Re-covering Door Panels

[wizard124]

Quick Q - did you replace the vinyl from the piece at the top of the door card? If so - how did you remove / replace the studs along the inside channel?

Cheers

Andy

I used an exacto blade to pry the rivet flange (inside) away from the sheet metal. Then take a small screwdriver or chisel to the rivet flange and tap with a hammer. This breaks off easily. Or, use a dremel grind wheel.

Use 1/8 x 1/4 inch pop rivets with a small washer placed on the inside to re-attach it.

[toplessexpat]

Got it .... Thanks

Mine are actually in good shape, although black, right now. I think I'll take an initial stab at spraying them up - and if that doesn't work I can recover in the tan vinyl.

Did you struggle to get corbeau to send you the vinyl? Took me months on back order!

[wizard124]

Backordered? Yes
Struggle? No, a month maybe. My vendor stayed on top of it.

[toplessexpat]

I gave up on mine after 4 months (!).

Corbeau direct finally came through...

[phaetn]

Great pics and write up -- thanks!

I plan to replace the vinyl on my upper door panel since the previous owner had black duct tape on there masking what must be ripped vinyl underneath. I don't plan to replace the bottom card. Since I don't have a pop riveter (nor the time, really) my plan is just to bring the whole card in to a vinyl repair/automotive upholstery shop.

Here's an only pic from last year before I fixed up the dash and centre console, plus I have new seats now:


You can see the duct tape runs along the top of both doors. Blech!

How easy is it to take off the door card? I would assume it's just a question of popping off some covers to reveals screws for the handles and armrests, is that right? I'll leave the cutting, padding, and riveting to the shop.

Cheers,
phaetn

PS. My Corbeau seats came direct from the factory. I was lucky to get two, because initial stock showed only one. The (excellent!) retailer in FLA said Corbeau tends to run low in inventory at the beginning of every calendar year. He thinks it's because of their business year end and they want levels low either for financial reasons or to make counts easy. At first he thought it might take a month or two to get the second seat, but we were lucky and both shipped at once.

[4uall]

Let me know when you go and maybe we can get a deal as I want to do mine as well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL-x7D4dH0M

[fredguaz]

Hey -

I'm right in the process of doing the same color interior for my 2000. Similarly based around the Corbeau front seats.

Here's a door panel...



I've also worked into the rear of the cabin too...

The side panels...



.... and the rear seat which was pretty hard...



On the arm rests and the kick panels / map pockets - I'm intending spraying them in an Expresso kind of color, along with the door card caps.

Final work to do with the fabric is a dash cap (the tunnel and console are done, although I'm not overly happy and will probably be redoing before too long!).

Working against the clock now to get this ready for the Texas Hill Country drive in late March. Car now has all it's panels back on - just need to re do all the lighting and electrics, and get the interior back in.

Chrome strips - I've recovered the stock ones using chrome tape. The same chrome tape that I've renovated the rear light clusters with (having modified the rear end of the 2000 to take mid 70s lights).

Interiors are fun!

Topless,
Please elaborate on what kind of chrome tape you used and where purchased. I want to do my tail light housings.
Thanks,
Fred

[phaetn]

Let me know when you go and maybe we can get a deal as I want to do mine as well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL-x7D4dH0M

I am thinking of pulling the door cards tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon as it will be warm and sunny in my garage. I'd like to drop them off next week sometime so I can get them back on the car relatively soon. I'm hoping to get the car on the road around April 11th or 12th for a weekend "test run" as long as there have been a couple of rainfalls to wash away salt.

Cheers,
phaetn

[phaetn]

Actually, did it today. Took a bit to get the window lever off as it's not put together as per the IAP video, mine has a circlip instead. I kept trying to pop it off and pop it off and it wouldn't work. Finally discovered the clip. Then smooth sailing on the passenger side.



Of course, nothing's easy, so when I went to tackle the driver's side two of the three screws for the armrest where stuck fast and the phillips screw driver began to slip. I stopped before I stripped the head. Not sure how to proceed. The screws are the middle and back ones so they are deeply embedded within the armrest and it would be difficult to fit a drill and tap a screw extractor in there, and the armrest would block any attempt to squirt LiquidWrench into the threads. Maybe if I take everything else off I can squirt some by bending the door card a bit, but I don't particularly like that solution...

[toplessexpat]

2" Automotive Chrome Tape from Amazon.

[AriK]

Actually, did it today. Took a bit to get the window lever off as it's not put together as per the IAP video, mine has a circlip instead. I kept trying to pop it off and pop it off and it wouldn't work. Finally discovered the clip.

They all have the circlip. Takes a bit of picking with a flat screw driver to coax it out, especially if you don't know which direction the clip faces (unless of course you have the right tool to pop it)

Of course, nothing's easy, so when I went to tackle the driver's side two of the three screws for the armrest where stuck fast and the phillips screw driver began to slip. I stopped before I stripped the head. Not sure how to proceed. The screws are the middle and back ones so they are deeply embedded within the armrest and it would be difficult to fit a drill and tap a screw extractor in there, and the armrest would block any attempt to squirt LiquidWrench into the threads. Maybe if I take everything else off I can squirt some by bending the door card a bit, but I don't particularly like that solution...

Screw is too small to tap. Use a NEW screwdriver to work it back and forth. If all else fails,drill the head off so that the armrest comes out and then you can easily deal with the protruding studs when the cards are off the door.

Now is a good time to rustproof the interiors of those doors.

[phaetn]

Some Liquidwrench finally got it. Both door cards off.

Of course, as a happy start to the season, when I was going to put the circlip back on so that I could at least roll the window up and down over the next few days... SPROING! Off it leaped into the wild blue yonder. Even though I saw it's direction and hear it hit, there's likely no way I'm going to find it. At least it didn't end up in my eye.

I still have one, so I'll see if I can find a match somewhere...

[wizard124]

Fix the clip to the handle first. Then press the handle onto the splined shaft. It is tapered so the clip expands as it isppushed on.

[4uall]

better late than never

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psYYqQhWY2o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqv8A2jakOg

[phaetn]

Cool links. Thanks.

Went to the vinyl and car upholstery repair shop today. Got a replacement window crank clip gratis. Also got a quote.

$150 or so per door. WTF?!?!

The clips for the trim are just two bendable prongs (like on a duo-tang binder -- so I guess they're actually called "tangs", not "prongs"), and there are four rivets to drill out that hold the window felt. That's it. Plus the vinyl, but I just need to strips for the top of the card and a bit of glue.

I need to find a suitably small rivets to get the window felt back in place as it needs to be flush so as to not scratch the glass and flat enough on the other side so that the card will still clip over the metal of the door.

Thanks for the tips on the 1/8 or 1/4 in rivets. Guess I'll have to go and buy a rivet gun after all. I'll tell my wife it's to make the car look pretty.

wizard124, where did you source that vinyl? It's just the texture I'm after and I only need enough for the two tops. Is it easily available? Should I just head to an arts and crafts store, or an upholsterer?

Cheers
phaetn