Front door reinforcement at the handles??

[Eric M.]

My truck is getting paint cracks around the door handle. It looks like the sheetmetal around the handle is just flexing too much when the door is opened and closed.

I noticed on a set of doors from an 87, that there is a reinforcemnt plate on the inside of the doors behind the handles. Is this something that was added on later models to deal with this issue, or do all doors back to 1973 have this plate?

I've got a picture of the plate below.

Thanks,

Eric M.

 

[79rustyk10]

are they GM doors or the china made replacements?

 

[Eric M.]

Good question. The door came with the truck. I painted it and am now having this issue. How can I identify a non GM door?

Thanks,

Eric M.

 

[79rustyk10]

Honestly I have no idea a 100% sure way to tell the difference between them. I know the replacements are thinner metal and not usually the same quality fit that the GM doors are.

there might be a part nuber stamped somewhere on the door or any option stickers on the inside of the jamb?

 

[Eric M.]

That's a good starting point. I'll look over the door and see what I can find.

Thanks,

Eric M.

 

[496truck]

My 87 K5 has it's original doors (at least the drivers had it's original stickers in the jamb) and they seem to have the same problem you describe, although the paint is still good. If I grab the handle and close the door the metal will "pop" in and back out.

 

[prairie]

My 1984 M1008 CUCV (pickup) has the same thing , but without the screw. At least on the passenger side anyway, haven't had the drivers side inner door panel off yet.