Door Panels on 1973

[A1980GMC]

I was not too familiar with what the door panels on a 1973 Blazer looked like until I got mine. My 80 has electric doors from an 85 Silverado. One of the previous owners install some handles on the door panels just above the door latch.

I knew they were not stock but wasn't sure if they were install because something was there before and broke. Now seeing some old panels it appear the area just below the window and above the door latch is supposed to be blank.

Where do you get good OEM panels? What years are interchangeable? What do most of you guys do with your door panels?
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[lowrodderchev]

i've heard after market door panels arent the best thing in the world because they tend to warp. i have some on my k5 been a year now there fine. my truck is the cheyenne and when i got it had 1 door panel, not into the wood grain so rather then hunt for another wood grain style door panel i scored some after market ones on ebay for $80 and sprayed them to match my truck. i found some stock 75 chevy truck panels (no wood grain) at the auto wrecking but figured i'll go back next week and hold on to them just in case

[70-K5]

1973 - 1991 Jimmy/Blazer/Suburban should be the same. There are some different trim options, some have the pull strap some have pockets but they all ultimately mount the same.

[lowrodderchev]

I think there different 73-76 I believe something w handles and arm rest

[68Timber]

They changed the door panel size once or twice, I don't know the years but I guess if I had an LMC catalog here I could figure it out. The screw holes moved when the size changed. If yours aren't broken they're not hard to refurbish or you can get a set out of the junkyard to fix up.

[A1980GMC]

I don't think mine are broken. I say I don't think because my Blazer is parked somewhere else until our new house gets built. I think they are in good shape. The bad thing is that the previous owner screw some very basic handles onto them. So if I take them off, I will be left with holes in the doors.
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[68Timber]

You can repair the holes pretty easily with 3M Duramix 4240. It's not cheap at around $125 with the dispenser but nice to have around when working with old interior pieces.

[Jonboy]

73-76 trim panels are narrower and shorter; they go to the style line in the inner door shell. In '77, GM implemented a lot of running changes, one of which was power windows and locks. The window regulator mount is outside of the shadow of the door panel, so the doors were redesigned on the inside. All 73-up doors will interchange functionably (as in they will bolt on the truck), but the inner components changed after '77. There are a few running changes afterwards, but they are relatively minor. Door panel breakdown will be 73-76, 77-80, and 81-up.

[A1980GMC]

Thanks for the breakdown JonBoy. Hopefully once the 4th of July is over, I can get started playing around with my new Blazer.
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[A1980GMC]

Here are some pics of my door panels.

You can see the "handles" that were added. The handles are pretty solid.

[A1980GMC]

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[lowrodderchev]

not my truck but i would lose the the handles

[lowrodderchev]

sorry forgot to mention the only thing your door panel is missing is the fabric bag that is usually below the window crank. other than the extra handle its pretty mucha stock door panel. lucky they sell for lot the ones ive seen.

[A1980GMC]

Lucky? They look like crap.

The armrests are all messed up. I could paint them but there are 4 extra holes in one and 6 in the other. They don't look as bad in the pictures. How do I repair the padded part of the arm rest? Junkyard or is there a good aftermarket choice?
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[lowrodderchev]

I got my armrest from junkyard lucked out found nice pair but junkyards around don't have to many 73-76 trucks mainly the long arm rest

[lowrodderchev]

here's mine i'm planning on painting the arm rest black

[Jonboy]

Yeah, the grab handles definitely don't belong. I have a decent set of those trim panels in my crew cab. If you aren't in a super hurry, you are more than welcome to them. I am swapping doors, and will be using later model doors (and trim panels).

[A1980GMC]

That would be awesome! Do you plan to sell the doors from your 74 or are they scrap? I need to find a window track for my passenger side.
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[Jonboy]

I can sell them. The shells are pretty rusty, but the rest is good.

[A1980GMC]

Do you know of any good junkyards in the DFW area that I might be able to get that window guide from? I am not sure what it is called, but the window rides up and down inside a guide/track. On my passenger door the guide that is closest to the door latch is broken. Right now the window is out of it's track.
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[1774btcrew]

I have a brand new pair of the guides in the for sale section if you haven't found a set yet

[Nauticalham]

Atomic pick-u part off 35 google it. Great scrap yard!
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