Recovering upper panel and re-install

[TX82FIAT]

I have some used metal upper interior door panels coming in to replace the ones the prior owner cut holes in and installed tweaters. The passenger side one looks to be in very good shape. However, I'm going to have to recover the drivers side and therefore will recover both of them to match the new black vinyl patter on both doors. During dissassembly i noticed I could just take off the top portion of the door panel on the later models. Pretty easy with a couple screws and three metal push tabs that are hidden behind the chrome/aluminum interior trim pice that sepreated the upper from lower door panel.

My question: Can I push those tabs behind the chrome/aluminum trim piece throught the top and bottom door panel with the bottom door panel on the door or should I take the bottom panel off and re-connect the upper and lower and then re-assemble. It seems like the tabs wil spread after passing through the bottom door panel. I can take the bottom off if need be, it just seems like I can push the metal tangs back through both panels without full disassebly of the bottom. Anyone do this before? should I just take the bottom off to be safe?

[76was124]

I would take off the whole panel. I am not sure the the push through tabs would sit flush enough by pushing them through and hoping for they spread properly. After removing the door handle, arm rest, window crank and side view mirror adjustment (if you have the late model with remote knob), the whole panel would pop up and off pretty easily once the screws are removed. The windows crank has a spring clip that needs to be pulled out to remove the crank. A stiff wire with a hook on the end will pull the clip off pretty easily.

[TX82FIAT]

Thanks, I have a door handle clip remover in a tool box someplace. I was thinking I woud need to take the bottom off but was also thinking there may be a few people that have done this and could advise. However, it is most likely people repair the whole door panel and not just the upper portion limiting experience with the question at hand. Better to be safe and pull the bottom portion than force something and regret it. I'm always tempted to short step something and without fail it bites me in the ass wevery time.

[81SPIDERMATT]

everyone always has time to do it twice

[RRoller123]

Yes take the whole panel off. I did it and it is much easier that way. Replace the top half material as you are doing. Actually not sure how you could get just the top off and do the job.

Pete

[btoran]

and a related question....when doing work on the bottom panels, it is easier to remove just the bottom or both bottom and top.

[RRoller123]

My experience is that the whole assembly has to come off the door, and then you take the panel apart (top from bottom, etc) and repair what needs to be done and reassemble it all.

[TX82FIAT]

You can take the top off without tasking the bottom off on the later models. However, you can not take the bottom off without removing the top as well.

[RRoller123]

Here below is a lousy pic of the driver's side off and disassembled, but it is the only pic I can find. If you are refurbishing it, the trick is the attachment of the new window felt. It needs extremely low head rivets, I believe that I used what are called "split rivets" from the local Ace Hardware and they worked very well, set with a pair of vice grips. I guess you could take just the top portion off, but it makes sense to me to take it all apart and refurb the whole thing with a good cleanup and vinyl respray.



Here is mine with refurb complete and back on the door. I replaced the top vinyl, as you are doing, and changed the color scheme completely, from tan to grey and black, using vinyl dye spray.



Pete

[TX82FIAT]

Pete, that looks great. I'll look for the maroon vinyl spray and do it the right way. Thanks, Ray

[RRoller123]

You might want to ask opinion here about the best Vinyl Dye Spray. I used the Dupli Color brand with good results, and make sure you use the "Vinyl Prep Spray" that they recommend. It makes a huge difference in adhesion and color uniformity. Don't skip this step.

[TX82FIAT]

Before see holes for speakers on both sides cut right into the metal.


After - turned out OK. fabricated padding and it shows on the drivers side pic. Actually looks a lot better with the eye than in this picture.

[RRoller123]

Looks great!