I would like to make my own custom door panels. Nothing fancy just basic clean looking. My old ones are in good shape but where the clips attach them to the door they are ripped being cardboard and all. What should i use to make new ones i see people on tv using what looks like fiberboard or something. Anyone with any pics or info would be appreciated. And yes I searched and didn't find what I was looking for. Thanks

 

I started this project when i first got my car, never got anywhere with it thought. Only because of lack of money/time (getting the car running was suddenly more important after the tranny blew up). Anyhow, what I did was i took one of the door panels, carefully removed all the cloth and padding and stuff, traced it on to some particleboard from Home Depot (cost like 6 bucks for the one giant sheet that was MORE than enough for both panels), cut everything out, and there ya go! I never got around to putting the clips on to hold it on the door, i just had it supported by the armrest, but i dont immagine the clips would be too hard. Anyhow, from there its up to you as to how you want the door panels. My plan was to cover them in some fairly thin foam, and just cover them with grey tweed, maybe using a darker grey on the bottom half or something.....but i guess you could use thicker foam and make some shapes or something, maybe make fiberglass door panels if thats your thing, etc.
I'll see if i can find some pics...

 

thanks alot pics would be nice. I was thinking the samething but just wasnt' sure how to attach to door.

 

You COULD get by just by putting the arm-rest in place, it holds the door panel fairly good, but certainly some clips or whatever would make it a lot better. What I would PROBABLY do is just drill holes where the origional door panel clip holes are and press them through the door panel and into the door. That SHOULD hold them in place. Thats the sorta stuff ya just gotta figure out, gotta be creative.....

Thats the door panel back durring the winter, but thats the same as it was last November and now I've got the old door panel back on the pass side, but the drivers side is still the same.

 

take the old pannel off, strip it, mark it on some 1/8 inch board and cut it out, cover it woth 1/4 inch sponge and fabric of choice, i mad emine withing a week after work ...not hard, just do it, jus make sure you drill holes where the old clips went, and you can reuse the old clips and it will be better then anything gm ever made...