67-72 A pillar door mounting plate & cage - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**CKfan** · 02-04-2023, 04:38 PM

I am posting this in hopes of helping someone who is struggling or will struggle with replacing the lower A pillar door mounting plate and holder (cage). This part is often damaged by rust and falls down in the A pillar when you remove your door. The top plate is mostly the same but much more difficult to replace and rusts out less often.

I have seen many examples on YouTube with "advice" on "making your own" but many people have never even seen the part they are suppose to be making!

There is no easy way to replace one (only less difficult ways). Also, no-one is making after market plates or cages for sale (even though they come inside the new replacement A pillar you can order). So, finding a parts truck is the best current option.

Here goes, if you need to replace the bottom plate, the best way is to cut out a piece of your kick panel directly behind the door plate for access. I have seen YouTubers cut the lower A Pillar at the door mounting point and replace it, but I would suggest that creates a weak point after being welding back in (unless you weld better than me). The door creates a lot of force on the lower A pillar especially if someone lets the door swing open on a down hill slope. The pictures below are from a piece I got from a hacked up truck just for example. I am sure others have better solutions but this works for me. The pictures will at least show some people what they are trying to fish out of the bottom of their A pillar : ) Enjoy!

**CKfan** · 02-04-2023, 08:44 PM

Sorry, forgot the front view that shows the two spot welds that hold the cage (keeper for the hinge plate that allows it to move for adjustability).

Gib74 · 04-11-2023, 06:29 PM

After a lot of thinking I ended up going underneath the hinge plate. Seemed a little easier than going from the door jamb side. I did have a re placement cage and threaded plate. Which made things nicer. There is a lip, that runs left to right, I had to negotiate on the bottom side of the spot weld. The stainless bolt was used to suck up the cage so I could butt weld to the pillar. Here are some pictures. Took about 4 hours to complete.

Gib74 · 04-11-2023, 06:34 PM

More pics

**CKfan** · 04-11-2023, 08:39 PM

Very nice work, well done.
Good to have another option to consider when tackling this job in the future.
Thanks for posting.

**ghackett1** · 04-12-2023, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gib74

After a lot of thinking I ended up going underneath the hinge plate. Seemed a little easier than going from the door jamb side. I did have a re placement cage and threaded plate. Which made things nicer. There is a lip, that runs left to right, I had to negotiate on the bottom side of the spot weld. The stainless bolt was used to suck up the cage so I could butt weld to the pillar. Here are some pictures. Took about 4 hours to complete.

Nice work.

**HO455** · 04-12-2023, 08:37 AM

Great work. Thanks for posting your fix.

OL SKOOL · 04-12-2023, 12:37 PM

The struggle is real. I have been putting off that repair now seems quite doable. That helped a lot thank you for the pics.

02-04-2023, 04:38 PM	#1
CKfan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: So central coast, CA Posts: 426	67-72 A pillar door mounting plate & cage I am posting this in hopes of helping someone who is struggling or will struggle with replacing the lower A pillar door mounting plate and holder (cage). This part is often damaged by rust and falls down in the A pillar when you remove your door. The top plate is mostly the same but much more difficult to replace and rusts out less often. I have seen many examples on YouTube with "advice" on "making your own" but many people have never even seen the part they are suppose to be making! There is no easy way to replace one (only less difficult ways). Also, no-one is making after market plates or cages for sale (even though they come inside the new replacement A pillar you can order). So, finding a parts truck is the best current option. Here goes, if you need to replace the bottom plate, the best way is to cut out a piece of your kick panel directly behind the door plate for access. I have seen YouTubers cut the lower A Pillar at the door mounting point and replace it, but I would suggest that creates a weak point after being welding back in (unless you weld better than me). The door creates a lot of force on the lower A pillar especially if someone lets the door swing open on a down hill slope. The pictures below are from a piece I got from a hacked up truck just for example. I am sure others have better solutions but this works for me. The pictures will at least show some people what they are trying to fish out of the bottom of their A pillar : ) Enjoy! Attached Images

02-04-2023, 08:44 PM	#2
CKfan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: So central coast, CA Posts: 426	Re: 67-72 A pillar door mounting plate & cage Sorry, forgot the front view that shows the two spot welds that hold the cage (keeper for the hinge plate that allows it to move for adjustability). Attached Images

04-11-2023, 06:29 PM	#3
Gib74 Registered User Join Date: May 2022 Location: Redding Posts: 12	Re: 67-72 A pillar door mounting plate & cage After a lot of thinking I ended up going underneath the hinge plate. Seemed a little easier than going from the door jamb side. I did have a re placement cage and threaded plate. Which made things nicer. There is a lip, that runs left to right, I had to negotiate on the bottom side of the spot weld. The stainless bolt was used to suck up the cage so I could butt weld to the pillar. Here are some pictures. Took about 4 hours to complete. Attached Images Last edited by Gib74; 04-11-2023 at 06:40 PM.

04-11-2023, 06:34 PM	#4
Gib74 Registered User Join Date: May 2022 Location: Redding Posts: 12	Re: 67-72 A pillar door mounting plate & cage More pics Attached Images

04-11-2023, 08:39 PM	#5
CKfan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: So central coast, CA Posts: 426	Re: 67-72 A pillar door mounting plate & cage Very nice work, well done. Good to have another option to consider when tackling this job in the future. Thanks for posting.

04-12-2023, 08:37 AM	#7
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 10,803	Re: 67-72 A pillar door mounting plate & cage Great work. Thanks for posting your fix. __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban the WMB,1991 S(stink)-10 Blazer,1969 GTO, 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird. 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377

04-12-2023, 12:37 PM	#8
OL SKOOL Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: rochelle il. Posts: 356	Re: 67-72 A pillar door mounting plate & cage The struggle is real. I have been putting off that repair now seems quite doable. That helped a lot thank you for the pics.



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