uptown193

I am in the process of doing this now and was wondering if anyone else did it and can give me some advice, pointers and/or warnings of what not to do.

Here is where I am at so far on day 1:

With Carpet on:


Carpet removed. Now have to remove the glue:


Back side of the door panel. Remove all staples and repair any cracks or problems with the surface.

uptown193

I guess I am on my own with this one, lol

GREGGPENN

What did you do to the upper left part of that panel? My pointer is...Don't do that!



I don't think I've ever seen where anyone repaired an air bubble either. Maybe a replacement panel would have been in order for that side?

uptown193

Lol, I didn't do anything to it. I just took off all the carpet and last night I took off all the vinyl and padding off I just have to remove the glue. There is no turning back now and I refuse to spend $450 on a new panel made out of plastic and vinyl. Plus this is fun for me.

Why do you say don't do that?

purvissp

I used to work in a factory that made dash pads and door panels and a big problem in the manufacturing were air bubbles.

They would poke a pin hole at the edge of the bubble, use a heat gun to heat up the vinyl and then something like a piece of 1/2" to 3/4" wooden dowel to work the bubble down by pushing the trapped air towards the pin hole.

GREGGPENN

Cause it looked pulled out and torn. It was humor.

uptown193

Ohh ok, cause I was gonna say do you not see the title of the thread, lol...

oldalaskaman

call vettepros, have them send you an 'as new' used one for bout $100 bucks, money well spent, imho

uptown193

I will keep that in mind if all fails but I have faith it will come out great. It give me something to do on weekend. Thanks.

Railroadman

Tabers sells them as well.

There have been several threads on here about door panel repair, try a search. It's on my "to do" list, the passenger side is dog meat and the wife keeps threatening to do all the driving and let ME deal with it each time we get in!

pianoguy

This thread will give you plenty of ideas - check out the links to door panel photos on page 6:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...em-burner.html

uptown193

Thank you ill check it out now.

I put a huge gash on my thumb changing the razor blades on my wide scraper so I have to halt work for a few days for it to heal. It was a gusher.

GREGGPENN

That sucks. Personally, I'd like to see an explanation on what we're seeing at the upper right of the panel in your pic(s). Is that panel torn? Do you know how to get the top trim piece off and repair/replace it?

From my perspective, this panel looks damaged beyond a high-quality repair. Sure, you can repair anything (using products like vinyl repair). So, it's not clear what you have and what you're after.

Here's a pic of my door panel as I was approaching the end of my interior restoration project. The original color of my interior was light grey.



Here's what I had when I was at your current stage...

uptown193

Ok well here is my deep cut pic, lol


Here is my door panel completely stripped, well almost, just a lil more glue needs to be removed. Waiting for my thumb to heal a lil.


The top right was repaired and it is good now. The panel is good to go now. It was repaired back in 08.

oldalaskaman

I vote, put a bandaid on your finger, then wrap it with duct tape, and get back to work........just kidding

uptown193

Lol. I wish I can. I will try tonight.

Anyone know where I can buy some 1/4" foam padding?

uptown193

I noticed on the door panel vinyl that it had the date 6/19/87 imprinted on it. Here are some pics just in case you want to see what date is on yours.

GREGGPENN

That's the first time I've seen someone remove the injection-molded vinyl padding from the door panel. Interesting. I'll be impressed if you successfully repair that...even more if it lasts for more than a year.

I'll also be impressed if your plan is to make/mold something completely new from scratch.

As far as foam, Jo-Ann's fabric shops have the biggest selection I've ever seen. They have 1/8" (foam-backed) headliner fabric. Plus, they have foam blocks/sheets in different sizes, thickness, and density.

Upholstery shops would be another source (though I'm betting the price mark-up would be ).

uptown193

I will accept that challenge. I will do my best. Other people do it on many other cars why can't I? I know no experience, but I am good with my hands, didn't you notice my laceration, lol.

Thanks I will take a look at their website. I think 1/8" would be sufficient. Don't you? And I will glue, clamp and mold the hell out of it. I am using vinyl fabric in a dark burgundy color.

Lathroum

I just thought of something...

I built, of all things, a Harp for my wife a few years back...

The guy who helped me build it has a home made vacuume press...

thats what you need...

the door panel itself would act as the mold for the vinyl...

it holds it all in place till the glue dries...

just need a shop vac and the right kind of bag with a valve on it....

hmmmm... I'll see what I can find out...