1968 Door Panel attachment

[John D.]

I have a question or two about the attachment of the interior door panels on an early October 67 build, 1968 convertible. The panels on the car were pretty well butchered by the previous owner. There were screws all over holding the panels on. In my AIM UPC 1, K10 the panels are shown being attached with 4 clips on the four corners of the panel and 2 screws in the indented door pull to the underlying clips.

The two new panels I purchased have cut outs on the lower side for clips only, no provision for screws in the door pull area and the supplier said I need to put a chrome screw in the two upper corners to hold the panel on.

For an early 68 what was the proper attachment methods and points?? Does any one know of a source for the inner waterproof paper between the inner panel and the metal door assembly??

Thank you for your advice.

John

[Henry J.]

Re: 1968 Door Panel attachment

John, I have the same questions because the reproduction door trim panels on my 68 convertible (February build date) are attached pretty much as your supplier indicates, as I recall. You're right, that doesn't agree with the AIM. I'm getting the car out of winter storage this weekend and I can check on this.

For what it's worth, I also have a complete, original door from a 68 coupe (May build date). As I recall, the original trim panel on that door was also attached as your supplier indicates. The two screws in the door pull recess were there, but it looked like they were never installed with much precision. If it will help you in any way, contact me and I will get the door from my shed tomorrow and examine it thoroughly to confirm details.

I also cannot find a supplier for the waterproof paper.

[Henry J.]

Re: 1968 Door Panel attachment

John, I have the same questions because the reproduction door trim panels on my 68 convertible (February build date) are attached pretty much as your supplier indicates, as I recall. You're right, that doesn't agree with the AIM. I'm getting the car out of winter storage this weekend and I can check on this.

For what it's worth, I also have a complete, original door from a 68 coupe (May build date). As I recall, the original trim panel on that door was also attached as your supplier indicates. The two screws in the door pull recess were there, but it looked like they were never installed with much precision. If it will help you in any way, contact me and I will get the door from my shed tomorrow and examine it thoroughly to confirm details.

I also cannot find a supplier for the waterproof paper.

[Jim T.]

Re: 1968 Door Panel attachment

I have a original owner 68 convertible and just looked at the passenger door. It is on my lift so I was looking up.
One chrome screw at the top left and one at the right rear of the door panel. The door pull on my Feb built car is molded in the door panel and there are two screws holding the panel to the door in the door pull of the door panel.
Have three white plastic pieces on the bottom of the door panel that retain the bottom of the door panel to the door. These are the press and snap type plastic retainers.
Have another plastic retainer just below the latch assembly to secure the door panel to the door.
At the bottom left and the bottom right edge are the metal tabs that come from the door panel and attach to the door with a black phillips head screw.
I did not look between the front leading edge of the door panel to verify if there was any plastic retainers because the car is up on the lift. I can if you need this verification.
My original liner for water protection is clear plastic with the sealer stuff around the perimeter.

[Jim T.]

Re: 1968 Door Panel attachment

I have a original owner 68 convertible and just looked at the passenger door. It is on my lift so I was looking up.
One chrome screw at the top left and one at the right rear of the door panel. The door pull on my Feb built car is molded in the door panel and there are two screws holding the panel to the door in the door pull of the door panel.
Have three white plastic pieces on the bottom of the door panel that retain the bottom of the door panel to the door. These are the press and snap type plastic retainers.
Have another plastic retainer just below the latch assembly to secure the door panel to the door.
At the bottom left and the bottom right edge are the metal tabs that come from the door panel and attach to the door with a black phillips head screw.
I did not look between the front leading edge of the door panel to verify if there was any plastic retainers because the car is up on the lift. I can if you need this verification.
My original liner for water protection is clear plastic with the sealer stuff around the perimeter.

[Henry J.]

Re: 1968 Door Panel attachment

Thanks, Jim...very informative!

[Henry J.]

Re: 1968 Door Panel attachment

Thanks, Jim...very informative!

[Mike Baker]

Re: 1968 Door Panel attachment

John,

I also have a 68 and the vin 401580 should be fairly close to yours. I've been resisting the temptation to take the door panels off, but will do that tomorrow and let you know what I find.

The panels were recovered at some point, but appear to be the original panels.

Mike

[Mike Baker]

Re: 1968 Door Panel attachment

John,

I also have a 68 and the vin 401580 should be fairly close to yours. I've been resisting the temptation to take the door panels off, but will do that tomorrow and let you know what I find.

The panels were recovered at some point, but appear to be the original panels.

Mike

[John D.]

Thank you all for the information

It looks like there are a number of differences in even the early part of the 68 model year. Even the October to February builds are different. It looks like both my car (October 67 build) and Mike's are closest in build dates. Hopefully we can swap information. If anyone else has an October 1967 built 1968 I would like to discuss this so I can get my car as close as possible to corect.

I thank you all for your thoughts and input, John

[John D.]

Thank you all for the information

It looks like there are a number of differences in even the early part of the 68 model year. Even the October to February builds are different. It looks like both my car (October 67 build) and Mike's are closest in build dates. Hopefully we can swap information. If anyone else has an October 1967 built 1968 I would like to discuss this so I can get my car as close as possible to corect.

I thank you all for your thoughts and input, John

[Geno B.]

Re: 1968 Door Panel attachment

my early 68, also october 68, has no door pulls. just slots in the panels to open the door. no visible screws.

[Geno B.]

Re: 1968 Door Panel attachment

my early 68, also october 68, has no door pulls. just slots in the panels to open the door. no visible screws.

[Robert Holmes]

Re: 1968 Door Panel attachment

Jim,
I've got a 68 built in late June 68, but here are the door attachment details:
White push fasteners around the perimiter, one half attached to the door, the other to the panel. The two halves are supposed to grip when you force them together, but often don't grip well.

Two screws in the "hidden" door pull pockets, go thru the plastic pocket liners and into the outer door. These tend to not line up very well.

Two clips at the lower front and rear corners, hooked into slots in the panel, with tabs that attach with screws to the outer door. These sort of line up the panel, but don't do a very good job of pulling it to the outer door.

Two chrome screws with chrome trim washers at the upper front and back of the panel. These look like they were a factory solution to the fact that the clips shown in the assembly manual aren't very effective! I can't be sure exactly what was done by the factory and what might have been done later. My car is missing the upper clips shown in the assembly manual.

All in all, the original design of the door panel attachemt in 68 wasn't very well thought out, and it sounds like the factory went through a series of attempts to deal with the problem!

Trying to figure out the sequence of changes is a challenge!

[Robert Holmes]

Re: 1968 Door Panel attachment

Jim,
I've got a 68 built in late June 68, but here are the door attachment details:
White push fasteners around the perimiter, one half attached to the door, the other to the panel. The two halves are supposed to grip when you force them together, but often don't grip well.

Two screws in the "hidden" door pull pockets, go thru the plastic pocket liners and into the outer door. These tend to not line up very well.

Two clips at the lower front and rear corners, hooked into slots in the panel, with tabs that attach with screws to the outer door. These sort of line up the panel, but don't do a very good job of pulling it to the outer door.

Two chrome screws with chrome trim washers at the upper front and back of the panel. These look like they were a factory solution to the fact that the clips shown in the assembly manual aren't very effective! I can't be sure exactly what was done by the factory and what might have been done later. My car is missing the upper clips shown in the assembly manual.

All in all, the original design of the door panel attachemt in 68 wasn't very well thought out, and it sounds like the factory went through a series of attempts to deal with the problem!

Trying to figure out the sequence of changes is a challenge!