Why the 1972 repop door panels do not fit (pics inside)

[67ChevyRedneck]

So, I've read post after post that they don't fit, then I see random posts that they do... frustrating right? I never found a single smoking gun as to why they didn't fit and I've gotten a pretty good fit out of other stuff that "didn't fit" by doing a little massaging, so I had to see for myself. I bought these from a local truck shop that will be taking them back, but see pics below of why they don't fit and why (until this issue is resolved) I don't think anyone else should buy them... unless there is another mfg out there... vendors?

Measurement-wise they're a tad smaller. I measured that they were 1/8" shorter top to bottom and about 1/4" shorter side to side than factory. Not terrible, but why? Still, that's not enough of a difference to be a deal breaker...

They also do not have the "inner tab" that runs throughout the inside of the panel that helps give them a nice alignment with the door. They're also a lighter material and also a little flimsier, again, all not deal breakers and somewhat "expected"...

All that aside, they would fit decent except for the huge issue that they don't have a bend in them! The factory panels have a bend (as does the door!) and the repops do not! I'm sure I could trim them with a dremmel and maybe add a little heat where the bends are supposed to be... but for $150 they're going back.

I didn't want to strip and deal with repainting my originals, but that's what I'm going to do.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Couple more...

[tommys72]

No bend = no good fit...can clearly see that

You might have just saved someone a headache there

[67ChevyRedneck]

I hope it helps out the next guy... or gets us a better product!

[In The Ten Ring]

So what maker/seller are these from?

[General23cmp]

Good info. I thought my originals were curved because of age and needed straightened.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

So what maker/seller are these from?

Don't know who makes them. From what I've seen & read, they're the same ones "everyone" sells.

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Don't know who makes them. From what I've seen & read, they're the same ones "everyone" sells.

Well that freaking sucks. Thanks for the info though: no matter how bad the news, the sooner we know it, the sooner we can prepare for it.

I guess we must keep after OEM and NOS doors until someone with the ability to make a proper repop door steps up to the plate.

[67ChevyRedneck]

You mean door panels? There are *decent* repop doors on the market now, the skins seem about twice as thick as they used to be, I know, I have a set from 10 years ago, super flimsy, the skins on doors made now are close to OEM.

[special-K]

Those are made for Taiwan '72s. They are not quite the same as USA ones. Why can't anyone figure that out?

I hang onto good '72 door panels till the day I see a reproduction made... that is good quality. These aren't even reproductions. They are replacements, which means they will work (questionably) in place of original, but are not replicas. I don't understand why they didn't even make them the same dimensions. Didn't they have one to measure

Ping: Joe Bob in NC, USA says his door panels measure 32.5" x 19.25" and have a slight curve.

Pong: Ok. He should know, he's American. Go with that, but skip the curve. That adds to the cost of tooling.

Joe Bob: Hey Gomer, what's all these littlest marks between the littler marks between the little marks on this tape fer?

Gomer: Just give 'em the ones you know. Can't be guessin' on this stuff.

[FlameOut]

I just picked up a nice oem pair at a local swap meet. The guy selling them said he wasnt sure what year they were for. He said maybe 71 and 72?I knew immediately what year they were, but played dumb and got them for a nice price. My wife thought I was nuts, until I explained what they were.

[midniteblues]

The aftermarket abs panels that are supposed too resemble the earlier steel panels fit the same way....they dont.

They couldn't even get the holes too line up correctly.

72 panels in a 67???

[67ChevyRedneck]

Yeah man, I never liked the 67-71 panels. They've been in my truck almost 20 years.

[72 tigger]

Two questions- didn't all OEM panels have a screw in the rear center of the panel? Do the repops have the hole?

[midniteblues]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Yeah man, I never liked the 67-71 panels. They've been in my truck almost 20 years.

I can understand the older ones are pure utilitarian looking.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

Two questions- didn't all OEM panels have a screw in the rear center of the panel? Do the repops have the hole?

I think I get where you're going.

I don't know. I've seen some with and some without, but don't know if the ones without were filled and painted or repop. My originals were a bit of a mess and I filled in 4 or 5 holes, which was one of the reasons they were painted. I do think the 72 panels had a screw in about the area you describe.

So, if you're asking if you screw the panel down will it fit, my answer would be no because the factory panels are a soft flexible plastic and the repops are a very hard plastic that I'm almost positive would crack if you tried to "make" them fit.

In all honesty, you could probably heat them up with a heat gun and slowly make them fit. But combined with all the other issues (slightly smaller) and on the PS one the scrolled panel area was very concave, I don't want to mess with them for $150. I'm going to find a way to strip and repaint my OEM ones.

This was when they looked nice... missing large areas of paint 10 years later.

[fecklessgadfly]

Originally Posted by tommys72

No bend = no good fit...can clearly see that

You might have just saved someone a headache there

No "might" to it. I have been saved this headache. I'm gathering parts for the 72 in my profile pic now. I know I'll be restoring my panels now.

[randy500]

I appreciate your post, was about to buy some new ones in red...you saved me a big hassle.