The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors 48 3100 door panels

Hey all

Just wondering what the best material is to make door panels or is it easier to buy reproduction ones and change them to how you want them?

How do you want them? The reproductions are colored cardboard, my truck is mostly original so every couple seasons I just spring for a new pair.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129182561/in/album-72157631867396207/

The reproduction panels are as Brad posted, simply paper board aka; cardboard.
This was the same material that was used in the headliner. The original side panels
were made from upholstery grade water proof panel board, which was embossed
with a leather grain pattern and painted. Panel board usually comes around 1/8” inch
thickness (.100”) and would fit in the trim ring of an AD truck side panel.
Treated waterproof panel board is still used in automotive applications and is
available from upholstery suppliers such as this:
http://www.perfectfit.com/15347/154...Black-Treated-Waterproof-Panelboard.html

Simulated leather grain book covering can be found at book binding supply companies.
This is some with a heavy leather grain that I’ve used to restore hard cover radio schematic
books (Riders & Sams):
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/162229367
This is Navy Blue but is made in many colors and patterns. This particular material is
.015” thick and could be applied to a panel board with glue using a roller or a vacuum bag.
The total nominal thickness would still be under 1/8” and should fit in the U-channel trim
rings on our AD’s.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I used the inexpensive cardboard panels the vendors sell.

Treated it with waterproofing and glued fabric to it from the fabric store (joanns fabrics)

...pic...

Its held up since 2010, but I dont get much rain where I live. Probably only driven in the rain a dozen times.

That fabric looks real good Gus. Judging from the grain pattern,
it appears to be Naugahyde fabric? How in the world did you
get the "sandwich" to fit inside the trim ring? It was all
I could do to get the reproduction panels into the
reproduction trim rings. Any more thickness and I
would have had to spread them apart.
We're probably giving the readers a bad impression of the
reproduction cardboard panels. I installed the ones I got
from the vendors back in 2006 and they still look as good
as when I put them in. Like you, she doesn't get driven
in the rain unless I get stuck in it when I'm out.
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/162231265
dg

Gus,

I'm interested in your answer too. I'm considering going a similar route, and the "sandwich" thickness is a concern I haven't gotten resolved yet.

Thanks,

Bill

I had no issues with thickness of the material I picked up from joanns fabrics

...pic...

...pic...


...pic...

Thanks, Gus.

I'll go ahead and give mine a try before I plan anything unusual.

As always, thanks for your quick, thorough responses, with excellent visuals

Bill

Thanks for all the photos. You guys do some good work. I agree that before I saw photos of the "cardboard" I was thinking geez, it's cardboard. But the appearance looks like it has a thin layer of vinyl over it.

That is probably the route I will go. I have a 1949 3600, maybe it came from the factory with vinyl covered cardboard?

DADS50,

Do you have a stock number on the material you bought from Joann's Fabrics? Also, what did you waterproof the cardboard with?
Thanks,