Door Panels
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Quincy MA
Door Panels
Hi, my 78 needs new door panels. My question is that all the vendors I see selling them, they dont have holes for the handle, or the lock button, or the mirror adjuster. Do I have to cut these myself???
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
I wouldn't buy one that didn't have the holes already cut. Too much chance to make a mistake. Aftermarket manufacturers are trying anything they can to pass off "work" to their customers. Tell 'em to go to he?? by not buying a half-machine part from them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Port Clinton Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
It's really not a big deal. I had to drill all of the holes in mine to mount the trim for the deluxe interior. It was not difficult at all and it came out great.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
I fear the mechanical skills of someone who can't cut the holes. It isn't done as a way to pawn off work on the buyer, it's done so that one set of door panels can be sold for use with different options, such as power or manual windows and deluxe or standard trim. The holes are already cut in the hard ABS backer, they just have to be finished.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
If the panels have "optional" configurations, and those options are marked and clear instructions are provided, I wouldn't have a problem. The original post didn't describe that situation.
On the other subject....my ability to "cut holes" and my desire to do so [when they should already be provided] are two entirely different issues.
On the other subject....my ability to "cut holes" and my desire to do so [when they should already be provided] are two entirely different issues.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
For the mechanically uninclined (or those with huge wallets), everyone who sells door panels offers them with all of the trim installed, for a lot more money.
Last edited by I'm Batman; Sep 8, 2007 at 01:08 PM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Well, I chose to keep may original door panels (in pretty bad shape when I got the car) and re-skin them. Not a job for the "faint of heart" [or for someone with poor mechanical skills, thank you very much]. For the cost of the "deluxe" panels, I wouldn't do it again; but they came out very nice and I can still claim that they are the original panels. In fact, every part in the interior is original to the car except for the carpeting and the e-brake housing (which was in pieces as purchased). Even the seat covers are original, after rebuilding the channel foam in the covers [another "fun" task]. SEM dye does wonders for one's interior.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Quincy MA
Wow, I thought this thread got lost lol. Thanks for all the comments
That is how my interior looks and id like new doors, I have no problem cutting it myself. Was just wondering if that was how they all came. Thanks again
That is how my interior looks and id like new doors, I have no problem cutting it myself. Was just wondering if that was how they all came. Thanks again
