DIY (partial) Door Panels

[BumbleBeeSS2009]

Ok guys - I took some pics along the way of installing my Door Panels - unfortunately I was alone so some steps were kind of hard to take pictures of and do at the same time

I don't have any pictures of the dash pieces since it was pretty straight foward - pull off old / pop on new

Here goes:



Step 1:
Remove tweeter - Just grab it tight and pull up on it it will just pop off - disconnect the speaker wire









Step 2:
Unscrew the 3 screws on the edge of the door ( 2 are on the bottom and one is on the edge close to the tweeter







Step 3:

Remove the screw in the arm rest - Pull up the cover with your fingers





Step 4:

There's a screw behindthe door handle, you have to pry off the cover first to get to it - it helps to pull the handle while you do this to give you better access





Step 5:

No pictures of this since I couldnt pull and take pictures at the same time but once all the screws are out, start at the bottom and pull the panel away from the door - once one clip pops the rest will follow, just work your way around the door

Once all the clips are out lift the panel up to remove it from the door.

Step 6:

Disconnect all the wires from the panel (there's 3 on the passenger side door and 5 on the Drivers side - I only have pics of the passenger side







Now that all the clips are removed place the door panel on a flat surface - I laid some towels down to make a nice cushioned surface on top of a work bench

[BumbleBeeSS2009]

Step 7:

Remove the screws towards the top of the door panel




Theres a couple more along the sides



Step 8:

Remove the wire for the ABL



Step 9:

Remove the clips holding the light pipe in place



Theres 2 more at the top you have to pry away the top part of the door to get to them (once you pry the top away you can move the foam down so you can get to the last two)



Step 10:

Remove the light pipe and connections (self explanitory)

Step 11:

Here is the most time consuming part of the install...
I used an exacto knife to cut away the tops of the plastic posts theres about 13 or so of them that you need to do, I don't have a picture of this because it was pretty straight forward.

Step 12:

There's a little dimple at the bottom of the new panels that needs to be drilled out - you really cant miss it - GM supplies 2 screws (one for each side) in the bag specifically for this step - they're different then the other screws in the bag.

Step 13:

Re-install the light pipe and the clips - same way it came off the old one, it goes on the new panel.

Step 14:

Place the new panel into place (takes a little wiggling to get it in on the top) and drill in the screw noted above in step 12 into the "new" hole that you just drilled.

Step 15:

Drill the screws into the 13 spots that you grinded off or cut off with the exacto knife



Step 16:

Place the foam back into place and screw back in the screws that you removed in Step 7 - dont forget to thread the ABL wire back into the hole in the foam before you do



Step 17:

Re-attach all the wiring to the panel and reattach the panel to the door in the reverse order of how you took it off.

Step 18:

Stand back and admire your work!







If you need any help with this just let me know!!

[ssummit camaro]

Looks real nice, when you cut off the 13 posts with the knife did you cut them flush with factory silver panel? Also are the screws that came with the kit small enough not to poke thru on the other side or did you have to use additional washers?

[BumbleBeeSS2009]

Yeah, I cut them flush with the factory panels - the screws are small - no worries about them poking through

[Alain]

how much different are these steps from the steps needed to replace the panels with NON-ABL panels? other then the obvious which is removing and re installing the light pipes.

i just scored a set of IOM panels that i want to put into my 1SS but the new panels didn't come with any screws !!

anyone know what kind of screws i need to buy and how many??

[BumbleBeeSS2009]

steps should be exactly the same minus the light pipe portion.....

Chevy sent me 28 screws total (2 slightly larger screws and 26 of the screws you see in Step 15) - the slightly larger ones are the same screws from Step 7

I'm not sure as to the name/model of the screws they sent me for the panels but I can see if I can get you a pic of one of them next to a ruler or something....

Summit - the black washers you see in Step 15 are actually part of the screw - no additional washers were needed

[Alain]

Originally Posted by BumbleBeeSS2009

steps should be exactly the same minus the light pipe portion.....

Chevy sent me 28 screws total (2 slightly larger screws and 26 of the screws you see in Step 15) - the slightly larger ones are the same screws from Step 7

I'm not sure as to the name/model of the screws they sent me for the panels but I can see if I can get you a pic of one of them next to a ruler or something....

Summit - the black washers you see in Step 15 are actually part of the screw - no additional washers were needed

Thanks bro, I would appreciate it if you could snap a pic of the screws for me. Thank you so much. I wonder if I could order just the screws from GM

[BumbleBeeSS2009]

I'll get some pics tonight - sorry things were a little hectic yesterday and I didn't get a chance to take any - I'll definately do it tonight for you

[Alain]

You're a good man.

Maybe you can answer this question for me. The screws replace the plastic "bolts" that are melted in to hold the panels in place correct?

[BumbleBeeSS2009]

Yep - there are hollow posts that hold the panels on and they melt the tops of them to hold the panels in place - all I did was use an exacto knife (and a whole lot of patience) to cut them flush with the panels and then once you put the new panels in the screws screw right into the posts

[BumbleBeeSS2009]

Here's some pics of the screws - sorry I don't know what they're called but I'm sure someone could chime in and let us know

Chevy sent me 2 of these: (they're the same exact screws that are seen in Step 7)
They're used for Step 12 (new hole)





Chevy sent me 26 of these total: (13 for each door)



I only used the red piece of paper to prop the screw up so I could get a good measurement

[BumbleBeeSS2009]

hope those pics help!!

[Alain]

Originally Posted by BumbleBeeSS2009

hope those pics help!!

wow, thanks man. those pics absolutely do help. thank you soooo much !!!

you got your screws with the panels when you ordered them correct?

i wonder if i can go to the dealer and ask them to get me a set of screws to install my panels.

[BumbleBeeSS2009]

Originally Posted by Alain

wow, thanks man. those pics absolutely do help. thank you soooo much !!!

you got your screws with the panels when you ordered them correct?

i wonder if i can go to the dealer and ask them to get me a set of screws to install my panels.

Yes I ordered my panels from GMpartsdirect.com and the screws came in a small bag - I threw it out but I'm pretty sure it was a sealed GM bag - you should be able to order them from GM

Glad the pictures helped!