Door Panel Screws Stripped! Now What?

[67 project]

Trying to get the door panels off the '67. 2 out of the three screws on each side are stripped. Anyone know how to get them off without buggering up a 50 year old door panel?

Any help would be appreciated.

[kwmech]

What part of the screw is stripped, the threads or the phillips part?

[396C-10]

Go to Home Depot and get an easy out for your drill and they will come right out for you. Replace with new screws.

[67 project]

phillips part

[onebigdog]

Use a small cutting disc with a dremel tool and cut a slot for a standard screwdriver or take a small chisel and carefully try to back the screw out.

[SoCoC10]

If you backed the screw out enough, use Vise grips at a 90 degree and twist them out. Or you can match one of your drill bits to the size of the threaded area of the screw and drill the head off the screw, then remove the panel and go after what's left of the screw in the door.

[mike16]

put some water based valve grinding compound on the tip of your screwdriver. if that fails, do waht was mentioned above with cutting a slot in the head with a dremel.

we do the vlve grinding compound technique in the aviation industry. but we also use repacable tips regularlyand replace them often. the other techniques are a last resort.

why is the screw in soooo tight. its not like it holds the propeller on the engine.

[palallin]

I went through this on my first truck 'way back when: the screws were pretty rusty on the inside of the door.

If you have to start drilling, use a left-hand thread bit. Like as not, it will catch and back them out nicely.

[SeniorVerde]

I stripped out some nasty rusty screw heads on a door panel too.
I held a nut against the stripped out screw head with pliers and tacked it on with my wire feed welder through the hole in the nut.
The screw was now a bolt and I could back it out with a 1/2" wrench.

[davepl]

These things really do work, they've saved my butt a number of times. Everyone should have them!

http://www.lowes.com/pd_612573-78681...=50217437&pl=1

[396C-10]

Originally Posted by davepl

These things really do work, they've saved my butt a number of times. Everyone should have them!

http://www.lowes.com/pd_612573-78681...=50217437&pl=1

These are worth their weight in gold, and you will always have them on hand next time..... And, as we all know, there will be a next time.

[71swb4x4]

Mine were rusted on my 71. I drilled the heads off. Then I removed the door panel and I was able to put a small vise grip on the inside of the screw and screw it into the door until I got them out that way. It only took my 20 minutes or so.

[67 project]

Thanks for all the great advice. Will give it a try

[vics stuff]

I have to strongly agree with 71swb4x4. That would be the best way . once the screw heads are drilled and removed the panel will lift off allowing you to play with the screws and not worrying about damaging the panel.
Vic

[69chevy lwb]

Just drill an 're tap them use a 3/16 bit and drill straight through the center then use a 1/4 tapered tap to add new threads it's very easy I do it on a regular basis

[summitflier]

I also have used super glue, JB weld, or even tack welded a nut to the top of the
shaft, and then used a wrench or ratchet to back it out.