I want to replace my door panels due to the driver's side having a crack at the top edge. I removed the panel and see that it was replaced in 1992 with a cheap plastic piece being used as the upper reinforcement backing. I would like to reuse my chrome pieces as they are all in good shape. It looks like I will have to buy the metal reinforcment strips that are missing. My question is how do those metal reinforcement rails attach to the door and how does the unassembled door panels I am purchasing attatch to reinforcement rail?

What year car?

Sorry -1968. Also, does the weatherstrip piece pop-rivet to the new door panel? The old panel had staples throught the plastic reinforcement piece.

Staples would be original.

Parts wise, it would depend on which door panel supplier made yours. I used Al Knock door panels, and they were ready to re-install, other than adding the interior trim pieces that poke through the panel. The inner reinforcing of the original door panels was metal. Some suppliers may have used plastic. Metal reinforcing is part of the door panel itself. Upon re-installing, the whole panel hooks ofer the top of the inner door, and then the screws along the bottom of the panel (and the door pull assembly) hold everything on the door.

If you haven't purchased anything yet, I'd suggest Al Knock panels. They are always on Ebay for $405 (I believe) with free shipping. You can't go wrong with those. Here's a link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-1969-Firebird-Deluxe-Door-Panels-Window-Felt-/190500342664?

Thanks for the advice!So the staples go right through the metal reinforcing strip?

I'm not sure I ever looked that closely, but they must because the metal goes up and over the top of the panel.

Must be similar to the staples through the inner fenderwells for the air-flow baffles. Those go through the metal fenderwells too.

That would be a 'Yes' and a real big PITA. If you don't care about originality I have seen that others use rivits.

I see they sell they staples now seperatly in the Ames catalog (I think). I had a few left over from the rubber flaps found in the engine compartment.

I clamped the weather striping down on the door panel and drilled new holes for the staples with a 1/16 bit. I think I broke 8 of them. It was tedious work.

Look for my thread on it in the archives.

Here is a link to a Chevelle website that shows exactly what I was looking for:http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=271914

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=271914