Installing 72 door panels in a 70 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**RenoKeene** · 01-03-2012, 12:16 PM

My 72 parts truck had a decent set of door panels so I decided to put them in my 70 GMC build (after reworking them). Of course I had to use 71-72 regulators etc. because of the longer shafts.
The 72 panels are held on by push-on type fasteners and a screw half way up the lock side, nothing like the 70 panel..so I had to drill some holes.

I used blue painter's tape to mark the hole locations on the 72 door, then transfered the tape to the 70 door, simple. Well, the top was simple but not the bottom, the holes fell right on the weld nuts so I had to drill them out too.
The holes needed to be a bit bigger than the bit I had so I had to waller them out some, a little at a time so they wern't to big (or I would be screwed). I used the vacuum line spacer trick so I didn't dimple the outside door skin. The armrest holes lined up perfect so all I had to do to finish up was drill the little exposed screw hole and I was done.

Piece of cake.

**LockDoc** · 01-03-2012, 12:28 PM

-
Looks great. I have done a couple of these and it's not too hard. This will help a lot of people that want to do this mod.

LockDoc

black_sheep454 · 01-03-2012, 12:29 PM

Those look real nice, what are you doing for seats, parchment buckets would look great.
Posted via Mobile Device

mrein3 · 01-03-2012, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RenoKeene

snip
I used the vacuum line spacer trick so I didn't dimple the outside door skin. The armrest holes lined up perfect so all I had to do to finish up was drill the little exposed screw hole and I was done.

snip

I never heard of the vacuum line spacer trick but will always use it in the future.

sanford66 · 01-03-2012, 02:25 PM

Good tips. Those door panels really pop! What did you use to paint the scroll area? It really sets them off. Joseph

Vintage Windmills · 01-03-2012, 02:27 PM

Whats the vacuum line spacer trick?

**RenoKeene** · 01-03-2012, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by black_sheep454

Those look real nice, what are you doing for seats, parchment buckets would look great.
Posted via Mobile Device

I have a set of real 70 buckets but I'm going to use them on a future build.
I got these real, real cheap and they cleaned up nice, colored them with SEM Santa Fe to match the door panels. Looks pretty good I think.

**RenoKeene** · 01-03-2012, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanford66

Good tips. Those door panels really pop! What did you use to paint the scroll area? It really sets them off. Joseph

SEM Saddle Tan, Bright White and Santa fe. All SEM products, very good stuff. Also used SEM Plastic and Leather Prep, Adhesion Promoter and finished them with SEM Low Luster Clear.

**RenoKeene** · 01-03-2012, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vintage Windmills

Whats the vacuum line spacer trick?

Cut a piece of old vacuum line and slip it over the drill bit as a stop (check out the picture) a little WD-40 helps it go on and off easy. Got this from the cheap tricks thread.

**nitrosport_5** · 10-22-2012, 02:47 AM

i was just curious how i was going to do this, only bad part is i dont have a set of 72 doors. someone just used machine screws and screwed the old door panels to the door in my 72 when they installed different doors. ive got a new (to me) set of door panels i want to put on when i swap to the rust free cab.

Any way to do this without having a 72 door to make a template?

**RenoKeene** · 10-22-2012, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitrosport_5

i was just curious how i was going to do this, only bad part is i dont have a set of 72 doors. someone just used machine screws and screwed the old door panels to the door in my 72 when they installed different doors. ive got a new (to me) set of door panels i want to put on when i swap to the rust free cab.

Any way to do this without having a 72 door to make a template?

I would tape up the inside of the door and start measuring, the bottom holes should line up right so you can use them as a point of reference.

**RenoKeene** · 10-22-2012, 09:25 AM

If you had a set of trashed panels you could always drill them out from the inside and then use them as your template.

**nitrosport_5** · 10-22-2012, 01:16 PM

Great idea with the trashed pannels. I may just do that. Thanks for the tips.

Beautiful looking interior by the way.

Coley · 10-22-2012, 01:43 PM

Those door panels look really great and I definitely agree with others with respect to the nice contrast in the other color the armrests and inset were painted, good color choices!
quick question tho':....what door and window handles are you using there? Those look really sharp. Any issues with getting them to work on your door and window spline studs?
Coley

**RenoKeene** · 10-22-2012, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coley

Those door panels look really great and I definitely agree with others with respect to the nice contrast in the other color the armrests and inset were painted, good color choices!
quick question tho':....what door and window handles are you using there? Those look really sharp. Any issues with getting them to work on your door and window spline studs?
Coley

Good eye Coley! I tried using 67 style handles but the spline on the latch is longer on a 72 setup so they won't lock on. Thought about cutting down the spline shaft and reworking them but for now I'm running 71-72 latch handles.
Can't get anything past you guys

**nitrosport_5** · 10-24-2012, 06:08 PM

one more thing i am wondering i was getting ready to do this. What size bit is required? Dont want to drill em out too big. Thanks

66skylarkpost · 10-24-2012, 07:50 PM

i did this swap too on my 72 shortbed with 70 doors . got to love to see a radio delete plate with a/c

**nitrosport_5** · 11-12-2012, 02:43 AM

Just wanted to share my experience with this. Not trying to steal the thread, just what i did since i did not have any 72 doors to make a template from.

