Door panel fitment issue

[Marlon L]

Hello, I sure hope someone can help with this. I am putting new door panels on my 73 Challenger but they are about a 1/4 inch too narrow. If I hang them and put the screws in the back, the front screw holes are close to a 1/4" short of lining up. I tried heating the ends with a heat gun and it did get it closer but I'm afraid of distorting the plastic. Has anyone encountered this and how did you rectify it?
I will try to get a photo today.

Thank you.

 

[floyd]

I ran into an issue with the reproduction inner door panels. The originals had a beveled edge on the inner portion where the plastic meets the metal door shell. The repros have a hard edge which prevents the panel from fitting snug.

I used a dremel with a cutoff wheel to bevel the edges and they fit well afterwards. Obviously, you need to be careful with the cutting wheel, but it’s relatively straightforward.

 

[Marlon L]

Thanks Floyd! I will give that a try.

Marlon

 

[Challenger RTA]

I would contact the vendor and let them know of the problem. They might send you another set or at lest compensate for you trouble.
I would do as you have done and maybe elongate the holes.
Having worked in the injection and blow mold process. I would have to say they were not cooled before the were removed. Mold temperature to hot.

 

[floyd]

If you still have your originals, do a side by side comparison. You’ll see what the issue is. This seems like a tooling issue to me.

 

[Challenger RTA]

Marlon L and floyd Who where the vendors you used?

 

[floyd]

Another difference I found between my originals and the reproduction was the lack of these small contour notches. I’m only familiar with 70-71 Challengers but all my originals have these notches.

 

[floyd]

I got them from Roseville about 5 years ago. I can’t recall who is making them now but they are the “good” ones that I think Metro made originally, not the Palco ones.

Overall, they are very nice reproductions but, in my experience, reproductions are never a 100 percent match.

 

[Marlon L]

I got mine from National Moparts in Ontario Canada. I'm not sure who the manufacturer was though, I would have to look into it. I bought them 2 years ago and just putting them on now.

 

[Marlon L]

I ran into an issue with the reproduction inner door panels. The originals had a beveled edge on the inner portion where the plastic meets the metal door shell. The repros have a hard edge which prevents the panel from fitting snug.

I used a dremel with a cutoff wheel to bevel the edges and they fit well afterwards. Obviously, you need to be careful with the cutting wheel, but it’s relatively straightforward.

View attachment 134055

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Hi Floyd, thanks again for the tip.... That worked

 

[Xcudame]

Should reach out to the vendors and let them know the issue and solution so they can get it right. I know companies like 440 Source, Hughes Engines and Mancini read lots of Mopar forums to see how people like their products and what they need to change or improve.

 

[rs1]

Another difference I found between my originals and the reproduction was the lack of these small contour notches. I’m only familiar with 70-71 Challengers but all my originals have these notches.

View attachment 134059

Floyd did you cut these slots in your new panels

 

[floyd]

Yes I did. Not sure it added anything but was looking to match the original as close as possible.

 

[rs1]

Mine has a space by the front of the door ..If I screw it tight it would pull through the panel maybe the slots would let it flex a little