All,

What is the easiest way to remove the door panels from my 65 mustang without breaking the clips, panels, water shields, etc? Where are the clips located, do I need to purchase glue...what is the best way to do this?

Thanks...my 65 will appreciate it!

 

The best way is to be careful. Use a large screwdriver or other such tool and slowly work them out. No glue is required. The watershield is held on with some gooey stuff, but I don't know what it's called. It usually stays in place though, so you should be able to reuse it.

 

I'm sorry, using a screwdriver is not the best way to remove door panels... unless you're not concerned with their condition after removal.

A screwdriver does not spread the prying force over a large enough area of the "pressboard" door panels and it will likely crack the pressboard if a troublesome clip is encoutered.

It's better to use a 1.5" putty knife with a protective wrap of duct tape over the knifes blade edge. The wider edge of the putty knife is less likely to inflict damage on the possibly (likely) deteriorated pressboard.

Getting those first couple clips to "pop" is the hard part. It's all downhill from there. I like to start at the front lower corner and work my way backwards along the bottom... and then up and around to the top.

Good luck,
Dave

 

Thanks for the feedback...
davesanborn, do you know how many clips I expect to have and will the pressboard stay on the door panel or on the door itself?

Greetings!

 

ehh your both wrong

Use the right tool.. a "trim removal tool" to be exact. I've used this on a number of cars for door panels and chrome removal. This is without a doubt the best (and correct) tool to use. They run about 10.00 bucks. Here is a generic image I found online so you see what it looks like. We have never broken a clip or damaged the doors/trim using this.




[IMG]local://upfiles/78041/7C61A69AFD874AA3AD130CBF6FFDE96E.jpg[/IMG]

 

Straight from the horse's (or Pony's) mouth. From the 1965 shop manual. It does actually say to use a putty knife.

[IMG]local://upfiles/82474/1C0A32B93EFB4D55B48027565DAB2390.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/82474/61705575C3654D1FA69CE758C5F4F88D.jpg[/IMG]

 

[sm=icon_stickpoke.gif]

Only because that was in ancient times before proper tools. Today we have speciallized tools for everything.[sm=wootwoot.gif]

[sm=trust_me.gif]

 

I was born in 1951. I am ancient. You mean they got something better than my stone ax to cut the rust out of a quarter panel these days?

 

LOL!

 

LOL[sm=lol.gif] Nice one hehe