Having trouble with new door panels

[cjoenny89]

I bought plastic door panels to replace the dinged up rusty metal ones on our truck and they look great but they don't fit in the upper door panel holder like old metal ones did. Has anyone else had trouble going from metal to new plastic door panels? I can't push the panels into the holders far enough. If I pull them out of the door they fit on the panels put not straight. Maybe trimming them? Any suggestions?

[hugger6933]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong and sure they will but the plastic panels are from a 72 and the metal ones are 67-71. the 72 takes a different regulator and lock actuator they are longer on the shaft. Jim

[cjoenny89]

I bought the kit from LMC it looks pretty good not going for total correctness on years jist what looks good. But need to make it fit. I know the arm rest were wrong! I think I should have just painted the old ones black!

[centuryhousedw]

Originally Posted by hugger6933

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong and sure they will but the plastic panels are from a 72 and the metal ones are 67-71. the 72 takes a different regulator and lock actuator they are longer on the shaft. Jim

Does this mean none of the metal repros will fit a 72? I was about to buy a set.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by cjoenny89

I bought plastic door panels to replace the dinged up rusty metal ones on our truck and they look great but they don't fit in the upper door panel holder like old metal ones did. Has anyone else had trouble going from metal to new plastic door panels? I can't push the panels into the holders far enough. If I pull them out of the door they fit on the panels put not straight. Maybe trimming them? Any suggestions?

I had the same issue. Bought the plastic repro panels and they were way too big to fit into the slot at the top. I used a sanding roll on my dremel to trim them down until they fit.

The holes in the bottom didn't match well either, 2 of them were half a hole off on each panel.

Once I finally got them installed, they rattle. Horribly. I tried everything, shimming behind them, dynomat, etc. Finally gave up, painted my old metal ones and put them back.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by centuryhousedw

Does this mean none of the metal repros will fit a 72? I was about to buy a set.

72 takes a different door panel than 67-71. Its a plastic panel with a molded in armrest.

[Custom/Ten]

Originally Posted by centuryhousedw

Does this mean none of the metal repros will fit a 72? I was about to buy a set.

Yes, the door handle and window crank stick out further on the 72. You can change the internals but that's a lot more work and a little more money.

[midniteblues]

the kid got a set of those plastic door panels they did need a lil' trimming.
his fit into the upper trim but really loosely not tight like the oe's did.

his had extra flashing/molding around the edges that needed triming also had to wallow out a few of the screw holes just a tad as they didnt line up quite rite.

the supplied trim washers still covered the holes though. also his dont lay quite flat like the oe's did. he got what he paid for....plastic

if ya do trim them just be carefull on how you do it. line up the holes an go from there

[sboris]

Im a little confused. Are you guys jamming the plastic panels in under the 67-71 style upper trim? I didnt think 72 panels had upper trim.. They mount without. I thought.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by sboris

Im a little confused. Are you guys jamming the plastic panels in under the 67-71 style upper trim? I didnt think 72 panels had upper trim.. They mount without. I thought.

No, we are talking about pre-72. They make aftermarket plastic replacements for the metal door panels used from 67-71. But they don't fit very well and require excessive massaging.

I bought them because I had seen a set that looked nice in another truck, and they were inexpensive. I changed my interior from blue to black, and the originals were in poor shape anyways.

Turned out to be a bad plan.

[sboris]

Oooohhhh. Gotcha!!!!! Yeah, just didnt make sense. Lol. Should have drank my coffee first.
Bummer on those panels. Sure is hard to beat OEM. Good luck to u guys.