Orinackra

Hey I wanted to get some insight from anyone whos done a 4th gen door panel swap. I looked at Shroom's page for alot of good ideas but I have a few concerns.

First, what are people using for the seat belt retractors? It looks like Its gonna be a real tight fit.



Next is the front section. I dont have any trim on the a-pillar right now, so I dont know if it gonna rub or not, but I can see where it hits the dash. I was wondering how it would look if i trimmed the panel a bit, got a heat gun, and bent the plastic in a little towards the outside, maybe give a little more clearance. But I dont know if its gonna hit that a-pillar.



If anyone has any tips or anything, I'd be glad to hear em.



Back

HCR13

iTrader: (5)

I am actually thinking of doing this mod myself. If I go your route, I'll let you know my results, but I'm sure you do have to modify them somehow...

Orinackra

sounds good, I have a feeling you're right tho, and as much as I dont want to have to modify these panels, considering the cost, I might have to.
But heres what I'm thinking. For the back, I might cut a piece off the door itself like Shroom, and if I dont like the results, I may trim a piece off like this.



For the front... I think I'm gonna trim something like this, or maybe at an angle so it sits a little better, get out the heat gun, and bend the top corner in.

Firebat

iTrader: (7)

I just had to re-do mine on my passenger side door, since i just replaced the whole door. I did basically the same thing shroom did but I had to cut some of the panel. If you're looking at a passenger side door panel, I had to cut the upper right hand corner. This is because my car has weatherstriping around the door window because it is a hardtop, not a convertible like shroom.

An important step is to cut up and "massage" the inside door in the upper right hand corner area. Otherwise, it is pushing too much against the door when you shut the door.

Orinackra

I tackled the rear of the door problem today, and pretty much did what you suggested Firebat.


Its not a perfect fit, but I think once I start putting screws in the panel, it will be ok.


On a good note, I actually got the door shut with the panel on. Its still gotta go forward about a half inch, but I'm getting there! Not too mention I still have to work out the lock and handle positions, cut the old armrest bracket off, and figure out what to do about where the seatbelt hits the floor.

Firebat

iTrader: (7)

Alright, good work. I don't know about the stock seatbelt thing. I'm going to try doing what shr00m did and use 4th gen kick panels, 4th gen weatherstripping, and 4th gen seatbelts.

The rod for the door lock, I cut right after the 1st or 2nd bend and it works perfect. The rod for the door handle, I just bent it up until it was in the right spot.

Stevo

iTrader: (45)

Nice work, you know, id love to have some because the junk yards i hit have so many 4th gens i love the design compared to my current ones. They just look like too much work to fit attractively. I will most likely get some 3rd gen panels recovered someday.

Orinackra

Thanks guys. I think I'm gonna stick with the 3rd gen plastics, but I may use 4th gen seat belts, because they are stationary on the floor, so it seems like an easier fix, unless I dont know, i bent the mount away from the door or something. I dont know how safe that would be tho. As for weatherstripping, I havent even thought of that yet.
Stevo, its not as bad as you'd think. The only tools I've used so far was a dremel and a hammer, and soon a heatgun. Before I'm done I'm gonna need a center punch and a drill, so not TOO much work.

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

Wish I could help you but I have a 4thgen dash and no stock seatbelts. (putin in 5point harnesses)

just wanted to say GOOD WORK. I love the 4th Gen Int. looks.

How about some full size shots instead of the thumb nails.

Stevo

iTrader: (45)

3rd and 4th gens mount the same?...i thought they did at least. Im not aware how theyd be any different affecting the door panels in a sense. I have a set of 4th gen belts im going to put in my car this spring. I want to somehow cover that gaping hole where they mount so it looks semi-attractive. I mainly want the belts cause they arent faded and work a lot better then most 3rd gen seatbelts ive felt.

Firebat

iTrader: (7)

The 1982 sill plates are supposed to not have the big gaping hole and would look better when swapping in 4th gen seatbelts. The problem is the 1982 sill plates are kind of rare or hard to find, in good shape anyway.

Stevo

iTrader: (45)

yup...im thinking about grinding part of the 2 tabs off and then filling that hole with some carpet. I dont know yet.

Orinackra

if you click the pictures, they open up to full size... I hope.


I'm gonna have to keep an eye out for the 82 sill plates, cause that stock seat belt is not going to cut it.

Next job, is gonna be drilling some holes for screws. Gettin there!

