I’ve noticed this on many convertibles, the door panels at the top have rolled inwards some, mine are bad enough that they slip off of the top retainers.

Has anyone ever tried to heat them up on the back side and bend them back?

These panels are in great shape other than that.

Rick

Was this such a bad idea that nobody will comment?

Rick

|UPDATED|10/13/2004 6:14:04 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

A picture of the area might help.

The gap area I am speaking about is at the very top, at the window. I was thinking about taking the door panel off, heating it up on the inside at the top fold area, and slowly bending it back.

Rick

It's not necessarily a bad idea.......... Kind of risky.
Are yours original? my old ones had a fiberboard back, the new repos are plastic. The plastic may respond to heating and reshaping, but I can't see the original types taking too much heat.

Mine are the same. Did'nt notice it until someone else pointed it out recently. I was able to more or less force them back into the proper position over the retainers but they have probably been in the wrong position for so long they may not stay there for long.
Will try again on a nice hot summer day.

Rgds Neil

My door panels were the same way as yours, curled at the top with a gap big enough to stuff a small cat in. I found the best place for them was in the trash!!! They were OE with the masonite (fiberboard) backing. The only hope of making fiberboard bend into shape is to wet it down and the set some sort of weight on it (50lb or greater) and hope that it returns to original shape. Otherwise, call Eckler's or Corvette America.

I tried very unsuccesfully to straighten original panels

sold on ebay as is (was)....

and bought new ones..

I can't remember if they were fiberboard or plastic backed, I'm thinking plastic. Either way I'll be the ginnie pig and give it a try and post results when we get back from losing money in Vegas.

Maybe I can pocket some cash for a set of new ones and tell my wife the tables took it?

Rick

Mavrick331 said: I can't remember if they were fiberboard or plastic backed, I'm thinking plastic. Either way I'll be the ginnie pig and give it a try and post results when we get back from losing money in Vegas. Maybe I can pocket some cash for a set of new ones and tell my wife the tables took it? Rick

Now there's a man that's thinkin'!!!!!!!!!!!