L.I.N.Y.92CAMARO

Im looking to make custom door panles, with a chevy logo popping out about a half inch. ive down all the foam work and the fabric work, the only thing i dont know is can i somehow make a new backing. The cardboard or whatever it is peice? Can i buy it somewhere or just use something else? Also if anyone has any tips/tricks/suggestions with anything concerning custom door panels please tell.


Thanks,

Charged350

iTrader: (1)

go t home depot, get the 1/4 inch or 1/8th board, and cut it to the shape of the door pannel, dremell or a rotozip will save your life here, and make some new door pannels, yo have to have some decent fabrication knowledge to make these, check my car domain and see mine...

DillonRager

iTrader: (1)

use some sheet metal and tin snips
check out my car domain and look at my diamond plate panels. it was easy you would just cover yours in foam.

L.I.N.Y.92CAMARO

Charged350 What board are you talking about from Home Depot?
I also didnt see any pics of your interior on your cardomain.

Dillon nice doorpanels I like the look of that. Deff. going to keep that in mind.

Thanks Guys,

Stealthy-One

well you can get plywood, or MDF, or Hard board. I just bought a 2' X 4' hard board for 3.00 for a project but am thinking about getting two more tomorrow and making new door panels and building speaker pods into them with fiberglass.

Stealthy-One

well I scrapped my idea for the door mounted pods for now... Seemed that they were going to stick out to far, but I did make the door panels. just waiting for another day off so that I can get some black vinyl to wrap them in. that and it is snowing here so It is a bit cold to be out working on the car with the doors and windows open....

L.I.N.Y.92CAMARO

can you post pics of them finished and maybe before you cover them?

Thanks,

turbochargedrs

ok i never wanted to take them off because i was intimidated by fab but from doing a few minor things im building confidence and i wanted to do custom panels to go with the custom sail panels and visors im getting but i was wondering what i should use to get a nice strong hold (foam to the board and foam to vinyl) i wanna go black with a red bowtie. but i dont want it to fall off one day so i figured while this was open id ask.

sorry to thread rob but it pertained to the topic and its probly gonna help everyone who wants to do custom panels.

Stealthy-One

well depending on the temp, I got the leather to cover the new panels yesterday, but it started snowing... I really dont want to be out taking my doos apart in the snow, so I waited. Looks like today is gong to be clear and COLD, so I might try today. If so Ill snap a couple pics...

One question though. How do you normally re-attach the little plastic christmas trees that hold on the panels? the wornout panels that I had on were held on with a combo trees, and sheetmetal screws... Not sure I want to put screws through my new panels...They are screwed on now, but thats cause they are uncovered. Local uphosltery shop said for 50 bucks a panel they would attach them... But Im cheap. If it come to that, I think Im gonna just go get some chrome Hex Key head bolts and washers and do it that way so that it at least looks nice. But I aint payigng 100 bucks touse the plastic doo-dads.

Turbo, as to what glue to use... I am trying a new Locktite headliner spray. dude at the shop said it would work great. Normally I use 3M super 77, but I used that on my Headliner and it is fallling again after only 4 months. and yes I made sure I cleaned all the old oamoff before some one asks about that!!

L.I.N.Y.92CAMARO

Yea how do you reattach the panels? I dont see how it would be possable to do the plastic peices unless you glue them in the exact spot.

Also how do you plan on making a chevy emblem on your door?

Where did you get the leather for the panels, And what kind of foam do you guys use for this, and where do you get it?

Thanks Alot For Everyones Advice And Help,

L.I.N.Y.92CAMARO

Anyone how to attach the panels on custom door panels?

Thanks,

micktroup

The plastic pins are stock at the dealer, or you can use some from an upholstery supply shop- in the case of the factory pins, you need holes in the panelboard at each mounting point. These holes on the stock panel are around 3/4 inch long by 1/4 inch wide- the plastic pins screw in from the back and lock into the panel, just insert and twist, like a Dzus fastener almost. The elongated slot/hole allows for adjustment during installation.

Stealthy-One

Ok, couple pics of new panels being hacked, I mean made....

Here is a new panel cut out of 1/8 Hardboard. Basically I took my old panel and traced it onto the new board and then cut it out with my trusty scroll saw.



Annoying little clip... there are a number of these that hold the panel to the plastic piece at the top of the door..



annoying clip installed



whole row of the clips installed. dont mind the fact that I am missing three here. the posts on the plastic trim were snapped off. these clips are a screw on type thing. I found it easiest to use a pair of needle nose pliers to jam in the back side of the clip to push it in as I twisted it.




Here's the label from the glue that I used. stuff is STICKY!! granted I also used a staple gun on the back to hold the leather on... But I forgot to get pics of that...





As far as fastening onto the door, I went to my local hardware store and got a dozen or so chrome hex key screws and white fiber washers. the only spots that I really needed to use them though was the center of the panel in the front and back edges, just ot hold the panels into the curve that the door has. otherwise the door handles and such seem to be doing a good job. I also got a spool of 1/2 inch wide by 1/4 inch tall closed cell weather stripping foam and put a strip all round the outer edge of the door prior to mounting the panel. that mainly was to stop any vibration that might happen due to me turning up my stereo.

all in al I think they turned out pretty good. I just wish I had been able to use the factory way of attaching them. If i did it again I would probably get the plywood rather than the hardboard. Plywood is a bit more flexible and would be easier to shape to the door. but the hardboard works for me for now.

Here is a shot of my drivers door... let me know what you all think.

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

i'm wondering if an industrial strength velcro would be a good option to replace the stock plastic fasteners. When I parted out a 4th gen, I saw they used velcro to hold the rear plastic pieces in place. You'd need to get some high quality stuff though so the adhesive backing doesn't fail when exposed to hot summer temperatures.

Gibson27

iTrader: (1)

mine

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member.../2255277_5.jpg

about the velcro, glue it to the car or screw it on via glue gun or self tapping screws