When installing door panels on a 70-72 is the bottom of the door panel supposed to be flush with the bottom? or is the top supposed to be flush with the top?

that door panel will hang on that door only one correct way...

Ok...well here's the issue:

When the door panel is hung all the way the bottom overlaps the door by a good half inch I'd guess....

You can see an imprint in the door panel where the door shuts on it as it gets in the way.

Let me see if I can explain to you what has happened to your panels...unfortunately this is sorta bad news...these panels are made out of two main pieces basically...the upper metal piece that hangs on the door and provides a base for the inner window felt to attach to...and the lower section which is the waterproof cardboard dielectric embossed vinyl covered affair...EACH DOOR PANEL IS SOMEWHAT UNIQUE TO THE CAR SORTA...what has happened to your panels is that where the top metal section meets the bottom cardboard section you have a discrepency of a good half inch...if the bottom section was riveted just a half inch higher onto the metal...wallah your door panels would have the correct fit...
Here is what you have to do to fix the problem...(take to good door panel guy like me and give him a bill to fix for you)...step one...on backside of door panel mark the edge where metal meets cardboard...step two...remove the window felt...step three...very carefully without tearing the vinyl unpeel it from the metal hoping like heck that you don't mess up the foam padding to bad...step four...compensate for your half inch by bringing the panel up a half inch from your mark made in step one......step five rivet that back together...reglue your vinyl back to the metal...put the window felt back on...then your panel will fit like it is supposed to...

I am going to tell all of you guys something very important...when you buy these interior kits it is a better idea in my opinion not to buy premade preconstructed panels...buy the new door panel that hasn't been wrapped yet and don't touch your old panels...a guy like me knows exactly how to measure and mark your old panel...take it apart...and join the new vinyl and cardboard part to your old metal hanger piece...then your doorpanels will fit perfect...it is really not to awful hard to do once one knows what to do exactly...someday when I get a set of doorpanels to do I'll make a tutorial for you all so you can see what I mean...

What's the best way to mark the holes for the 5 screws on the bottom of the door panel so you don't screw that up and miss the holes that are in the door?

Marc

Once you have the panel sitting on the door like it is supposed to get a tape and measure things as best you can..then use a pick to punch through the panel...then put the trim screw in...this type of procedure is where upholstery skill comes in...TAKE YOUR TIME...it is not rocket science...

I put the screws in the door & put the panel over it & hit it with the palm of my hand, It left a nice imprint on the back of the door panel to locate the screw hole.

LK

I learn something new everyday!!! :)

I do that with headliners don't know why that has not occured to me with door panels...hahaha

Thanks good buddy...

Thanx....I guess you are right, as I ordered these online, they are repops and they're preassembled. I guess I should've kept my old door panels but I tossed them already.

Now I know what they mean by the repopped stuff needing trimming to fit just right.....

It depends on the brand...I'm gonna gues they are PUI. I learned about PUI the hard way myself.

I actually screwed the bottom screws into the door without the panel on. I installed the panel as normal, and actually took white out and dabbed a little bit on the tops of the screw heads by reaching behind. It was the only thing I had on hand that has a little tiny brush that worked perfect. Pushed on the door and made holes where the white marks were left on the back.

My PUI panels fit great on the bottom edge, No problems.

LK

It depends on the brand...I'm gonna gues they are PUI. I learned about PUI the hard way myself.

I can't remember if they are or not....all I remember is buying them new off ebay for less than what Ausleys was selling.....and I know Ausleys sells PUI interior's for Chevelles....

My PUI panels fit great on the bottom edge, No problems.

LK


I've got nothing but very good things to say about PUI as well. They Custom made a complete set with the Vinyl Color I choose and they turned out perfect in both form, quality and fit.

I have heard some people have had some bad luck with them though.

I should clairify that my PUI panels fit nicely also. They didnt come with the holes drilled on the bottom. My above post was how I made the holes in the correct places.

I actually don't like the screws on the bottom of the door panels. I put velcro along the bottom, I think it looks cleaner and i can still remove the panels with no problem.

That is a pretty cool idea...