Orinackra

Heres a pic I found of the 4th gen retractors.

http://tacreationsusa.com/images/Int...02frontret.jpg

I know the 3rd gen mount is flat, but I dont see why you couldnt bend the end of the 4th gen one to 90 degrees.

Stevo

iTrader: (45)

Little confused, they fit heres a picture. Whats the problem other then the gaping hole?

(Not my car)

Orinackra

Not really any problems... I just worry about the fact that the plastic piece stick straight forward on there. I'd prefer to bend it straight up. It seems like that it wouldnt go over your lap properly and protect you in a wreck. Maybe I'm just over analyzing.

HCR13

iTrader: (5)

Damn, that is looking pretty good... I know this guy who has 30+ Camaros and Firebirds he's parting out. I'm going to get a center console next week and I might go ahead and get the door panels...

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

not for me. They come up as 100x75 pixle size. still look like thumb nail.

Orinackra

hmm thats odd. I'm not surprised tho, webshots is being a pain in my ***. I'm gonna upload some stuff to my comcast when I have time, but heres a larger shot of the panel sort of mocked up.
And a link to the webshots album I've been keeping all my progress pics in. http://rides.webshots.com/album/5556...vKDGz?start=24

Firebat

iTrader: (7)

Thats one way to put in 4th gen seatbelts. I'd rather take out that bracket and mount it directly, like in the 4th gens.
----------
Use www.photobucket.com. Much better. But I prefer to post thumbnails then have links to the pictures, you'll know what I mean once you use photobucket.

T/A_SXracer

worked for me.

Firebat

iTrader: (7)

Here's a couple pics I got.

These pics show where I put the small sheet metal screws:


_________________________________________________

Here is how I cut the rod for the lock:

_________________________________________________
You'll need more than just the small sheet metal screws to hold the door panel in place when you close it. I used either a 1/4-20 bolt or maybe bigger or fine tread. Used a tap so the bolt just screws into the sheet metal of the door. Then I used a nylon washer I bought from ACE hardware. I drilled out the nylon washer so the bolt would just barely fit and thread through it. This way there is a washer there and the bolt won't fall off every time I take off the door panel. The bolt is in the center of the pic:

_________________________________________________

For the other bolt, I used a bolt that accepts a flat head screwdriver. Drilled a hole through the sheet metal and put a nut on the other side. Inbetween, i used a bunch of washers and wrapped them in a little bit of masking tape, just so they would stay together when taking off the panels rather than having 5-6 washers go everywhere. I used a bolt and nut because I can get my fingers behind the sheet metal to get a nut on the bolt. Washers are covered in masking tape, in the center of this pic:


_________________________________________________

For the third mounting point, the one in the bottom section of the armrest, I cut off a part of the old thirdgen armrest support bracket and mounted that bracket in the appropriate spot while using one of the screws from the armrest support bracket. No pic of that at this time.

Slepewesel

iTrader: (1)

I'm also slowly working on this "mod" for my 91 Camaro. I'll be using the 4th gen door handles and lock rods though, and from what I've heard, the easiest way to mount the handles is to measure back from the screw that holds the trim piece in place to the rivet that holds the handle in place. Here's a pic taken before the handle was removed from the 4th gen door...

Mongoose

iTrader: (2)

I mounted my set of 4th gen belts a little differently. I took the original retractor from my old belts out and made a bracket to remount the cover over the gaping hole in the door sill while the 4th gen belt is mounted to the floor like in a 4th gen and the belt passes through the plastic housing. Sorry, but no pics. I can't seem to remember to document my projects, I just get and idea and run with it.

Orinackra

thanks for the pics guys! Firebat, thats almost exactly what I did on the back. I think tommorrow I'm gonna start drilling some holes and getting some screws ready. I cant finish the whole thing yet cause I dont have handles yet, and I still have to install the window and the motor and regulator in this door. I'm gonna start on the passenger side too.

You mentioned the small sheet metal screws< i was thinking of trying not to use those at all, and see how well the 4 stock mouting holes work. The only place I forsee a problem is the rear of the panel, but I'm gonna play with that see what i come up with.

Slepewesel, thanks for that tip!

obeymybird

iTrader: (4)

i was wondering what all has to be done to the back of the fourth gen door panels to did it ready for install? do you need to keep all of those plastic factory hangers or clips? thanks

Firebat

iTrader: (7)

I cut off all of the factory hangers/clips/hooks. You might be able to use one or 2 of them or more if you cut holes in the thirdgen door.

