Reshaping interior panels
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 170
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From: Alice Texas
Reshaping interior panels
I am working on getting my car looking better and one issue that is bothering me are the interior panels (door, t-top, lower dash pads). The panels look to be OEM with what appears to be pressed board on the back. My problem is the panels are curling up (bowing), anybody had any luck getting them to flatten out?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originals are a type of paper. Some folks have success at straightening them with steam and clamps. To be honest, if they have too much curl to them, they may be beyond hope.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Mar 19, 2014 at 08:25 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
The original panels have a fiber-type backing material. From the factory, there were polyethelene vapor barriers between that backing and the door. If that is removed, the fiber backing absorbs water and begins to take a different shape.
You can re-shape those panels by removing them, placing a lightly dampened towel over the backing material, supporting the "high" areas of the finished side of the panels on paint cans (or other like items), and then putting some weight over the "low" areas of the panel (modest amounts of weight...just enough to allow the panel to move when the backing is a bit softer; a 1-2 pound bag of rice/sand/etc. would work). You may also want to put support items under the areas where you have placed weights, so that when the backing material shifts, it can't get damaged by going too far.
Experiment until you get the kind of movement you want. Then, remove the towel (keeping weights and supports where they are) and let the backing material dry completely.
Put some kind of plastic sheet vapor barrier back in place before you install the panels again.
You can re-shape those panels by removing them, placing a lightly dampened towel over the backing material, supporting the "high" areas of the finished side of the panels on paint cans (or other like items), and then putting some weight over the "low" areas of the panel (modest amounts of weight...just enough to allow the panel to move when the backing is a bit softer; a 1-2 pound bag of rice/sand/etc. would work). You may also want to put support items under the areas where you have placed weights, so that when the backing material shifts, it can't get damaged by going too far.
Experiment until you get the kind of movement you want. Then, remove the towel (keeping weights and supports where they are) and let the backing material dry completely.
Put some kind of plastic sheet vapor barrier back in place before you install the panels again.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Mar 15, 2014 at 12:42 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 170
Likes: 2
From: Alice Texas
Thanks for the suggestions. As soon as I get the front end back together, I will try some damp towels and weight. So far, everything I have touched has needed replacement so I would like to salvage the original panels if possible (at least for now).
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
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From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
I have been attempting to install orginal recovered door panels, for a long time.
I finally decided they would NOT fit in their current, bowed condition they were curled up like a potato chip.
I finally used a bucket of hot water, and a couple towels, soaked them with the wet towels for a couple hours, they became much more moldable being soaked wet, I soaked everything except about 2-3" from the outside perminter, then, used straps and clamps and let them dry in place, still not perfect but now they are usable., it is a wrestling match good luck.
I finally decided they would NOT fit in their current, bowed condition they were curled up like a potato chip.
I finally used a bucket of hot water, and a couple towels, soaked them with the wet towels for a couple hours, they became much more moldable being soaked wet, I soaked everything except about 2-3" from the outside perminter, then, used straps and clamps and let them dry in place, still not perfect but now they are usable., it is a wrestling match good luck.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 427
Likes: 1
I used a tea kettle with boiling water poured upon the backside of the panel to reduce the curling up of my door panels along with applied weight on a 2x6 laid across the back with little to some success.
After a while I finally said enough was enough and bought new panels. I like to save as much of the original car as possible but with some of the reproduction parts available it made no sense to me other than to replace.
After a while I finally said enough was enough and bought new panels. I like to save as much of the original car as possible but with some of the reproduction parts available it made no sense to me other than to replace.
