I will soon be ordering new inner door panels for my 1984 Firebird, along with the new top strips with the inner seal that go along the top edge of the panel.

It's been some time since I've had these off and I'm trying to remember what's holding the two together without having to take them off just to look at it. Am I remembering it correctly that there are holes along the top of the door panel where short plastic "nubs" fit through with some kind of nut or other connector that screws on to the plastic "nub"? If so, where can you get the replacement "washer/bolt/threaded fastener" things at? If I remember correctly, my old ones had some real jury-rigged deal holding them on and several of the "connectors" were gone. Anyone know what they are called and where to get them?

If I have this set-up wrong, please correct me. Thanks for any help or advice.
Brad

 

Yeah your remembering it correctly. To me it looks like a speed nut, i think 10 or 11mm. From what i remember tho, when I tried to take them off, I too broke several of them off. Maybe they're meant to only go on and never come off, idk. The speed nuts can be purchased at automotive stores like NAPA or Hires or something like that.

 

Thank you for the reply. I couldn't think of the name of those things for the life of me! I'll check with the local parts store and see if they might have them now that I know what to call them! Thanks, I appreciate it very much.
Brad

 

As long as you don't break the ones that are on it you could re-use them couldn't you?

 

IF you dont break them you can reuse them. THese nuts are the same thing that hold the carboard storage box on the rear side cargo panel. They are pretty easy to break the stud off though, so be careful. THey also hold on the rear side maker bezel on also...they are used a lot in these cars

 

Actually, I am already missing quite a few of them! Last time I had the panels off, I noticed that some of the plastic nubs were already broken and the speed nuts were gone. Someone prior to myself had "jury rigged" a number of them with other stop-gap measures, so there really aren't many holding this thing together because of the work of prior owners... gotta love 'em! I will be checking out the auto stores and hardware stores. Wish I knew exactly what size these were, but I may have to bring in a sample for them to look at after I get it off. Thanks for the replies and wish me luck!
Brad