Author Topic: How to repair stripped out door panel screw holes  (Read 2066 times)

Offline 70chall440

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How to repair stripped out door panel screw holes
« on: July 03, 2017 - 01:03:41 AM »
I thought I would share this with everyone. A while back I was working on my Challenger and noticed that a number of the screw hole slots that the chrome screws go into were stripped out; meaning the hole was too big and the screws would just spin. I thought up a solution and gave it a try and it worked, so I thought I would let other know.

What you need is a welding clamp with a ball on the end (available at harbor freight cheap). Depending on where the hole is, you might need the real long version.

All you need to do is clamp over the offending hold, the welding clamp/vice will smash down the edges and make the hole usable again. I have used this technique a number of times with complete success.

You cannot really see how much it closed the hole, but it did. I just used this yesterday on a hole on one of my inner fender wells where one of the covers for the camber bolt access holes.

Good luck and I hope this helps.
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)




Offline 340challconvert

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Re: How to repair stripped out door panel screw holes
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2017 - 09:37:06 AM »
Great idea
« Last Edit: July 03, 2017 - 09:50:02 AM by 340challconvert »
1970 Challenger A66 Registry

Offline JayBee

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Re: How to repair stripped out door panel screw holes
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2017 - 09:48:41 AM »
Nice easy fix, thanks. I had some of mine welded up then I re-drilled the holes and touched up with paint.
John

1970 Barracuda convertible
2014 Toyota Avalon

Offline burdar

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Re: How to repair stripped out door panel screw holes
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2017 - 10:19:35 AM »
Great idea!  And if the hole is so bad that THAT doesn't even work, I've heard of people installing those cheap plastic wall anchors into the hole.  I think most people have a lifetime supply of those in a junk drawer somewhere.

Offline 70chall440

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Re: How to repair stripped out door panel screw holes
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2017 - 11:41:25 AM »
My Challenger drivers door was bad, probably 70% were stripped out. I fixed all of them using this technique. The key is not to over tighten (read; strip them out) the screws when you put them back in or you are just going backwards.
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline Rich G

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Re: How to repair stripped out door panel screw holes
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2017 - 10:11:20 PM »
Good tip, thanks for sharing

Offline Katfish

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Re: How to repair stripped out door panel screw holes
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2017 - 10:28:18 PM »
Interesting, wonder if I could get to the holes by the fender while the door is on the car.
Looks like you did yours off the car.

Offline jimynick

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Re: How to repair stripped out door panel screw holes
« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2017 - 10:45:26 PM »
A hammer or dolly or anything else smooth and heavy can be used as a buck bar and putting them on the inside of the hole and giving the outside a few taps with a hammer would also work. Good idea though!  :cheers:

Offline 70chall440

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Re: How to repair stripped out door panel screw holes
« Reply #8 on: July 04, 2017 - 12:18:43 PM »
Interesting, wonder if I could get to the holes by the fender while the door is on the car.
Looks like you did yours off the car.

Yes you can if you get the long clamps. A hammer dolly also works for those holes that you cant get to (as stated above)
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)