THe bottom holes on my 70 doors lined up with the bottom clips. I drilled them out with a 9/32 drill and that seemed to be the correct size. Once i had the bottom holes drilled out, i installed the clips into the door panel, and snapped in the lowers to the door. Put a little bit of grease on each of the tips of the upper clips, made sure they were in the middle of the mounting holes in the panel(or close to, you have a little bit of leway), the panel was side to side about where i wanted it, and pressed it up against the door. the grease left me a mark, center punched where the grease spot was, and drilled my hole. Worked out really pretty good for me. I also just made sure that each of my center punch marks were about the same distance from the top. If they werent, i adjusted my mark a little to make them all about the same.

Here is what it looks like. Its in mock up stages. Poor lighting in my shop makes for poor pics!

01-03-2012, 12:16 PM	#1
RenoKeene Florida Edition Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Fruitland Park, FL Posts: 4,022	Installing 72 door panels in a 70 My 72 parts truck had a decent set of door panels so I decided to put them in my 70 GMC build (after reworking them). Of course I had to use 71-72 regulators etc. because of the longer shafts. The 72 panels are held on by push-on type fasteners and a screw half way up the lock side, nothing like the 70 panel..so I had to drill some holes. I used blue painter's tape to mark the hole locations on the 72 door, then transfered the tape to the 70 door, simple. Well, the top was simple but not the bottom, the holes fell right on the weld nuts so I had to drill them out too. The holes needed to be a bit bigger than the bit I had so I had to waller them out some, a little at a time so they wern't to big (or I would be screwed). I used the vacuum line spacer trick so I didn't dimple the outside door skin. The armrest holes lined up perfect so all I had to do to finish up was drill the little exposed screw hole and I was done. Piece of cake. Attached Images __________________ 70 GMC Short Stepside "Rose"-An American Beauty: Factory 402/TH400, AM/FM, AC, Tilt, Tach, Buckets, Posi, PS, PB, 3-5 Drop, Complete Resto-Rod 67 C-20 Slant Back Wrecker "Mad Max" 67 C-10 Ratrod "Step-N-Wolf" 71 Serro Scotty Sportsman camper "Scotty" 97 LT1 Z28 "The Hornet" Link to more pics of "Rose" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...p?albumid=1684 Check out my "Cheap Tricks" thread and add to it if you can, lots of good info there. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=489394

01-03-2012, 12:28 PM	#2
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,430	Re: Installing 72 door panels in a 70 - Looks great. I have done a couple of these and it's not too hard. This will help a lot of people that want to do this mod. LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

01-03-2012, 12:29 PM	#3
black_sheep454 Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Lebanon, Mo. Posts: 1,315	Re: Installing 72 door panels in a 70 Those look real nice, what are you doing for seats, parchment buckets would look great. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1968 chevy lwb, getting ready to join forces with the 70 gmc 1970 gmc swb, getting ready to be a 68 chevy swb 1971 gmc lwb 2500 2wd Sierra Grande 1988 chevy 1-ton crew cab 2wd waiting for a 12v cummins

01-03-2012, 02:25 PM	#5
sanford66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Everest Ks Posts: 749	Re: Installing 72 door panels in a 70 Good tips. Those door panels really pop! What did you use to paint the scroll area? It really sets them off. Joseph __________________ 1970 Chevelle Nomad station wagon 1966 C-10 lwb,250-six,granny 4speed 1966 C-10 lwb,factory A/C,Custom Cab 1954 Delray 2-door sedan [rat rod project]

01-03-2012, 02:27 PM	#6
Vintage Windmills Vintage 4x4s Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Prior Lake, MN Posts: 4,305	Re: Installing 72 door panels in a 70 Whats the vacuum line spacer trick? __________________ 67 GMC K1500 Custom- 305V6 SM420, PTO, Ram Assist, yellow (the outcast) (project period correct upgrades) 67 GMC C2500 351V6 TH400, AC, PS, PB (can't decide what to do with. Update, decided to keep and will restore ) 86 CHV K30 502 th400, apple red NEW 71 CHV K20 350 SM465, ochre (saved work truck) 71 CHV K20 292 SM465, white, tach, PTO, (future project) 72 CHV K20 350 350th, medium blue (project stocker) 01 CHV K2500hd crew, indigo blue ^3 dont run and the others don't see winter either '86 K30 Cummins "Fireside" thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=649649 '71 K20 "get driveable" thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=590642 '72 K20 Build Thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=493477&page=6

10-22-2012, 02:47 AM	#10
nitrosport_5 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: St. John, Washington Posts: 617	Re: Installing 72 door panels in a 70 i was just curious how i was going to do this, only bad part is i dont have a set of 72 doors. someone just used machine screws and screwed the old door panels to the door in my 72 when they installed different doors. ive got a new (to me) set of door panels i want to put on when i swap to the rust free cab. Any way to do this without having a 72 door to make a template? __________________ "Rusty" 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super, 496, A/C, Tilt, Tach, Buckets, 4l80e/NP205, 4" Rancho Lift, 35" BFG AT "Ramp Truck" 1972 C30 Ramp Truck 350, Air Bags, Factory A/C. "1968" C10 Shortbed project