Orinackra

i cut all my tabs off too, but now that I did, i wish I hadnt. Unless I figure something else out, I might have to put a small screw on the back of the panel to get it to sit flush, the clips would have prevented that.

Orinackra

I got down to the garage today and I mounted up the passenger panel. Basically same amount of cutting as the driver, so no pics of that.
Heres the whole thing, I placed some interior pieces in there to see how it all fit together. The window even goes up, I'm shocked.
http://home.comcast.net/~orinackra/SSPX0584.jpg

heres what I did with that seatbelt, I just bent the bracket towards the middle of the car...I just think I bent it too far:
http://home.comcast.net/~orinackra/SSPX0585.jpg

Heres the 2 set screws I used altho the front one is getting moved, cause it wont go in all the way.
http://home.comcast.net/~orinackra/SSPX0586.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~orinackra/SSPX0587.jpg

Back of the door:
http://home.comcast.net/~orinackra/SSPX0588.jpg

I'm not fully happy yet, its really hard to shut the door, pretty much like my t-top cars doors were to close. I think I'm gonna get the heat gun back out and bend the front top corner a little more to ease closing.

And last but not least is gonna be the plate around the handle. Which I may end up cutting a little to fit the thirdgen handle through. I know I have to move it, but I'm not a huge fan of the plastic 4th gen handle, seems kinda cheap and flimsy.

Slepewesel

iTrader: (1)

Lookin good man

obeymybird

iTrader: (4)

yes looking good wish i was that far. i was wondering if anyone has tryed to use there factory door handle instead of swapping it out for the newer one? just a thought.

Orinackra

I think I'm going to try it. No matter what the handle at least needs moved, but I'm going to cut a slot in the 4th gen "cup" to fit the stock handle through.

obeymybird

iTrader: (4)

well it late and im bored so i will see if i can figure out how to put up some pictures. im working on trying to put a red vinyl insert in the door panel its just laying on top of it right now which the plastic is still the dark gray but will be painted black the second pic is what they looked like when i got them and the last pic i just threw in there because its one sexy hood

Orinackra

Thats actually exactly what I'm doing, gonna be putting red vinyl over the cloth on mine to mine my cars exterior. Looks great I think.

On a side note, what kind of hood is that? Is it for our cars?

obeymybird

iTrader: (4)

glad you asked about the hood its the hood to my evolution 2 the camaro/firebird kit car.

obeymybird

iTrader: (4)

any updates?????

Orinackra

nah, no updates yet. Its been too cold out. This weekend might be nice tho so maybe I'll get some stuff done.

obeymybird

iTrader: (4)

yeah thats what im talking about nice weather!

Slepewesel

iTrader: (1)

So ... any updates?

Orinackra

Well its been awhile, and I finally got around to working on them today. Got about 95% done. I just need to figure out where I want to mount my power lock switches, and decide what I want to do on the bottom of the doors. For now theres a piece of rubber from the old panel there, but I dont like it too much. For the switches, I have manual plates for the 4th gen, so I may just cut holes for my switches there.

If I was gonna do this again.... I wouldnt!!! lol actually I'd mount the handles and then the panels actually, cause you can move the panels around, but the handles and rods were a bitch. I thought about bending the rods, but I just cut them instead. As for the handles, well I had to cut a nice hole in the sheet metal for those to fit.

Heres some pics:

how I had to cut the metal

underneath

Slepewesel

iTrader: (1)

Looks nice man. And what do you mean about having to find a spot for the power lock switches? Whats wrong with the stock 4th gen location? My 4th gen window and lock switches are all wired up and working just fine, and it looks good.

Orinackra

They may end up going in that spot, but I'll be using the 3rd gen switches. So I'll have to cut holes for em. I just was thinking of other places to put them... nothing is coming to mind.

Slepewesel

iTrader: (1)

Being devil's advocate I guess ... why not simply use the 4th gen switches? It gives a much cleaner looking install.

ssean92

iTrader: (10)

I did this also, what did ya use for the mounting bracket???

Orinackra

I had thought about it, and in hindsight, I probably should have, but I bought the manual switch plates cause I like my window buttons hidden under the ash tray lid, and didnt need the switches on the door. I wonder if I can get a plate with a power lock lock option, no power window or mirror.