I have a 94 Camaro Z28 and the outer door panel has started to separate along the seam where it mates to the inner part of the door. It's like someone grabbed the top corner of the door above the handle, and yanked or something. So it's split down about half way, and the door panel sticks out about a 1/4''. WTF??

I guess the doors are plastic (SMC, right), so I suppose there's a glue or epoxy to stick it back together. Anyone ever have this problem? I could probably fix it myself, but I wouldn't know how to properly clamp it together so it stays while the glue dries.

Anyone know what type of epoxy or glue should be used? Should I just take it in somewhere?

 

I have the same problem with my TA. The skin has separated about 10 inches down from the top of the rear of the door. Mine is not sticking out or anything, though.

I checked with the local dealer's body shop and they said they'd need to replace the whole sking. Of course. It's a dealer, you know... Duh...

I posted a thread about it a few weeks ago and there were some suggestions as to how to do it, so you might want to do a search.

I haven't done anything to it yet, but I guess I'll try to fix it myself first. I guess some epoxy, or the equivalent, and a few clamps should do the trick. We'll see...

TS

 

send me a pic. i work for an auto interiors company, i could prob give ya a quick solution

 

Thanks, I'll try to get a pic there this weekend. Basically from the top of the door skin, it's split along the seam where the external skin mates with the inner surround. Just up by the top rear.

 

Yeah you will need a new skin. Temporary fix is some crazy strong epoxy, but let it sit for at least 15hrs before you do anything to it. I did this to my Camaro last summer and it lasted until winter, I guess it got brittle in the cold.

 

Post up a pic so we can see what we are dealing with here. There is an epoxy that I would use as I use it everyday and have yet to have a problem with it cracking. It's fusor T10 heat set formula. I use this stuff to glue fenders on freightliners, internationals, and damn near every other truck on the road.

Basically get a grinder or really course sandpaper(36 grit) and get rid of the glue that's there then scuff up the door really well. Squirt some of the material in, clamp it and go at it with a heat gun. Should be able to have it done from start to finish in roughly an hour. The stuff is about $30 a tube though.

 

And where can one get that stuff?

 

Body shop suppliers. Just go ask for fusor t10 and they should be able to help ya out. you'll need to get a gun for it too. Not sure what they cost.

 

I have pictures but sadly I don't know how to post them - can someone tell me the way to post them in the thread?
Thanks,
Eric

 

First host the pc somewhere on the net (Imageshack, Yahoo etc.) and then use the "insert image" button on the "Reply to Topic"-screen.

 

Thanks. Well since it's raining for the next few days I decided to try and glue it together myself. I got three C clamps using towels to protect the paint. I got a tube of automotive epoxy (the stuff in a twin syringe) and just applied a nice coat of it on both sides. clamped for 24 hours. Looks good and it held, at least for now. Unfortunately, I probably needed about 8 clamps to get the whole thing mated down perfectly flush all the way, but at least at the top half It is flush, so the window glass pretty much mates up with the weatherstrip. I guess in the future I'll take it in. The bummer is I just changed my insurance comp deductible from $0 to $1000 a couple months ago. I could have probably gotten it fixed for free.

 

I have the exact same problem on my 95 z28. I did notice that the door bulges more when the window is at the top or full bottom... It looks like the window is misaligned from years of use.. I'll post a pic tomorrow.

 

here is a picture

 

Having ridden a motorcycle for several years I know when people break their abs plastic fairings they have them plastic welded sometimes. I don't know if something like that would work on the material they used on the car or not.