figured most of mine out.

some things that are jumping out at me as possible probs with yours:

- those "nipple" things could stand to go. there's about 4 of them on each door, and I know for a fact that at least one of them rubs

- on the passenger door you didn't remove that triangular bracing at the top, but you did on the driver's though. I didn't remove mine because I wanted to retain the rigidity, but I had to drill holes through to get the clips through, I also had to beat it back a bit.

- I noticed that even though I cut most of the crap out, some of it is still left behind on the edges, and doesn't let the panel meet flush to the door, so I'll be grinding whatever is left down.

I plan on attempting to tackle the rest of mine tomorrow, and I'll try and get pics of both my hatch doors and my vert chop project.

oh, and check the wire routing, i had some rubbing against the door panel as well.

sorry for the novel

[johnny butt]

There are also also these two U shaped metal things that wrap around the cup where the power window switches are located.

If you are talking about these brackets pictured, I have them, I just don't know where exactly to install them, none of the holes are lining up.

- on the passenger door you didn't remove that triangular bracing at the top, but you did on the driver's though. I didn't remove mine because I wanted to retain the rigidity, but I had to drill holes through to get the clips through, I also had to beat it back a bit.

The bracket on the passenger side is for the passenger grab handle. There isn't even a spot on the Driver Door panel for a grab handle, so I assumed since there was no bracket on the door itself, no handle piece, and even no spot on the panel for the handle to have been previously, that nothing was missing and my panels came complete. If I need the bracket, I could look for one, none of the 240s (this specific one being a hatch) in my junkyard nearest me had one though. They had it in the passengers side, but not the drivers side.

[whoflungpoo]

The bracket on the passenger side is for the passenger grab handle. There isn't even a spot on the Driver Door panel for a grab handle, so I assumed since there was no bracket on the door itself, no handle piece, and even no spot on the panel for the handle to have been previously, that nothing was missing and my panels came complete. If I need the bracket, I could look for one, none of the 240s (this specific one being a hatch) in my junkyard nearest me had one though. They had it in the passengers side, but not the drivers side.

I think we're talking about two different things the piece I was speaking of the piece I've circled in red here:



nothing attaches there, that is the piece I was talking about beating in a bit, as it rubbed on mine.

Also, those cup brackets won't really line up, as in addition to the wonderful bracing that ASC installed, they also chopped out quite a bit of the stock door. Part of it being the part that the rear of the bracket attaches.

btw, the stuff I circled in blue were the little nubbies I was talking about grinding down.

[johnny butt]

I think we're talking about two different things the piece I was speaking of the piece I've circled in red here:



nothing attaches there, that is the piece I was talking about beating in a bit, as it rubbed on mine.

Oh, yeah, we were, sorry I misunderstood, thanks. I haven't really noticed how that piece is affecting the door yet, I will check it tomorrow in daylight.

Also, those cup brackets won't really line up, as in addition to the wonderful bracing that ASC installed, they also chopped out quite a bit of the stock door. Part of it being the part that the rear of the bracket attaches.

btw, the stuff I circled in blue were the little nubbies I was talking about grinding down.

I noticed there were absolutely NO holes for those metal brackets to be attached to, so i'm just gonna leave them out for now. I got some new panel-retainer clips that I have installed on half of the panels, the other half there are no holes in my door for (which would explain my problem,) however on a few of the ones (the ones pictured) the retainer clips do not even reach the hole to clip in. I am going to see if the Blue-circled-nubs are what is the problem tomorrow.

Somebody said you have to take pliers and bend the bottom of the door panels down as well...I was looking at mine to see if that was a fitment/clearance issue, and I don't see what would have to be bent on the panels themselves (or which direction for that matter).