I searched previous posts and noticed that some of you have made your own door panels, using either hardboard or 1/8" plastic. My question is, how do you fasten it to the door? Do you still incorporate the standard plastic press-in fasteners on the edges? I am assuming not, as they fit into the cardboard door panels, in-between the layers, and so this would not work for a solid panel made of plastic. Please give me your thoughts, as I will be beginning fabrication this weekend. Also, does the gentleman who had the grey flame door panels have any installed pics? I would appreciate any other pics of custom jobs, just for ideas! Thanks in advance.

 

My door panels do not weigh that much so I got away with using the armrests to fasten them to the door. It has been several months now and I have not had any problems with using this method.

If you are referring to my door panels here is the only picture I have of them.

 

I made my door panels out of plastic and still used the stock plastic pieces to hold the door panel on.

 

were do you guys get the plastic sheets?

 

I'm glad you guys brought this subject up. I'm in the middle of making carbon fiber door panels at work and I'm not sure how to attach them either. If I make them flat, I thought I could use aircraft stainless washers/sheet metal screws. If I put some foam core board on the back, I could probably use the plastic "tree type" fasteners that hold the stock door panels on. You guys have any better ideas?

 

You should be able to get them from any upholstery shop, i got mine free but they retail around $60 a sheet or so, for a IIRC, about an 8ft x 4ft sheet.

 

I used MDF board you can get it at home depot. This material shapes and sands great. You can also use bondo to attach pieces and fill in spots. I used screws to hold my panle in. I traced the original shape of my panels to strat, then just went custom from there.


The flames are wood under the leather.

 

How do you attach the leather to the panel and make it keep the shape of the 'flames'?

 

Just use a good upholstery or interior adhesive and it will work fine. Instead of using wood you could just use foam to make the flames you want and then glue the material down onto it. Either way you just glue the material to whatever you are using. Just take your time and stretch the material to get out the wrinkles and press down good around the flames or whatever design you are doing.

 

Cool! I might try something like that.

 

wouldnt wood or something hard be better than foam. If someone were to throw an elbow into your door, bye bye flames.
Just wondering.

Brian

 

On Horsepower TV this past weekend, they visited Wyoming Tech, and they did custom door panels with flames. They used 1/8" plastic as a base, foam for the flames (they said cutting the flames at a 45* angle helps a lot), and more plastic for some pleats below the flames.

 

He's right on the 45* angle thing. That can make a world of difference. BTW, I just graduated from wyotech in december and that was my class where they taped that for horsepower tv.

 

Use closed cell foam. Closed cell foam is a bit more expensive, but keeps it's memory. It also glues better because the foam doesn't soak up all of the glue like regular foam does. While I was a custom audio installer, we did tons of door panels and amp racks with this method. We got our closed cell foam from the local interior shop, who also did the same style custom work.

 

Great replies guys! Anyone else have any custom panels to share???

 

humm very interesting...any places to get soem tweed for a nice cheep price? if so ill be redoing my seats and door panels

 

You've got a PM