Re: DO 51,52,53 PARTS FIT 54?

Posted by BH On 2011/10/14 19:29:58

The parts book is certainly the right place to begin your research, but you sometimes have to look past the numbers of the basic part.

Looking at coverage for complete, untrimmed doors in Gr. 30.295, it shows the same front doors, left and right (respectively), for all 51-52 club sedans and business coupes (2465-95-98 and 2565-95 body styles). However, there are several different part numbers shown for front doors of 53-54 Clipper club and sportster sedans (2665 vs. 2695-97 vs. 5465-85-95 body styles). While that seems to run counter to interchangability across all years, I suspect the differences lie mainly with the mounting holes for variations in trim, and I'll try to show you why.

Take a look at the outer repair panels shown in Gr. 30.297, and you'll see that ALL 51-54 TWO-door models, including convertible and hardtop, share the same skin, left and right (respectively); however, that panel only covers the door below the window belt. Next, Gr. 30.310 shows same front door hinges, WRT to their respective locations, for ALL 51-54 models, but regardless of body style. Yet, Gr. 30.366 shows same side glass, left OR right, for ALL club and sportster sedans and business coupes from 51-54 (2465-95-98, 2565-95, 2665-95-97, 5465-85-95-97 body styles) - that is, ALL 51-54 TWO-door SEDAN models.

I didn't audit all the details, but the evidence presented, thus far, is pretty suggestive that the front doors will cross-fit among any of the two-door sedan body styles of 51-54.

Yet, the devil could be in minor details beyond trim, like some of the hardware. However, that stuff can usually be transferred from the original assembly to the replacement.

Caveat emptor.