I did a search on this and saw that people say you had to use the 4th gen dash (I've looked and the panels would have to be modified where they meet up with the dahs). I'm just wondering if anyone has done this. If not, I may be the first. I'm planning on swapping the 4th gen door panels in and keeping my 3rd gen dash. Not quite sure how I'm going to redo the area that I cut out, but I'll think of something (unless someone else has found a way to do this that looks good).

 

i don't see how you can put the door pannels in and keep a good theme. the shape is completely different........but, to each his own. i'd sure like to see it no matter how it sounds.

i have yet to see a good 4thgen door pannel install yet that wasn't a "professional" body man.

 

I just dislike the 3rd gen door panels, they look very plain to me. If I could find something to do to the 3rd gen door panels that make them look good (replace that arm rest / handle for example) I might do that instead of modifying the 4th gen door panels. Not sure yet, I'll go play with photoshop and see what those 4th gen door panels would look like w/ a 3rd gen dash.

 

hey 84camaro, do you already have the door panels? if not ill sell you mine, they are out of a 97 camaro, 2 tone red and graphite gray perfect condition, pm me if your interested

 

Heres a good 4thgen door panel install where the guy was not a professional body man. His screen name is IHI:hail: About just doing the 4thgen door panels i believe theres a reason that no one has done it. Its because w/ them on and the 3rd gen dash the doors won't shut!

 

why couldnt you just cut it out where the door panel hits the dash and anywhere else it hits then im sure it would fit and work but trying to get it to look right. i havent attempted this b/c of lack of funds (all going to motor) but i dont see why you couldnt, just getting it to look good would be the problem

 

I think that picture is of a fourth gen dash - that's why the door panels fit. Right now, I'm recovering (actually it's already done) in synthetic leather a dash that I cut the ends off of so that it won't hit the door panels. It turned out fairly well, but getting the fabric to stick to every nook and cranny was a b!tch and there are a couple of "elephant skin" areas that don't look so good AND the cracks in the dash showed through, which bummed me out. HOWEVER, if it does work then I can take a good dash to an upholsterer and have them redo it in synthetic leather.

The tough part is the ends of the dash - the parts that are open because they've been cut off. When the door are open it doesn't look so hot, so I'm probably going to "drape" the leather down the sides of the dash and secure it there either with snaps or velcro.

Barring all of that working, last chance scenario is a fiberglass dashpad that can be reworked on the ends to be a nice smooth curve.

S.

 

I'm considering cutting a notch into the door panels so they'll close, and maybe altering the curves where the door panels meet w/ the dash if it doesn't look right. Other than where the doors meet the dash, I think it would look fine.

 

There are non-factory options. HITHERE got HITHERE set of door panels from www.roddoors.com They're designed for hot rods (like old fords and chevys) but you can get ones that you trim to fit. They have several interesting designs, the panels themselves are made out of molded ABS. HITHERE know what you mean about the stock door panels being boring, HITHERE couldn't stand them! In particular the armrest really bugged me. HITHERE took the opportunity since HITHERE was completely redoing the the doors to convert to power windows and and no interior door handle. It did require some modification to the door, but it was mostly just grinding off the mounting tabs for the old armrest.

 

HITHERE put together HITHERE small web page on the panels and the installation here: www.geocities.com/jcargile2001/doorpanel.html Unfortunately HITHERE didn't get my digital camera until after HITHERE had finished cutting/shaping the panels so there aren't really any construction pics.