Bummer. Looks like someone cut down a truck door and stuck it on there.
CK5
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Well crap! Just noticed that my drivers door does not have the "latch reinforcement plate" and the small "brass brace" above it. Anyone have those 2 pieces?
The passenger side door has them and I also have the other brass pieces on the B pillars.
Welcome to the 1st Gen scavenger hunt!
If you want that plate it's going to have to be cut from a Blazer door and welded in. There are about 6 spot welds holding it on. Time to start making friends with the vendors who carry the obscure NOS stuff... GMCPauls, etc.
Just wait until you decide to find the carpet hold down strips (front and rear) for the bedfloor area... Talk about hen's teeth!
-G
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
Well crap! Just noticed that my drivers door does not have the "latch reinforcement plate" and the small "brass brace" above it. Anyone have those 2 pieces?
The passenger side door has them and I also have the other brass pieces on the B pillars.
The small brass brace was always ugly to me and l'm sure it was an afterthought from GM. I've never found anyone making replacements, but it wouldn't be that hard to cut out a piece of brass and sand it down into shape. Not totally sure why they added it but I'm planning on removing them and plugging the holes. I wonder if a rubber bumper would work as a replacement.
If it was removed from a Blazer door wouldn't it just get held into place on the new door by the 3 screws?
Chevy did a lot of head scratchers in the 70's.
yup. The 3 bolts you were referring to only hold the lock mechanism in place.
I think you miss understood what I be sayin... "after" the part is removed (3 screws/spotwelds) from the "old" Blazer door, couldn't it just be bolted on to the "new" door with just the 3 screws?I don't know much about these old 1st Gens.... but I know that the plate doesn't come off without some drilling of spotwelds.
-G
If you're a poser and don't care about it's actual function.
Seriously, you've got to weld-up the holes from the spotweld cutter anyway so instead of turning the part into an "accessory" for your Blazer, you could just bolt it in place AND puddle those holes shut by welding it to the door correctly.
That's how "stock" was...
-G
And you know I want to be authentic!
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
I
I personally know someone who did just that.
"NO CONCOURS FOR YOU.......1 YEAR!!!!"
-G
So your sayin 3 screws is not enough contact area to stiffen the latch area it also needs to be welded... why didn't you just say that in the first place? 
I am learning quick how flimsy these first gen bodies are! And yes I know, brace those doors!
I am learning quick how flimsy these first gen bodies are! And yes I know, brace those doors!
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
So your sayin 3 screws is not enough contact area to stiffen the latch area it also needs to be welded... why didn't you just say that in the first place?
I think welding them is just to prevent other guys from stealing them once they realized they aren't made in the aftermarket.
NO... that's one of the giveaways.
The whole idea of the plate (IMHO) is to stiffen up the door in the event of an accident to keep it from deforming and popping open. A pickup door has a perimeter window frame that probably helps keep the door located somewhat in a frontal crash, but for the 1st Gens the only thing keeping that door shut is the latch itself.
-G
chulisohombre
1/2 ton status
Can't help you there. I repaired my originals. New inner and outer skins.
Funny, just noticed that on this K5 for sale at 35k is the same way, http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/5680617698.html looks like they either cut down a pickup door or used a repop. Do the drivers side doors normally rust out faster than the passenger side?
