'68 Door Panels

[Dennis M.]

The strange differences thru the 1968 production year were suggested as a reason not to buy a '68, but I went for the challenge. I have observed the following in trying to re-install my door panels correctly.

Question #1

NCRS Judging Reference Manual: States that the interion window whiskers are stapled to the door panel.

Assembly Manual: Shows on page H157 the interior whiskers are a separate piece secured to the inner door by screws.

My car (June 1968 production date): Has a separate piece riveted to the inner door, but with a wide (1/2") rubber lip running the entire length of the window. Additionally the inner door panels which give all the markings and indication as original do not show any possible presence of the whisker trim being attached by stapes to the inner door panel (no staple holes in the inner lip of the door panel).

Has any other '68 Corvettes been seen with the whisker inner trim piece with wide rubber strip? Or riveted to the inner door (not to the panel)?

Question #2

Assembly Manual: Shows that the door panels are attached with 4 clips (2 at the top (front/rear) and two at the bottom (front/rear); with the five (5) nylon fasteners and shows two other fastener at the top in the middle (marked as #6 part # 3926362). (page H156)

My '68: Has the five nylon clips and the holes in the inner door metal for the other two top fasteners, but does not appear that they were ever installed. Likewise the door panels has the holes for the fasteners but they appear to be filled with a putty and appears that nothing was installed. The upper front/rear clips cut-outs are in the door panels, but there is no appearence of holes in the door where they would be attached.

This leaves me with a big question of how these panels could have ever been attached to the inner door? Apparently the previous owner had a similar type of problem and had added two screws thru the panels at the top to secure the panels. I'd like to put the original panels back on, but have no idea of how they could have been installed from the factory.

I have looked at '69 door panels and see that they have a lip to slip over the inner door tabs to secure at the top and with the additional rubber trim, this cannot work. Additionally there is no lip at the top of the door panels.

[Gene M.]

Re: '68 Door Panels

re ' door panels gene manno dennis i'm not clear do you have the original door panels do they have pockets for closing the door by your description there seems to a mismatch in early and later designs you mention felt strips and rubber strips i think all door panels have a return flange at the top i will check out my very early and make a sketch to mail you if you think that would help

[Dennis M.]

Re: '68 Door Panels

re ' door panels dennis moore gene yes i believe these to be original door panels yes they have both the recessed door pull and the handle how were these door panels intend to be hung with clips or over the tabs as in ' thanks for any assistance dennis

[Paul B.]

Re: '68 Door Panels

Dennis, my '68 conv. ( build date May 6, 1968 car #18434) also has the 1/2 inch wide rubber strip not fastened to the door panel. It is fastened to the inner metal part of the door. My car also has two interior type screws that appear to be original at the top of the panel front and back where you describe your car's holes to have been putty'd(puttied?). My car also has the recessed door pull and the pull that's similar to a large strap. The panel is also held on by two black oxide "s" clips lower front and lower back of the metal part of the door. Also to GENE MANNO I found in my garage that poster of your '68 International Blue conv. with hardtop that I had bought at a swap meet some years ago(it lists your name as the owner in small print at the bottom). Seems your car in that photo is an early '68 with the foward rear view mirror. I've seen that up to about serial #12,300. Car looks great especially with hardtop installed!

[Dennis M.]

Re: '68 Door Panels

Paul,

Thanks for the info, sound just like what I see on my panels. Is the 1/2" rubber strip below the top of the door panel or above the top of the door panel. The way my appears is that it should be below with the wear marks on the rubber, but the strip is wide enough to come over the top of the panel, so I'm not sure what way is correct.

[Jack H.]

Re: '68 Door Panels

Be VERY careful in reading/interpreting the AIM for your car. These documents were not for sale to the public and those that exist came from various "drawers" of workers. Stuff changed. What you have is one guy's documentation snapshot at one point in time!

Each dwg has an ECR (engineering change request) block at the bottom and documents running changes "of merit" to that point in time. It does NOT show what happened before/after this point in time. It does NOT show what might have happened under temporary waiver conditions, Etc.

Last, the pictures in the AIM are draftsmen's "reasonable effort" and intended to be illustrative of the process for GM internal use. Do NOT look at a pix/dwg and take it for gospel....

Bottom line, while the AIM is a very helpful document, it is not the final word and the universe of restoration should include the NCRS Judging Guide, examples of known original and similar cars, plus the personal knowledge of experienced judges. So, there's no "CORRECT" answer to a lot of questions and you may have to search and struggle along the way. This is the fun and excitement of our hobby!

[Paul B.]

Re: '68 Door Panels

Dennis, mine is below.