Re-covering Door Panels

[spiderdan]

Should I just head to an arts and crafts store, or an upholsterer?

Phaetn, give Rockland textiles a call. They supplied me with vinyl for my boat seats.
http://rocklandtextiles.com

Good luck (and I do have a rivet gun if you wish to borrow it)

[wizard124]

I found that vinyl at a local fabrics store. I don't have any specific style or number to pass on to you.

Just get behind the rivet to break or grind off the flange. Easier than trying to drill them out IMO.

$150 a side That pop rivet gun will come in handy! U need short 1/8 aluminum rivets and rivet washers.

Small spring clamps help in setting the glued vinyl tabs.

[phaetn]

Excellent, thanks so much gents.

Cheers,
phaetn

[DieselSpider]

Joannes or Hancocks usually has the vinyl and Harbor Freight can provide a rivet gun for around $5.

I have had this one for around 40 years now and it still gets the job done. You can use a few #6 or #8 washers between the nose and the rivets to help get into tight places or if need be take it to the grinder and reshape the nose piece you are using to fit a tight spot. At $4.99 your not out much if you mess it up:
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-rivet ... 38353.html

[SLOSpider]

I painted my arm rests using SEM vinyl paint with their prep. Replaced the chrome strip and ends. They came out like new and remain looking that way a year and a half later.

where did you get the strips and ends ...please and thank you

Matt,
I know you are really asking for azruss's response, but I felt compelled to chime in anyhow.
I got my chrome strips from, of all places, O'Rielly Auto Parts on College Ave. They sell adhesive-backed rolls of it for very little $$.
It fits perfectly. It is slightly rounded (see my photo above). Sticks great (placed them right over top of the original old ones) and I like the look. I' haven't had it come off in about 3 years. I bought my new chrome end plugs from none other than our friends at AR, in Colleyville, TX.
Dave

Local Oriellys here didn't have anything thin enough. Maybe discontinued? If your back there get a name and part number if they still have it.

[phaetn]

Fix done with $15 worth of vinyl and buying a pop rivet gun with rivets and washers. Probably about $50 all in, but I get to keep the tools. I ended up using medium rather than short rivets, as the short ones just wouldn't keep the washers on.

Overall I'm very pleased with the results. The passenger door was a bit more difficult than the driver's, likely because of the metal lip on the door and the way the top of the door card loops over it. The window isn't quite as free as it could be winding up and down, but I can live with it, and I had to drill some new holes for the securing screws, unlike on the driver's where I could use the originals as it all lined back up as originally found. I used Roberston head screws just to add a Canadian touch.

A great thanks to 4uall for all of his help and time!

Before, when the top of both doors was just two rows of black duct tape:


Card removed:


Work getting done:




4uall's encouragement, in a The Californian's accent: Just Do It!


The Final Product (a bit hard to see b/c of contrast):



Cheers,
phaetn

[wizard124]

Well done!
With a good bit of comraderie thrown in

[spiderdan]

Looks real good phaetn.
You never mentioned how many beers were required.
Knowing Jay...

[4uall]

[toplessexpat]

Good job!

This tip is a little late I know.... Getting a role of that sticky carpet protector is handy for putting a waterproof membrane on the back of the door cards to protect them from the inevitable moisture that's going to get behind it.

A