| Author |  Topic  |
andydeans3
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2016 Posts |  Posted - 10 Mar 2021 : 17:34:59  
| I've just received an OEM lower door repair panel, that fits below the trim line. Still got evidence of the part number sticker on it.
It's even "joddled" to fit under the upper section.
A pretty rare piece.
The one I have is for the right hand door, (UK driver's side).
For the time being I've repaired the bottom of my door, but intend perhaps next winter, to have this panel fitted.
It's crossed my mind that my local welder chappie, could fabricate more of them using this one as a template.
He could hopefully also fabricate the one for the left door, allowing for the opposite taper of the horizontal bottom panel on the left door.
One question I do have. This panel seems to have a curve on it, ie it's not straight, when you look along the bottom edge.
Any thoughts on this?
My door bottoms appear to be straight, though that could be due too much, past, bodgery!!
I would not at this point have any idea what it would cost to have one of these panels re-made, I'm just interested to know if anyone out there would be interested?
1978 LHD SAAB 96
1978 MGB Roadster
2008 LHD "Classic" Renault Twingo
1991 Nissan Figaro |
Edited by - andydeans3 on 10 Mar 2021 23:10:46 |
|
UK_Sub
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2558 Posts | Posted - 10 Mar 2021 : 17:52:22
| I would expect a curve along the side of the panel, but not along the bottom edge.
I wonder if it's warped over the years
I would definitely be interested in a couple of sets of these - I've got some spare doors, but the lower edge on all of them, is no longer attached to the door frame! |  |
|
melle
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
3833 Posts | Posted - 10 Mar 2021 : 19:40:07
| Don't Saabklubben still do them?
www.saabv4.com | |
|
andydeans3
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2016 Posts | Posted - 10 Mar 2021 : 22:05:03
| Melle.
No idea, I'm going to go check.
Andy
Had a look, don't see these lower door sections.
1978 LHD SAAB 96
1978 MGB Roadster
2008 LHD "Classic" Renault Twingo
1991 Nissan Figaro |
Edited by - andydeans3 on 10 Mar 2021 22:15:26 | |
|
Derek
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2191 Posts | Posted - 11 Mar 2021 : 12:34:56
| | Perhaps Malbrad would be interested in getting involved in getting these done? He could even sell them to Sweden, and elsewhere. | |
|
Betsy67
V4 Fanatic
United Kingdom
409 Posts | Posted - 11 Mar 2021 : 15:53:18
| I think Malbrad has got them lined up as a spares item. Just not quite there yet.
I definitely need both sides.
If enough people post a requirement on here it might push Steve on a bit. At least he would know there’s an instant return on his investment. | |
|
andydeans3
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2016 Posts | Posted - 12 Mar 2021 : 13:50:27
| Looking more closely at the door, though the bottom edge is quite straight, the door, up at the level of the trim, does have a curve on it. Using a 1 metre spirit level as a straight edge, it's about 8 or 9 mm off the straight, at each end.
See photos below.
Rear of driver's door
Front of driver's door
Some other photos of the part,
Bottom edge. Note that the bottom is not folded over metal, making a "metal sandwich", that traps moisture, and rots the door from the inside out. (As the factory produced doors are). The bottom is simply tightly rolled.
1978 LHD SAAB 96
1978 MGB Roadster
2008 LHD "Classic" Renault Twingo
1991 Nissan Figaro |
Edited by - andydeans3 on 12 Mar 2021 13:56:11 | |
|
Betsy67
V4 Fanatic
United Kingdom
409 Posts | Posted - 13 Mar 2021 : 08:20:22
| I don’t think there are many straight lines on a 96 - especially the doors !
The curve on the bottom should be there. Check some photos of an original 96. The body line runs right from the front wing to the rear of the body in a very shallow arc.
I’ve already cut the bottom of my door off, which had been reskinned at some point. The inner was sort of intact, but realistically needed repair. There is a definite curve on it - maybe a 10mm deflection. Gave up on the repair as it’s just one of the many jobs and not needed at the mo.
