[DeTomaso] Installing door panels

[Christopher Kimball]

If the door panels are stripped, it would be relatively easy to drill small holes through the panels while you have the door panels temporarily mounted, and continue drilling on through the door metal (obviously being careful not to hit anything inside the door, or worse yet, bang the bit on the outside skin, causing a reverse dimple).  

 

Once you now the holes are lined up, go to an auto parts store and buy those round, plastic push-in door panel holders (the protruding part is ribbed to stay in the hole unless fiirmly pulled out).  Drill the holes in the door metal just large enough for the holders to be pushed in (it must be snug), and mount the plastic panel holders to the door panels, again, drilling the proper mounting hole size.  

 

The trick is to make the holes in the door panels oblong, so the clips can be pulled out and replaced if they break.  If the hole in the panel is round, a) it's tough to get the panel holders installed in the first place, and b) once the panel is upholstered, it's really hard to remove a broken one, and almost impossible to replace.

 

Sincerely,

 

Chris

 


 
> Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 20:38:25 +0100
> From: Thomas.Tornblom at hax.se
> To: charlesmccall at gmail.com
> CC: detomaso at realbig.com
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Installing door panels
> 
> Charles McCall skrev:
> > My GT5-S came from the factory with screws with little washer things. If
> > memory serves, they are the same type used on your car. 
> 
> As did my GT5.
> 
> Old SAAB:s and Volvos had some spring clips that popped into a hole in 
> the sheet metal and you would just pull straight out to remove. My audi 
> has four molded hooks, one in each corner, on the backside of the panel, 
> and you remove the panel by removing the inner handle and then lift the 
> panel about an inch, and then pull out. No visible screws.
> 
> One of the first thing audi did to the interior after buying Lamborghini 
> was to eliminate all visible mounting hardware like screws and rivets. :-)
> 
> Thomas
> 
> > 
> > They are there - you just need to look carefully!
> > 
> > I'm reviewing my pictures to see if I have one I can send you, and I see
> > that even the Pantera Si uses the same type of screws!
> > 
> > Charles McCall
> > 1985 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S #9375
> > "Raising Pantera Awareness Across Europe"
> > http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=2323
> > 
> > -----Mensaje original-----
> > De: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] En
> > nombre de Erik Anderson
> > Enviado el: miércoles, 06 de enero de 2010 19:35
> > Para: detomaso at realbig.com
> > Asunto: [DeTomaso] Installing door panels
> > 
> > My door panels were held in place by small screws. Since I am having them
> > re-done in leather, I am wondering if there is a different method to
> > mounting them - one that does require popping a screw through the panel to
> > the door. 
> > 
> > Are there any clips or other ways to do this?
> > 
> >>From all the pix I've reviewed of GT5 and GT5-S Panteras, I cannot see any
> > mounting hardware on the tops, bottoms and sides of those door panels. 
> > 
> > Thanks in advance. 
> > 
> > EA
> > #3528
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