The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks D.I.Y door panels

I plan on D.I.Y my own door panels and doing the upholstery.Im never done anything like this before so I thought id post how I plan on doing it.That way I dont totally screw it up lol.maybe someone can give me some pointers/tips to make it easier for me.I try and do everything on my projects as I can.here's how I plan on doing it(if they are a DIY page for this kinda stuff on this forum or another site please lmk)
Anyways they sell this stuff at home depot that's like particle board but it's thinner and well its not particle board lol.Im taking the 65 out tomorrow to get all the bugs out of it so it's ready for the rodrun this weekend ill get the name of it.Im going to buy some 3m fabric spray glue and hit a crafts store for some fabric. I haven't decided which kind of fabric I want to use yet.If you have any ideas of a fabric that goes with my ratrod/prostreet theme 65 let me know.I want my interior to look nice and tasteful.nothing that screams out or that is too bold or a eye sore. I'll post some examples and maybe you can help me.anyways I plan on using tge particle board stuff and using a grinder so I can have a groove where the knob is to roll the window up and down.tgrn laying the fabric over it.slitting the qt so it lays down flat.then spraying the fabric with the 3m glue.I plan on using them screws with the washer things behind them that spin on thr screw but wont come off to mount the panel on the truck.if someone can tell me what them screws are id appreciate it.Now that I think about it I believe I'll use some black vinyl.I'm having a hard time finding the pic of the interior I was wanting to post.I seen it 10 times yesterday And cant find it tonight to save my life.it was a yellow truck 60-66 Chevy truck.he was showing me how he installed his speakers in his doors.the panels we're gray.it's 1am ill look for them tomorrow.

ricer, the panel board your talking about, I think, is what Lowes calls "wall board". I used some to cut some panels before and it'll do OK. There are other options available, but like you, I can't think of the name right now....its a thin material. Maybe someone else can think of what I'm thinking about!!!

Fabric, go with your gut instinct.

Is the material like a Masonite? It comes in multiple thicknesses. It comes in 8'x4' sheets. The 1/4" is a good option for an inner door skin. It's smooth on both sides. I would pilot hole before screwing to the door. It tends to break if not piloted. I use it for forms and stuff. Use some sort of padding between the materials also, might squeak otherwise. And about the screws, you can get speed nuts. If you're installing speakers in the door panel, use the hole to attach them from the inside. just have the window all the way up and you might be able to reach them all. I just tried on my 65, seems doable.

Are you talking about MDF? (Medium Density Fiberboard)

If yes think about this: Formaldehyde resins are commonly used to bind the fibers in MDF together, and testing has consistently revealed that MDF products emit free formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds that pose health risks at concentrations considered unsafe, for at least several months after manufacture.

Hard board, wall board, masonite, good stuff, we paneled the race trailer with Lowes. Didn't have any problem with for the seven years I was on the team. Usually a dark fibrous material compressed with glue.

As Hollow65 says drill pilot holes. Don't try and punch the drill thru, it will break out on the backside. If you can back the holes up with some scrap material that would be great. If the back side isn't sealed, seal it, and any thru holes. Any water that get's around the window shouldn't be a problem if it is sealed.

Larry

I lined the benches in my garage with Masonite. Pretty nice stuff for that application. Stuff slides pretty nicely on the tops and its easy to clean and cheap to replace

As for the speakers I used an angle grinder and just cut the minimum. The speakers had a nice rim or bezel or whatever that screwed directly to the door. Drilled a hole in the door by the hinge and likewise in the cab and ran the wires through there. Wish I hadn't now as I ditched the stereo and all the speakers. I used rubber o-rings with a groove in them. i cut them and then stuck them around the holes with the wire to keep as much water out as I could. I did the same for my gauges through the firewall. My application is easier though as I ripped out the heater core. Oh as a side note, do not run the oil pressure and water temp lines together. The oil pressure gets warm and burned a hole in my first water temp line. All the ether went up in flames lol. Scared the crap outta me.