I would be very impressed if your local guy could knock these up, they’re a complex shape. A door bottom and door skin lower would be easier.
Keep us posted. |
Edited by - Betsy67 on 13 Mar 2021 08:43:11 | |
|
andydeans3
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2016 Posts | Posted - 13 Mar 2021 : 16:17:43
| Steve
Beginning to think you may be right in saying that it might be quite a complex shape to reproduce.
I haven't managed to let him see it yet.
I'll post an update, once I've shown him the item.
1978 LHD SAAB 96
1978 MGB Roadster
2008 LHD "Classic" Renault Twingo
1991 Nissan Figaro | |
|
melle
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
3833 Posts | Posted - 13 Mar 2021 : 17:19:10
| I've repaired several doors and I've never had a need for such a panel, repair sections are usually pretty straightforward to fabricate from sheet steel. I'm not sure how much those pressed repair sections are, but even if you're paying someone to do the work it may be cheaper to use sheet, depending on the state of the door of course.
www.saabv4.com | |
|
andydeans3
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2016 Posts | Posted - 13 Mar 2021 : 19:10:31
| Melle
You may be right, but didn't want to pass up the chance to buy a factory repair item.
The postage from Canada was eye watering though......
I'll probably get it fitted next winter. Looks like this pandemic's going to go for another year, at least, so plenty time!!!
1978 LHD SAAB 96
1978 MGB Roadster
2008 LHD "Classic" Renault Twingo
1991 Nissan Figaro |
Edited by - andydeans3 on 13 Mar 2021 19:11:41 | |
|
Dirtbiker
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
1061 Posts | Posted - 14 Mar 2021 : 20:44:24
| Hi,
My 96 has the original drivers door in original paint but the bottom has gone.
I was planning on having a go at this:
Really interesting that SAAB produced the repair panel in the way they did.
I'm confident repairing the structure of the door but scared of the skin itself with curves in two directions. I would be interested in a repro door skin lower rather than the whole thing. Andy, I think well worth having a chat to your guy but it may prove to complicated to replicate the part you have bought. I know anything can be done but the time it takes may make it prohibitively expensive.
I think maybe I remember Malbrad doing lower door skin repair panels...?
Cheers | |
|
mettersl
V4 Fan
United Kingdom
126 Posts | Posted - 15 Mar 2021 : 10:01:45
| A while back I had a stash of Spares from a closed Saab dealership. In them there were door bottom repairs, but the frame repair and the skin repair were two separate items- and looked easier to make than the combined part in the picture.
I sold the last one 10 or more years ago sadly...
North West Es*ex,Cambs/Suffolk/Herts borders | |
|
melle
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
3833 Posts | Posted - 15 Mar 2021 : 10:22:05
| Andy, is your panel an original Saab part? I guess vehicle manufacturer's repair panels were usually intended for crash repairs, where speed is of essence, not restoration, where originality is often more important.
www.saabv4.com | |
|
andydeans3
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2016 Posts | Posted - 15 Mar 2021 : 22:30:45
| quote:
Originally posted by melle
Andy, is your panel an original Saab part? I guess vehicle manufacturer's repair panels were usually intended for crash repairs, where speed is of essence, not restoration, where originality is often more important.
www.saabv4.com
The chaps who sold it to me certainly thought it was. I can see where there has been some sort of ID sticker on it, but there is nothing legible any more.
Those pages about fixing door bottoms was in Practical Classics a while back.
1978 LHD SAAB 96
1978 MGB Roadster
2008 LHD "Classic" Renault Twingo
1991 Nissan Figaro |
Edited by - andydeans3 on 15 Mar 2021 22:31:43 | |
|
Derek
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2191 Posts | Posted - 16 Mar 2021 : 12:39:36
| | Could be a Veng repair panel they were always in red oxide and aged to look like that. I have a couple of Volvo ones. Genuine Volvo ones were in much better smooth grey/buff/cream finish. What were old Saab ones finished in? | |
|
| Topic | |
Anyone interested in replica lower door sections?
