Door panel installation

[peterro]

Hey all. I have the new reproduction door panel set and they look great. The quarter panels are installed. I have a couple questions about the door panels though.

1st question. I installed the handles into the panel and notice a couple holes in the bottom of the pull. I seem to think that there are a couple big screws that go in there into the door. There are matching holes in the door but no threads. Is there supposed to be a threaded insert there?

2nd question. My original panels didn't have the wood grain inserts so I just bought a pair and got them ready to install. All the pins were there but when I put them in the panels, the pins aren't quite long enough to put the push-on holders. I was able to get 3 on one panel and 1 on the other. Is this typical? Should I just find some adhesive and use that instead of the pins?

Thanks.

[burdar]

There are four long philips head screws used in the door panel assembly(2 on each side) but I don't remember where they go off hand.  I just sent mine out for replating.

You must have a very early 1970 if you didn't have woodgrain inserts.  The woodgrain doesn't use push-on clips...they use very small stamped nuts.  The nuts cut threads into the pins when they are installed.

[peterro]

Thanks, that's what I was thinking. The question is, are there supposed to be threaded inserts in the door?

Yes, I believe mine was built in Oct/Nov of 1969. In any case, the press-on hardware I bought are nearly flat but the studs aren't long enough for the HW to grab hold. If something that is nearly flat won't catch, I can't see that a nut would be any better. Possibly the new door panels are thicker than the originals.

[Jamiez]

You are talking about the connection between the bottom of pull?

You can see there are wrap around U clips that either contain a nut or are threaded to hold the screw.  Similar to these:

[peterro]

Excellent. That's exactly what I needed. Thanks.

[dodj]

The door panel has a metal plate attached to the inside under the door pad as well. It is to take the stress of pulling the door closed so you don't end up breaking the door panel/pull. I know you didn't ask, but thought I'd mention it just in case you forgot about it and I didn't want you to risk breaking your brand new panels.

[peterro]

I appreciate it. From the pictures above, I'll be finding the threaded inserts and installing them.

Also, since I don't have another solution for attaching the wood-grain inserts, I think I'll use some velcro strips. I can then remove them if necessary without damaging anything. That is if I don't get another option.

[Gumby]

I haven't taken my old door panels off yet, but remember seeing a pic - maybe even in the new door panel post, where the inserts were just pushed into the holes and the tabs bent over? I remember the post being about the panels not origanally equiped with the inserts, and when someone showed the back of the panel, it looked like the legs were just bent over. I may be on crack - but that's what I remember seeing.

[Jamiez]

Here is the metal plate btw:





And this one which shows both the metal plate and the studs attaching the wood trim.  They are just held on by speed nuts which cut into the studs

[dodj]

That's the one. Thanks Jamiez 

[peterro]

Thanks for the pics. I found all my threaded clips and screws. Looking at the picture with the studs coming through the panel, it seems the studs on my inserts aren't that long. Possibly the ends broke off and now their shorter? I'll have to look closely at the pins but this time with my glasses on. In any case, I'll go with velcro to hold it them in place.

[diyhemi.com]

You are talking about the connection between the bottom of pull?

You can see there are wrap around U clips that either contain a nut or are threaded to hold the screw.  Similar to these:

I think the hardware name for these are speed nuts. Just in case anyone was looking to buy new ones