The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors covering the cardboard door panel on a 53

i got the card board door panels in the other day and installed, really disappointed. any ideas on putting vinyl, carpet or cloth on it. any success someone did to theirs.

like to customize some, having hard time lookin in the archives

Boy the skies the limit on covering, 3-M spray glue,some 1/4" foam and vinyl or fabric an go for it, now if ya want more fancy and ya know someone that could sew some welting around the perimeter or whatever tricks your trigger then there go off into more customizin...lol
Aint these Old Trucks FUN!
keep on Truckin!!!!
Tim

any particlular kind of vinyl or texture.evertyhing is black right now except the seat and its blue, old mini van seat fit right in there. gona be rat rod black. so i need to use the metal strips if i use the vinyl, the board sticks out a little and thought about just adding some addiotnal screws.

Take the wife/girlfreind whatever and go to her local fabric shop an shop around ...there just might be somethin there that catches your eye maybe some black tweed? that would go with anything???...like i said the skies the limit, you just need to shop and look at material till ya find somethin you like.
Tim

Here is what I did, the panels are aluminum.

[IMG]http://thumb1.webshots.net/t/57/557/6/17/88/2852617880051990781gFVUsJ_th.jpg[/IMG]

Black door panels (embossed cardboard) are available.

Or, paint the cardboard whatever color you want.

Or, follow Tim's (SW_Radial) advice above and use 3-M spray glue to attach whatever covering you want. I bought seat cover material and glued it on the side panels in my Suburban, because the original color panels are not available.

The advantage of attaching to a metal or Plexiglas base, rather than the cardboard base, is that you will not get water warpage. Some people have reported coating the back of the cardboard panel with marine spar polyurethane varnish to help reduce/stop the warpage.

Tim

i got some vinyl from a friend today at a uphosery shop. then got some headline material from another friend at another uphosry shop for the foam backing, looks really good. done one but got to do the other one, will post pictures soon as i can a web place to do it. thanks for the information. its all coming together

Now that's one beautiful interior!! Wish mine looked that good.
I also like the krinkle finish you put on the running boards. That's a nice touch too. Always liked the mint green exterior also.

Spot

All this discussion has made me decide to make my own door panels, as there were none installed when I bought my '51 back in March. SO......... does anyone have a paper template of a panel they could mail to me, or is there one posted on Stovebolt.com I could access? If you have one you would kindly mail to me then email me and I will give you my home address. I'll reimburse you for postage.

[email protected]

Thanks for everyone's help.

Spot

spotbiltxo:
I just bought two door panels for my 52panel. I got them to either cover or use as a pattern. It will be a couple days but if you need I can find something to trace them off for you and mail them to you.
Send me a PM or email. click on my profile for me address.

Spotbiltxo:
I got a big piece of paper today and will trace the panels off in the morning. Hopefully I can get to the post office before noon and maybe you will get them Monday or Tuesday.

Very nice of you Alvin. Thanks for taking the time to trace that panel for me and for sending it to me. I've been looking for material this week for my new panels and haven't found anything suitable yet but continue to look. I'm off to the fabric store or an upholster today to find my covering.

Thanks again for your help....it's appreciated by a fellow 'Bolter.

Spot

Spotbiltxo:
I traced the cardboard panel off onto some thin paper today. I think its actually wrapping paper? Anyway, Its folded up in an envelop and on its way. I mailed it today before the post office closed so you should get it Monday or Tuesday. Just unfold it and lay something on it to flatten it back out.

I did notice the panels have "some" curvature on a couple edges but they are both the same. Just cut one and "flip it" to make the other side.
Glad to help out and keep us posted on what you do. I'm still debating what to do myself.
Before I retired I was working at a plant that makde the headliners for car manufactures. I have several pieces of it which is a 100% polyester that has been sheared and napped and then laminated to a thin foam backing. I think I may glue it to the carboard panels and....as someone suggested on the cardboard, put a coat of spar urethane on the back of it to keep it form asorbing moisture and warping.

Thanks again, Alvin. I appreciate you mailing out the template.

I found some foam board material today at a hobby store and might try using that. It will have to be sealed, but it just might be what I'm looking for. Now I'm looking for Naugahyde brand vinyl covering in a pattern I like to cover it with.

Should be a fun project for my '50.

Spot

Okay, I have an update on my attempt to make my own door panels and I hope it helps others.

I located what I believe to be the best material to make the panels out of.......OLD PLASTIC POLITICAL SIGNS! Yes, the larger 30" X 60" plastic signs work perfectly. They are flexible and won't warp due to moisture. It was just the kind of material I was looking for. I laid Alvin's template that he had mailed me on top and traced around it using a black Sharpie. Scissors easily cut it, and then I made my holes using an Exacto knife. I found some great Naugahyde vinyl material at Hancocks fabric today at 40% off. Laid the panels on top of it and attached the vinyl using 3M spray adhesive. Didn't cover the back completly, only about 2/3rd's. Let it dry and then took them to the truck and mounted them with stainless oval phillips screws and finishing washers purchased at Lowes. Man do they look sharp!! Best thing about it is that I knew I could do it, made a plan, went out and got the material and then made them myself. 100% Satisfaction!!

Hope this helps guys.

