Door panels

[Divers]

My old door panels are shot. So rather than plunking down $194 each on new ones.....

Can I just cut some luan and then cover in vinyl? I would then put a strip of wood or chrome 3-4 inches from the top to dress it up plus maybe a nice wood or chrome door pull? I figure I could make very nice ones for ~$50 each.

What do you all think? I am installing the gt250 dash and installing stainless bezels on the gauges, so something to match? If anyone has done this, could you send me a picture or 5 (or post in the thread).

Thanks!
Robert

[Rain1950]

hat is my plan; however if you use luan, make sure it's sealed well. I bought some from HD and it was labelled as 'water resistant'. Just morning dew made it delaminate. I'm going with 5mm birch as i's much more resistant even unsealed.

[spidernut]

It is pretty easy to do. My vinyl was in great shape but the boards were warped. I got new boards, cut them and re-attached the vinyl. It came out great and was a very inexpensive fix.

If you want stock door panels, you can find them all the time in decent shape for a lot less than the new ones. What color interior are you looking for?

[Divers]

John,

I am doing the interior in beige. I want an all new interior so even panels in good shape will look worn. Installing brand new seats and carpet, so I want new door panels.


Did you use staples to attach the vinyl?

[124JOE]

i used contact cement back in 2000

[wikkid]

I know a car restored the way you are doing it will probably never see rain, but moisture still may be an issue to a certain extent. What about just using an easy-to-cut chipboard (non-corrugated cardboard), and doing a fiberglass gel coat on it, to stiffen and render waterproof.

Or, West System epoxy sealer (found in marine supply places).

[Divers]

Whatever I use, I will be sealing everything before I put the vinyl on.

[wikkid]

I don't know if anyone has had issues with panel backer thickness, but I plan to see what material I can find that is as close as possible to the thickness of the original, just for look and fit (re-using original, 1984 vintage vinyl LOL)

[Ken]

If you go to the hardware store have them show you some door skin material, its inexpensive thin plywood custom upholstry shops use this for door pannels

[wikkid]

If you go to the hardware store have them show you some door skin material, its inexpensive thin plywood custom upholstry shops use this for door pannels

Sounds like you have a good hardware store near you!!!

[124JOE]

i used HARDBOARD its dark brown 3/16 thick.i think it fall to 1/2 from the door gasket.also could use 1/4

[Fiat88]

ABS plastic door board is what I used. Gonna redo them though.

[mdrburchette]

You might want to check with an car interior trim shop. My local trim shop uses a white plastic coated board that was stiff enough to keep the door panel shape but was light and flexible enough to mold to the metal door. I used an old door panel as a template, cut it out, drilled the 500 holes Fiat thought was necessary and my trim shop recovered them for me. I transferred all the hardware from my old door panels then used the GM plastic interior screws to attach them to the door itself.