The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors 50 chevy 1/2 to door panel problem

I need help. I am finishing up redoing my interior back to original. When I lay the cardboard panel on the door, there is a huge bulge right where the door latch handle mechanism is. I assumed the panel would fit reasonably flat, but not. If I would try to fasten down the panel, there would be serious rub problems with the door latch rod that goes to the door latch.
Is this normal, or did I do something wrong. If I fasten the panel down it will look like s _ _ t!

Mark

When the panel was originally installed there were several strategically placed pieces of foam on the door that provided the clearance, get some insulating foam about 1/2" thick adhesive backed and replace them. I will look for a picture in my archive that may show the layout.

I did just as Brad suggest
...pic...

The panel will not lay flat, otherwise the door relay will rub on the inside of your panel.

You will have a Bulge

There were also black, gooey doughnuts that go over the widow crank and door handle stems under the panels. I don't think the re-pops are gooey.

I put the sponge donuts on, but the latch shaft still rubs fairly seriously. I will add some 1/2" foam to help. Seems like a bad design, especially when the formed valley from the handle to the latch is not utilized.

These trucks were built with economics in mind. We are talking cardboard interior appointments here, these were pure work vehicles.

Think of them as tractors that went a little faster and kept your head dry.

Another Disappointment!
The door panel frames arrived last night from Classic Parts. There was at least a 1/4" gap at 2 of the corners when I fit the panel in the frame. I know the panel dims were perfect because if fit into the original panel frame perfectly. But, I had only 1 orig frame.
After calling Classic Parts, I decided to never order from them again. I was basically told this is normal and to "live" with the corner misfit, or return them, of course without any shipping refund.
Now I have to figure how to make them work. I am thinking about getting a piece of that leather look vinyl at the fabric store and contact adhesive to the cardboard panel and cut the fabric a bit longer in the corners. My worry is the fabric and cardboard combined thickness might not fit into the panel frame.
Anyone else ever experience this repro panel frame misfit? Customer service at Classic Parts said of the 126 pairs of panel frames sold, I was the 1st to complain

I am restoring my truck to as close to original as possible. I like the simple look of the cardboard panel.
With the exception of the door panel, my interior is complete.
I hung the doors and sat inside the cab this past weekend. I am restoring this truck in a bank barn built around 1880. With the barn surroundings and the original 1950 interior, I was suddenly transformed back to 1950. What a feeling! I probably sat there for 15 minutes. How many of you just sit in these old workhorses and just think what it was like back then?

Since you are actually "restoring" it, maybe you should look for original panel frames that are suitable or at least repairable.
There is the argument that a true restoration doesn't have repop
parts.

Sent you a PM.

I can't argue with that statement!
I am restoring it as close to original as I can, based on my limited skills and keeping in mind it is my son's truck and he is still in college. My (his) funds are limited and all he wants is a nice driver right now.
I live very close to carlisle and hershey, Pa. Both places have huge antique vehicle swap meets the next 2 weekends. I will see if I can pick some orig frames up at one of these shows.

I have two Advance Design Chevies and have been searching for original door panel frames for quite awhile. They are hard to come by, especially the driver's side. Working trucks with window open, rain soaking the cardboard panel leads to rust, particularly along the lower edge.
The reproductions at first glance look similar but when compared side by side with an original there is quite a difference. The gap that accepts the cardboard panel is narrower in the repops, making it difficult to insert the panel. I tried seat vinyl adhesed to a cardboard panel and they would not stay in that groove or gap. The originals have a bend towards the top front and top rear, to follow the contour of the door. The repops don't have this. I was able to get an original right hand panel frame off of Ebay. Later I bid on "OEM" frames that turned out to be painted repops. I don't think the seller even knew the difference. One repop I ordered from one of our vendors was 3/8" too short at the front lower corner, not even close.

My advice is try to find a repairable original, until someone makes better ones.

You say you have one original. Which side do you need?

I like your comment about sitting in the truck and absorbing the moment. I know the feeling.

Kent

I forget right now which side I have. Whatever side I have, I will eventually find its mate.
I picked up some leather looking vinyl at lunch today. I will give the repops a try. Plan is to glue it to the cardboard a little longer where the gaps are. I am lurking around my company now for a 1/8 piece of foam t put between the cardboard and vinyl.

Been there...pic...

I have a few pics of the repos in this folder
...click...
Used material from Joanns fabric.
Glued it to the card board.
Rolled a sealer on the back side

lasted three years so far.

Original frames would be much better.

Search under 'Denny Graham door panel fit'. He used 1/8" steel plate with the correct radius and formed the new frame into the correct shape. Denny is da man! ('da man', its a Chicago thing.)

Chic-ago thing Carl. No da reproduction frame is not made from
the same die that the cardboard is punched from. The only way
to get the reproduction frames to fit the perimeter is to
reshape the frame by hammer forming it around a form with the
correct radius. Or....cutting a new panel board to fit the
frame.
Once I got the frame to fit the panel I flattened or crimped the
frame down with a long flat bar. Been 5 or 6 years and they're
still good.

Denny Graham