1QUIKWS6

iTrader: (61)

Don't know if this has already been posted - if so, sorry for duplication, but:

For everyone that has the chronic problem of their door panels cracking, or just want to prevent it from ever happening;

There was an excellent tech article on why this happens & how to fix the problem before it starts in the...

November 2007 Issue of High Perfomance Pontiac Mag, page 74, 'Door Panel Pandemic - Exploring the Chronic Fourth Gen Firebird Door Panel Cracking Problem'

I tried to find the article online at their site but had no luck?

Just thought I'd bring it to everyone's attention...

-Jay-

blueeyeddevil141

iTrader: (5)

Find it! I have a 98 TA with 120k on the clock, and no cracked door panels, and I want it to stay that way!

1QUIKWS6

iTrader: (61)

Well, it's definitely in the Nov issue of the mag on the newstands as I just got mine in the mail yesterday.

They show an example of an already cracked door panel, and then one that is in the stages of beginning to crack with the stress dimples and all. The car with the dimpled panels (pre-crack stage) is a 01' with only 17K miles on it that has been kept in garage and driven only when nice.

So apparently, how the car is taken care of makes no difference. They claim the cracks start from stresses built up in the plastic portion of the panel from when the steel top window felt is stapled onto the plastic at the factory.

Lotta good pics and theory sounds reasonable - fix is relatively easy.

MeentSS02

iTrader: (11)

I may have to get this issue...I have one cracked door panel, and the other looks like it wants to, but is only discolored in that area.

1QUIKWS6

iTrader: (61)

Well, I know I'm going out to the garage right now to remove car cover and look for the telltale pre-crack dimples.

I'll prolly do the fix regardless.

Plus I have to make sure the A/C is on in the garage for my baby

PontiacFan

iTrader: (104)

They won't post the article on the website that is in the current-new issue.
(Then you wouldn't buy the issue, now would you?!?)

1QUIKWS6

iTrader: (61)

Makes sense - I got like a 5 yr subscription anyway.

Checked my car for the telltale creases/dimples - I have none woo hoo

I'll be doing the fix anyway just in case

VIP1

Check out this sticky:https://ls1tech.com/forums/pontiac-firebird-1967-2002/440767-cracked-interior-door-panel-don-t-quote-pics.html

1QUIKWS6

iTrader: (61)

Damn! Thought I actually had some good info - didn't even see that up there and that (Pittsburgh ease).

Well at least it seems everyone agrees that it's the staples in the window felt that are doing it - and removing them cures the problem before the crack starts.

And it is in the mag as stated in the sticky.

Sorry for acting like a newbie and cluttering up with info already posted - ya can go ahead and delete this iffen you want

younz can jest call me Bozo

-Jay-

1QUIKWS6

iTrader: (61)

Heck, you better stop me now before I get carried away and post something like:

'Let's see some pics of Black TA's with TTIIs'

Ntimid8r7

iTrader: (9)

^ now that is damn funny!