Interior door panel repair
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 65
From: Belgium
Interior door panel repair
Hey everyone
I got some damage on the upper corners of my interior door panels.
How can I repair this (or try to do the best...)? I don't want to buy two new panels beceuse they are so expensive!
I thought of leather repair... but how can I get the 'leather structure' on the 'filled'/repaired sides?
Do you guys have experience with repairs like this?
I got some damage on the upper corners of my interior door panels.
How can I repair this (or try to do the best...)? I don't want to buy two new panels beceuse they are so expensive!
I thought of leather repair... but how can I get the 'leather structure' on the 'filled'/repaired sides?
Do you guys have experience with repairs like this?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 289
From: Spring Park MN
I would check around for an upholstery shop and see if they can help you. I've used the vinyl repair kits before, but not on such large damage. They are a little iffy on even small repairs.
Mike
Mike
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 224
From: Pawleys Island, SC
Don't know how old that panel is but the upper portion of my '77 LH panel looked better than that but was so dry and brittle that all you had to do was push on it a little too hard with a finger and it'd just crack. I fear those are the same. Not worth a local repair unfortunately. Just replace them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
Sadly it looks like replacement is the only real option. Any attempt at a proper repair (proper repairs involve first repairing the fabric backing) is almost certain to increase the damage.
The basic Permatex vinyl repair kits you can buy almost anywhere can produce very good-looking and long-lasting repairs. You will have great difficulty backing the damage I see in the photos.
If you have 10+ hours (minimum) to spend try the repair--again Permatex is an excellent kit--go for it. Just remember that backing is key.
The basic Permatex vinyl repair kits you can buy almost anywhere can produce very good-looking and long-lasting repairs. You will have great difficulty backing the damage I see in the photos.
If you have 10+ hours (minimum) to spend try the repair--again Permatex is an excellent kit--go for it. Just remember that backing is key.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 353
Likes: 3
From: cincinnati oh
not sure how particular you are but i fixed mine by filling the area with 3M plastic emblem cement and let it dry for a good week. it remains pliable but can be sanded smooth, but putting the grain back would be an issue.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 319
Likes: 27
I've had terrific luck using JB Quick to fill and repair cracks like that. It's strong enough to support the repair and can be "textured" by a tapping small piece of very course sand paper into the mix as it's drying/curing. For additional texture a tooth pick works well if used judiciously, again, while the JB Weld is setting up. An over-all spray of matching color vinyl/leather stray and done. I had to do this sort of thing on WAY more panels than I wanted to and they came out looking good and stronger than stock.
Luck—
Luck—
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
I have made repairs a long time ago when I ran into issues like this. I had slightly above average success. Much of this was due to the failure of the foam and if it would be supportive enough.
I have stopped doing it due to I can not warranty or potentially damage my reputation on a repair that may fail and the person owning the Corvette wants me to warranty it for the rest of the time they own the car. Just not going to happen.
Now what you do to your own car.,..is something else entirely. And hopefully you get it repaired to your liking and have it last.
DUB
I have stopped doing it due to I can not warranty or potentially damage my reputation on a repair that may fail and the person owning the Corvette wants me to warranty it for the rest of the time they own the car. Just not going to happen.
Now what you do to your own car.,..is something else entirely. And hopefully you get it repaired to your liking and have it last.
DUB
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