1968 Door Panel Clip & Plugs

[DeVille68]

Hi guys,

As you might know I am currently doing a "light" restoration on my 68 DeVille Convertible. You can follow the progress here: http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=130360.0

I restored the door panel and needed new clips and plugs to mount the door panel to the door.
So I have some clips of ebay, some from restoration specialties and the original ones.

Turns out the the clips and plugs do not fit together, so for now, I had to mount the panel without the clips.

Here is my observation:

I have attached some pictures comparing the three clips that I have. The black one is the original piece that came with the original door panel. The green one is to one from Restoration Specialties - number: 1969-CLP
The silver one is a clip that I bought from ebay  - it is a clip of Chrysler.

Figure: "Door Panel Clip -1"

• When you look at figure 1 you see that the green and silver one have the bulge at a different height than the original piece (black, middle)
• You see that the side of the original piece (black, middle) is much wider

   
Figure: "Door Panel Clip -2"

• You see that the original piece is a little shorter than the others
• You see that the original is a little narrower than the others
• You see that be bulge of the original (black, middle) is less distinct

Figure: "Door Panel Clip -3"

• In this figure you can see the clips inserted into the plug you sold me: 2146J-CLP
• The original in the middle is able to slip easily inside the clip. And since the bulge is not that distinct, the clip can also easily be removed
• The silver clip also slips relative easily inside but its harder to get in there because it is sider. To remove the clip a lot of pulling force is needed since the bulge is that wide.
• The green clip is very difficult to get in the plug. And you can hardly remove the clip again. When the plug is in the car (in the metal door frame) you can hardly get the clip into the plug since the clip is so wide. The surrounding metal from the door restricts the plug to deform.

So now I have two choices:

• Find the original clip
• Find the plug that fits either the green or the silver clip and modify the metal door skin to accept the new plug

   

Can you help me with this clip & plug issue?

Thanks a lot for your help

Best regards,
Nicolas

[DeVille68]

anyone?

Who restores these door panels??

[cadillacmike68]

A local interior shop might be of some help. I hate taking my door panels off, partly for this reason.

[DeVille68]

Hi Mike

Yeah, I already asked around here. No luck.
Next week I will attend the European Cadillac Meeting - I hope I find someone who knows....

I also asked some NOS sellers - no luck so far.
The guys from clipsandfasteners didn't reply to my mail...

Best regards,
Nicolas

[DeVille68]

ok, so I am kind of surprised that there is such little resonance regarding the most important piece for putting the door panels back on the car?

Do you don't care or do you have loads of correct clips and plugs laying around in your garage?!?!   


Anyways, I found the correct box with all the parts numbers from Auveco.

(actually, Jeff from restoration specialties found it for me, great guy. He has what you need)

Regards,
Nicolas

[Scot Minesinger]

Low response is because people don't know the answer.  Not great to read a lot of no answer replies.  Thanks for posting the answer, so other 68 door panel restorers can find help.  My 1970 door panels do not have this issue and are fairly easily removed and re-installed.

[DeVille68]

Hi Scot,

Yes, thats true. No-answers do not help at all.
I was just surprised that no one seems to know.

I am currently in contact with the guys from restoration specialties - maybe we can reproduce a few hundred pieces.
Write me if you are interested.

Best regards,
Nicolas

[Scot Minesinger]

Nicolas,

The problems suffered and expressed herein are usually tough problems that other have learned the answers thru the school of hard knocks.  Hence you have hundred of people that read these and few answers.  If your climate control gives you trouble you can really get some good answers on this forum.

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Nicholas,
I am going to suggest you get the appropriate year Fischer body manual.  In the text you will see the correct clips, etc for your car.  The ones you show do not look familiar to me for door panel mounting.  Typically the clips have extended heads that "screw" into the fiber board of the door panel, and male "other ends" that press into the mounting holes in the door itself.  The attached website shows some of the types I (tried) to describe. http://www.perfectfit.com/15290/trim-clips--auto-fasteners.html
Greg Surfas

[DeVille68]

Hi Greg,

I have an original piece of the Shop Manual, Fisher Body Manual, Master Parts Illustration Catalog and Master Parts Numbers Catalog. Along with the Databook and Handbook.

I have attached two pages from the Fisher Body Manual. The first pdf shows you that on the 68 Cadillac there is a slot where your normal round plug would go. Because 68 used a longer plug.
The second pdf shows you the plug and clip for GM models. The correct one for 68 is similar but not quite. They do not interchange. (see post above)
The figure capture even says: "Pontiac shown, Cadillac similar"

Last Friday I received a few pieces of the "wrong" plug and fasteners - the normal GM stuff. I will try and see if I can make these work.
Also I received three more original pieces. Hopefully these are enough to put the panels back on.

Best regards,
Nicolas

[DeVille68]

and here is the second pdf:

[chrisbutnut]

I found this old post when searching for info on door panel retainer clips for my 68 Coupe DeVille.  I'm having the door panels refurbished by Just Dashes, and when I get them back, it would be nice to have the clips necessary to hold them in place, versus screwing them in.  Was anyone ever able to find the original clips that don't require any modification to either the panels or the doors?

[DeVille68]

I found some from a Chrysler, that are close.
One modification is necessary: i had to compress the clip a bit to make it work. Otherwise it functions the same. Not perfect perfect, but no one will notice and the panel is kept in place with no problem.

I think I bough these here: chrysler PN 3832616
ebay

you might find a better source, try to finde some auveco parts dealer. I think these from auveco are the ones to get: auveco

You might also need the cups. I think I bough some of these:
clip cup 1
or
trim cup 2

Best regards,
Nicolas