Earl Car Door Panel Removal

Halm · 07-14-2002, 02:19 PM

Ok, there has got to be a secret password or something I don't know!

I am taking the door panel off to replace the window regulator and door stay. It has been pretty straight forwad until I got to the FRONT door pocket. It is not the back pocket attached with elastic cord. It is the drivers side door and as you look at the pocket there is a bolt on the upper left corner. Feeling it from inside the door, it seems to be aligned with the upper rim of the door pocket, but I can't find an access point to remove it.

Any and all help is much appreciated.

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

I think there's a hidden nut. You need to reach inside the door cavity to access it. I remember it as a major pain. I'll go out an check my old door pockets (now replaced with RS panels) and verify. -- Curt

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

Here's a photo of the back of the pocket. There's a threaded stud sticking out at the top left corner in the photo. Then there's 2 screws each on the 2 hinges at the bottom. -- Curt

Halm · 07-14-2002, 02:33 PM

Yep, the threaded stud is what I am stuck on. Is there a small nut that I just don't feel that holds it on?

Thanks again.

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

Yeah, there's a nut on it. I think it's actually attached to the door panel - not the sheetmetal of the door? Looking closely, I also just noticed there's 2 VERY small Phillips-head screws up under the top edge of the door pocket (you can see them in the photo). It looks like these hold the top 'rail' of the pocket on (the 'rail' is the part with the threaded stud). I wonder if you removed these, if it would come off more easily? -- Curt

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

Halm · 07-14-2002, 02:49 PM

Thanks Cegerer. Your picture helped me figure it out! In the case of my car there is a 10 mm nut on the back. When I rolled the window up, there was plenty of room to get a rachet on with no problem. Once it came off everthing else was a snap.

Really appreciated the help.