C3 Storage door trim

[Eric F.]

Does anyone know what is used to fasten the trim to the doors? The trim holds the carpet to the door. There are two "circles" on each of the four door edges. I drilled them out to remove the trim but I couldn't tell if I was drilling out plastic pins or hardened epoxy or glue. It's time to put the trim back on the newly carpeted doors but I don't know what fasteners the factory used. Does anyone know?

Thanks in advance.

[Harmon C.]

Re: C3 Storage door trim

Eric
You have two choices. First you must be working on a Corvette built after Jan. 73 as that is when the attachment method you described started.

Method One

The doors were wood and the trim was attached with screws before Jan. 73 and you can buy the wood doors and throw the plastic ones you have away and put your new trim on with screws.

Method Two

To restore the plastic doors you need to grind down the edge till the new trim fits. I do this on a bench sander with a 8" flat disc 36 grit. The new trim has holes and I drill holes and stop just before it breaks through inside. I use screws and cut each to length so they don't show on the inside.
This is not 100% correct but until I put this in print very few had any knowledge of this little detail. I now need to work on shooting hot plastic in the screw holes like the factory did it or take the hit for screws.
Lyle

[Eric F.]

Re: C3 Storage door trim

Lyle,

I am working on a 1975 and the doors and trim are in great shape. I only removed the trim because the carpet needed to be replaced. I suppose using screws and filing them with plastic will work. Good idea.

Thanks for the information.

By the way..... do you know how the factory attached the trim after 1973?

[Steven B.]

Re: C3 Storage door trim

Eric, Great question! I am in the process of performing the same restoration, and I would hope someone who answer the question for the 68's. Maybe Kurt???

[Terry F.]

Re: C3 Storage door trim

For most of 68 the compartment door trim was held on by some very long chrome philips head screws. The head would sit flush with the trim. Very early 68 doors were plastic. Super early doors had recessed handles (super strange looking and I have only seen early pictures of them). I have also heard that the reproduction trim pieces have a different hole alignment. So, that is one way to tell them apart. The fiber doors for 68 were made from samsonite(? I forget the name) and the underside was not painted (natural color). Some doors may have had some holes drilled in them to attach a spacer to hit the glove box switch. I have only seen minimal evidence of that though. If you need pictures, you will have to email me. Terry tfringo@aol.com