1966 Inner Door Panel Black Out

[Bob P.]

I need some help determining how, if at all, was the inner fiberglass door panel blacked out. I have been told that original interior door panels had black tape or black paper attached to the top of them that covered the top couple of inched of the inner fiberglass door panel, but I can't seem to find any information about this. Your help with determining if this is correct and then what material the black out piece was made of and what was it's length and width. Thanks

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1966 Inner Door Panel Black Out

There was a black crepe paper attached under the trim.

[Bob P.]

Re: 1966 Inner Door Panel Black Out

Thanks for your help. When you say black crepe paper do you mean like you use to decorate with? Was it attached to the top of the inside of the interior door liner and then draped over the inner fiberglass portion of the door or was it just attached to the inner fiberglass portion of the door at the top and then the interior door liner was assembled on top of it? How was it attached? Again thanks for you help!

[Gary B.]

Re: 1966 Inner Door Panel Black Out

Bob,

No, it's not like the crinkly decorative crepe paper. I might be able to take a photo tonight of the original material on the door of my '66, presuming I didn't remove it when I took off the door panel and removed the window and other parts. I do think the black material might have started out as something like black masking tape, which after 47 years becomes stiff and brittle and easily torn like paper.

Do none of the Corvette catalog companies sell a replacement item? Have you tried asking Dr. Rebuild, Long Island Corvette or Paragon, for example?

Gary

[Bill W.]

Re: 1966 Inner Door Panel Black Out

It is a black water proof paper that covers the door . it is put on with strip calking . There is also black paint sprayed on at the handle areas . and the door trim panels should be blacked out below the fuzzy window wipes . I think long island sells the paper .

[Gene M.]

Re: 1966 Inner Door Panel Black Out

I think you guys are talking about two different things. 1.- Is the vapor barrier that is black on the side towards the interior and brown on the side against the fiberglass door stuck on with string dumb dumb. 2.- Is the black tape (no mention in AIM) that runs along the top edge of the outboard side of the inner fiberglass door. Now sadly enough #2 is not on all cars. I don't know if it is an AO Smith thing or St Louis. I have not paid that much attention to it. Nor do I recall what years it is seen. I do recall the black paint thing too that was mentioned!

[Bob P.]

Re: 1966 Inner Door Panel Black Out

Thanks to All. What I'm talking about is #2 that Gene mentions and he is correct, it is not in the AIM or the Judging Manual for '66. So, there should be black paint below the fuzzy window wipes? Any idea how far down the paint goes? My guess is that the paint won't mask the inner fiberglass door panel when you look into the inside of the door though? I guess this is why the black tape was used?? I have never seen it, but makes sense to me as to why it would be there. Any idea of how wide the tape was and did it go all the way across the top of the inner fiberglass door panel?? Thanks

[Bill W.]

Re: 1966 Inner Door Panel Black Out

The black under the fuzzies is on the vinyl door trim panel . It was on STL. cars . I'm not sure about AOS. The black spray was on at least 63 through 65 .

[Bob P.]

Re: 1966 Inner Door Panel Black Out

Bill, I want to make sure I understand. Are you saying that the back side of the vinyl door panel below the fuzzies was painted black on 63 through 65 STL cars and your not sure about AOS?

[Gary B.]

Re: 1966 Inner Door Panel Black Out

Bob,

I'm not sure these photos will answer any of your questions, but this is what's under the door panel on my StL '66 with late July build date. The tan paper is black on the side that faces the fiberglass. Some of the black you see is the black, masking-like tape.

Gary

DSCN3348 sm.jpgDSCN3349 sm.jpgDSCN3352 sm.jpgDSCN3356 sm.jpg

[Gary B.]

Re: 1966 Inner Door Panel Black Out

Bob,

Here's a photo from Rich Mauser's '66 that he said I could post. I'm not 100% sure what I'm looking at in his photo, but Rich says it shows the masking tape. Rich says a mirror was used so you can see the front and back side of the same piece of tape.

Gary

66doorpanel 052.jpg

[Bill W.]

Re: 1966 Inner Door Panel Black Out

Robert check your e mail tonight .

[Bob P.]

Re: 1966 Inner Door Panel Black Out

Gary, Thanks it looks like your car is a coupe? Besides seeing the black tape, which looks like it would be covered by the door panel, I noticed that there are places where the top edge of the inner fiberglass door portion of the door is painted black. Is the inside of the inner fiberglass door panel painted black at the top as well?

[Bob P.]

Re: 1966 Inner Door Panel Black Out

Gary, Looks like this is a picture taken into a mirror. Not sure where the mirror is placed though. Is it between the inner and outer fiberglass door panels where the window glass would be or is it just up against the inside of a vinyl door panel??

[Gary B.]

Re: 1966 Inner Door Panel Black Out

... Is the inside of the inner fiberglass door panel painted black at the top as well?

Not that I can see.

Gary