The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Door panel warpage

OK the worst has happen, My otherwise near prefect doors have returned from being sandblasted with warpage on the outer panels.
Has anyone ever replaced the entire panel, say from the beltline down? Is there any other thing that could be done to save these doors? Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks, Cliff

I should add, that these doors are from a '48 AD.
Thanks, Cliff

I am telling you, I warn and warn and warn about sandblasting panels and I will get over and over "I have done it without a problem".

The bad part is, IF it does get warped it is usually toast, ruined.

Cliff, you could possibly shrink the skins back with a shrinking disc. http://metalshapers.org/101/jkelly/index.html

But without a lot of practice or experience, this is going to pretty tough. Replacing the skins may be the only option. It really isn't that big of a deal, if the new skin is of good quality. I don't know what they are like, any ideas guys????

You would remove the skin as described in the following link. http://www.autobodystore.com/ms3.htm

But at the top you would leave an inch or so below the belt line, cutting it off nice and clean with a cut off disc. Then over lap the lip left with the new skin right up to just under the belt line.

Brian

I'm just guessing that for a replacement skin you'll just use sheet metal of the same guage. cut the old stuff out, put the new pieces in place, weld and grind.

I think in thread in the last couple of days there was a link to pictures of the door panel skins being replaced. Might have been the stretch one???

wow!how bad did they warp? 2nd question. where would you get barndoor skins? MartinSr you are corect. i warped a door skin sandblasting (very good job if i have to say so), i have blasted several since without warpage. I am going to say it's between luck and skill with a major dose of extreme caution thrown in. it helpes that i blew it and know what i did to blow it (you cannot rush take it slow ) also remember i am not not not a professional just a lucky diy also the metalshapers web page is priceless bookmark it.tom

I think I'd try to save what you have. If you can even find 48 door skins you'll most likely end up having to do some bondo work anyway after you get them reskinned. It takes a lot of practice to reskin a door without leaving dents around the edge. Without seeing the doors it's difficult to tell you the best way to proceed. I've had the best luck using a torch to shrink metal. I've seen mechanical "shrinkers" that some prefer but I've never liked them. I would strongly recommend taking your truck to a reliable body shop, one that works on classic & antique vehicles if available to get an opinion on whether your doors are savable. They would have to be really bad to be toast IF the bodyman know what he's doing. Good luck.

Thanks Fellows, Gee..is my face red! I knew better when it comes to sandblasting doors, but my friend who works at sandblasting business assured me "no problems" and hey, he did it for free! I may have to just start scrounging around for another set & hopefully show better sense next time.
Cliff

Have fun, I had to do both of mine. the bottom eight inches was gone. I ordered new skins but they didnt fit worth a ****. It took quite awhile to fit them and do all the resulting body work.