Spot

Lots O questions for ya AD Pickup.Wish you would expand some on your interior. Where did you get the material and who did the sewing on the sun visors and headliner? Like to here a little on how you did the headliner also, I thought there was a trim strip down the center? How did you get the center bow behind the material and what did you use for a backer board on the headliner?
Lastly, you own an upholstery shop, right??
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Hello Spot,
I'm assuming the pattern from Alvin is still available? Could you send me a copy? I need the pattern to make my own. Can you help me?
Thanks, Martin

Gosh darn it!!! I knew this would happen! I threw the pattern away after I finished with it. I had taped it using double sided tape and it wouldn't come off easily, so thinking I would never need the template again, I tore it off and threw it away. Sorry I can't help you out, but maybe Alvin (Achipmunk) can come to the rescue.

Alvin.....could you help this fellow 'Bolter by sending him that extra template you said you made??

Spot

Hey guys, just send me a PM or an Email. It will be a long time until I use the cardboard panels that I bought from JimCarter during the reunion. As most know I just buy stuff and put it up hoping SOMEDAY I'll get to put it all together. Get it now while its cheap and take advantage of the discounts when they come up.

Cowboycpa: Just drop me a line and I'll trace you one off on some "wrapping paper" and send to you. I use the paper because its light and can mail it for .42cent! Then you can tape it or whatever and then throw it away. Send me you mailing address and I'll get you one in the mail!

Also ya'll remember both sides are the same. I'll send a tracing and you just "flip" it over to make the other side!

Denny, a upholsterer did my interior, I got my armrests from "Chevy Duty" and told him to match the material for the door panels, headliner and sun visors. He got the material from his supplier. The headliner bow is above the headliner. The headliner is attached to the bow at the seam with loops that are sewn into the headliner. There is no backing material behind the headliner. Of course, he covered the sun visors. I made the door panels from aluminum and he covered them.

No, I do not own a upholstery shop.

Tks, it really looks classy.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Alvin,
I sent you a PM. Let me know if you do not get the message.
Martin

Got it Martin. I'll try to mail it tomorrow but due to an appointment it may be Friday morninlg. Glad to help.

Interesting topic. I'm working on the same project. I used a couple of 11x17 pieces of paper, taped them on the door and cut out my own template. I then put the template on 1/4" plywood and cut it out. It took a couple of attempts to get it just right but now I have the two door panels cut in plywood. I have some fabric that I bought about 1-1/2 years ago sitting in the closet that's ready to go on. Then I'll attach it from screws from Lowe's. I'm hoping to finish up one side this weekend and will post some pictures of it.

Worst case, it doesn't work and I'm out $10 for the plywood and a little time. No big deal.

Anyone know what size those screws are that hold the door panel on? I tried a #8-20 and it looked to be the right size but seemed to be the wrong thread count.

I used Hillman brand 10-24 X 1/2" machine screws, oval head Phillips. These fit inside #10 stainless finishing washers. Bought them both at Lowes. Worked perfectly.

Spot

Martin, I traced off the pattern this morning and it will be going out in the mail this afternoon......mailman doesn't run at my house till 4:30 but I believe it will still go out in the 5pm mail run. Hopefully you'll get it Saturday so you will have something to do

AD_Pickup, Is that interior color pearl beige from Chevs of the 40s??? Gergeous truck, don't see many that perfect, thanks for sharing.
Jim
Turlock 'olTruck' CA

JiMerit, that color was matched by a paint supplier of a sample from the original paint.

Alvin,
I received the tracing / pattern. Looks good. Hope I get it cut out this week-end
Thanks again,
Martin

If you put vinyl over the cardboard door panels can you still put the metal trim around the panels? Or is the combination of cardboard and vinyl a bit too thick?

I do not know if the combination of cardboard and vinyl will fit if you put the vinyl fully around the edges of the cardboard. I have glued vinyl upholstery material to the cardboard and then trimmed the vinyl at the edge of the cardboard. That combination fit easily into the metal trim.

You might want to varnish the back-side and edges of the cardboard (with marine spar varnish) in an attempt to prevent moisture absorption.

That is a good point about taking the vinyl just to the edge. I would not want to pry my metal frames open. They have been powder coated and don't know if it would crack the finish.
These panels have been on the truck for years and at the time I merely painted the backs with good exterior paint.
I did at one time try to make panels from wooden door skin and they turned out okay but there are some minor curves in the door and the wood did not want to lay flat.

I really don't understand why anyone would want to use a cardboard panel when there are so many materials available to do the job much better. I used .040 aluminum on mine and I don't have to worry about it getting wet and it's easy to form to the contour!
[IMG]http://thumb1.webshots.net/t/57/557/6/17/88/2852617880051990781gFVUsJ_th.jpg[/IMG]

Silly question but is it noisy? Like oil canning? The nice thing about cardboard or wood is it absorbs the noise.

I agree with AD_Pickup. Other people have posted that they have used plexiglass with good results.

ABS Plastic is what I use in the shop no warping rattling and it is easy to bend.

I say again that those reinforced plastic "political" signs are an excellent material to cover and use for your door panels. Mine turned out great!

Spot

Spot, you will need to post some pics. And I congratulate you on the best use of the "political" signs

Scott