10-22-2012, 09:25 AM	#12
RenoKeene Florida Edition Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Fruitland Park, FL Posts: 4,022	Re: Installing 72 door panels in a 70 If you had a set of trashed panels you could always drill them out from the inside and then use them as your template. __________________ 70 GMC Short Stepside "Rose"-An American Beauty: Factory 402/TH400, AM/FM, AC, Tilt, Tach, Buckets, Posi, PS, PB, 3-5 Drop, Complete Resto-Rod 67 C-20 Slant Back Wrecker "Mad Max" 67 C-10 Ratrod "Step-N-Wolf" 71 Serro Scotty Sportsman camper "Scotty" 97 LT1 Z28 "The Hornet" Link to more pics of "Rose" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...p?albumid=1684 Check out my "Cheap Tricks" thread and add to it if you can, lots of good info there. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=489394

10-22-2012, 01:16 PM	#13
nitrosport_5 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: St. John, Washington Posts: 617	Re: Installing 72 door panels in a 70 Great idea with the trashed pannels. I may just do that. Thanks for the tips. Beautiful looking interior by the way. __________________ "Rusty" 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super, 496, A/C, Tilt, Tach, Buckets, 4l80e/NP205, 4" Rancho Lift, 35" BFG AT "Ramp Truck" 1972 C30 Ramp Truck 350, Air Bags, Factory A/C. "1968" C10 Shortbed project

10-22-2012, 01:43 PM	#14
Coley Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Victoria, B.C Posts: 3,794	Re: Installing 72 door panels in a 70 Those door panels look really great and I definitely agree with others with respect to the nice contrast in the other color the armrests and inset were painted, good color choices! quick question tho':....what door and window handles are you using there? Those look really sharp. Any issues with getting them to work on your door and window spline studs? Coley __________________ ....for some men, there is experience, skill and effort....for the others...there is visa and UPS LOL 1966 Chevy 1/2 ton (Florida- Red/white) 1972 Chevy 1/2 ton (California- Blue/white) 2005 Chevy Silverado HD2500/Duramax 2000 Dodge Ram 1500

10-24-2012, 06:08 PM	#16
nitrosport_5 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: St. John, Washington Posts: 617	Re: Installing 72 door panels in a 70 one more thing i am wondering i was getting ready to do this. What size bit is required? Dont want to drill em out too big. Thanks __________________ "Rusty" 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super, 496, A/C, Tilt, Tach, Buckets, 4l80e/NP205, 4" Rancho Lift, 35" BFG AT "Ramp Truck" 1972 C30 Ramp Truck 350, Air Bags, Factory A/C. "1968" C10 Shortbed project

10-24-2012, 07:50 PM	#17
66skylarkpost Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: kearney,nebraska Posts: 443	Re: Installing 72 door panels in a 70 i did this swap too on my 72 shortbed with 70 doors . got to love to see a radio delete plate with a/c Attached Images __________________ '70 k-10 longbox- mid 70's drivetrain 350/350 487x heads 10.1:1 flowmasters ,35's 3.73's auburn posi ,rear shackle flip. '72 short stepside U.S. forestry truck, '73 455 buick,400 turbo,dropped 2"-4 1/4" ,3.07 posi,:'89 silverado 1500 ,OK truck ,5.7 holley tbi ,trick 700r4 3.07 auburn posi ,and my '66 skylark ,'73 centurion and my '84 monte carlo imca stock car

11-12-2012, 02:43 AM	#18
nitrosport_5 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: St. John, Washington Posts: 617	Re: Installing 72 door panels in a 70 Just wanted to share my experience with this. Not trying to steal the thread, just what i did since i did not have any 72 doors to make a template from. THe bottom holes on my 70 doors lined up with the bottom clips. I drilled them out with a 9/32 drill and that seemed to be the correct size. Once i had the bottom holes drilled out, i installed the clips into the door panel, and snapped in the lowers to the door. Put a little bit of grease on each of the tips of the upper clips, made sure they were in the middle of the mounting holes in the panel(or close to, you have a little bit of leway), the panel was side to side about where i wanted it, and pressed it up against the door. the grease left me a mark, center punched where the grease spot was, and drilled my hole. Worked out really pretty good for me. I also just made sure that each of my center punch marks were about the same distance from the top. If they werent, i adjusted my mark a little to make them all about the same. Here is what it looks like. Its in mock up stages. Poor lighting in my shop makes for poor pics! Attached Images __________________ "Rusty" 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super, 496, A/C, Tilt, Tach, Buckets, 4l80e/NP205, 4" Rancho Lift, 35" BFG AT "Ramp Truck" 1972 C30 Ramp Truck 350, Air Bags, Factory A/C. "1968" C10 Shortbed project



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.