The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Doors Door panel access

Hey guys, Need some advice.
There's a lot of junk and a lot of surface rust on the inside of the doors on my series II, 1955, 3100. 65 years worth. I was thinking of cutting an opening in the interior panel to gain access. Mindful of the mechanisms inside. Clean it out. Clear the drain holes. Rust protection and some sound deadening material. I can't find anything that tells me somebody has already done this and how they did it. I'm mostly concerned with how to put the cutout back in and have it look acceptable. Don't want to spend 3-4 hundred bucks for a door panel cover up.
Any suggestions? Also considering leaving it alone. It probably won't be any worse for the next 65 years.
Appreciate any thoughts on this.
Jim

I suppose you could fabricate a cover panel that overlapped the hole you cut out. Then just screw it into place over the hole so you could unscrew it anytime you needed to get back inside the doors for maintenance. Finish it off nicely and use decorative stainless screws - it could look factory original.

Thanks for your suggestion. Makes me think I should imagine what an original design would look like and cut accordingly.

You can actually reach in there pretty far with the current access holes. There's ways to spray in to the corners that seem unreachable. And, you don't have to cover every square inch of steel for deadener to be effective. I cut my deadener in to multiple pieces and fit them in to the door a piece at a time.

I second Mark on this one. Don’t cut that door, but do disassemble it if need be to clear some room. If you can’t reach because you have big, manly arms, ask your Mrs! I’m only partly joking on that one. Spray as far into the corners as possible and install deadener one small piece at a time. My doors close with a very satisfying ...THUD. Mine were crusty and gross too.

Just listen:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QmKP1yqZBWi8Vd787

My arms did get trapped a few times. I had to stop and tell myself, "Well? You got it in there somehow. You should be able to get it out." My next step was to run around in a panic with a door stuck to me.

I've been there a time or two, but not on doors. You just have to remember to engage the second elbow.

Thanks for all the advice guys. I will not be cutting into the doors. I do see how I can get in there to do most of what I want to do.
Mark, that's happened to me a couple times getting my hand in someplace where it won't come out. Not the doors, yet...
Fox, I can only hope.
Thanks again all.
Jim