The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Door Panel smoothing

My maroon cardboard/hardboard door panels are in fairly good shape. Only reason I would consider new ones is because they aren't exactly flat, showing gaps top and bottom between screws. It would be nice if they could be treated or repaired in a way so they would mount and stay flat on the doors. Suggestions?

Use contact adhesive to glue your originals to a new backing.
I’d use waterproof panel board, not suggesting a supplier but here’s what it looks like.
https://www.perfectfit.com/15347/15...ard/Kraft-Tan-Waterproof-Panelboard.html

If you need to tune up your old panels first I wonder if a steam iron and a fabric blotter to protect the original surface might help, I’ve not tried it?

Thanks, Grigg

I do not recall seeing that posted here before this.

The source you posted seems to have the best price w/shipping.

I will most likely glue vinyl material to it for doors and Suburban rear-side panels, and maybe for the Suburban headliner.

If you have used it, did you have to widen the slots in door-panel frames?

Good ideas, thanks Grigg.

Actually, I had thought an iron might help but was timid to mention this in case I was way off base and got my hand slapped. I'll look into the material you linked to.

Livemeyer, another suggestion:
When I bought my truck it had no door panels or frames. I bought ss frames from one of the vendors and used the frames as the template for the outer dimension of the door panels. (Note: I often use discarded corn flakes cereal boxes for template material as it’s easy to cut/handle). I then positioned/taped those cardboard templates on the gutted doors so then I could precisely locate my holes for the attaching screws and window crank and inside door handle and arm rests. I traced those templates onto some flat lite gage sheet metal and cut them out accordingly. You can then bend those panels (and ss frames) as needed to accommodate the subtle contour of the inner door panel. My local Joanne Fabric Store had the cloth material and the 3M contact adhesive I needed to finish the job. A lot of work: yes. Stock: sorry, no. Also, my panels don’t distort or delaminate from humidity or temperature. Inside door panel
Good luck, regards, Dave

Thanks, this sounds like a great idea, but not the direction I want to go, and least not at this time. My truck is custom so I don't mind that, but I'm trying to roll with what I have. I figure at some point I'll spend the big bucks for custom upholstery, but the truck isn't ready for that yet. I have the brown dash and brown bench seat, but when I get it all done the custom way I really want, it will be a dark red leather seating surfaces with brown and tan accents. The exterior is currently two-tone yellow and green; eventually a frame-off will lead to a light blue paint color; both color schemes contrast with brown and red. And I reserve the right to change my mind too!

Still, I like the way yours turned out and even if I don't do exactly what you did, I might steal some ideas.