Inner door panel upholstery
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 30
Likes: 1
From: Surprise, Az
Inner door panel upholstery
Has anyone here reupholstered their own inner door panels? I don’t care about originality, and can’t see spending nearly a grand for new ones. Any info would be appreciated!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
I hear ya about the cost. One option if your panels are not worthy. Check EBay for used ones. Pay attention to correct yr and P.W. or not. They can be painted to match.
And if the armrest is really wonky, somebody sells a armrest cover in several colors that looks pretty factory.
And if the armrest is really wonky, somebody sells a armrest cover in several colors that looks pretty factory.
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Aug 2, 2020 at 04:56 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If the basic shell of your door panels are in good shape, re-upholstery could be easily done by you (if you have those skills) or by an auto upholstery shop. If you are not locked into the 'original' scheme, that would be a nice route to go for updating your interior.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
I'll be recovering the door panels in my '79 green cloth interior in the coming weeks. Found original fabric and vinyl and will do my best to make them look completely original. Will take photos along the way and post progress.
As with any upholstery work you need a strong sewing machine, preferably with a true walking foot. That said I'll be using an old Singer 401 with pseudo walking foot accessory. Such worked for repairs I previously made to the seats and while not a true commercial upholstery machine it does well for small amounts of such work.
As with any upholstery work you need a strong sewing machine, preferably with a true walking foot. That said I'll be using an old Singer 401 with pseudo walking foot accessory. Such worked for repairs I previously made to the seats and while not a true commercial upholstery machine it does well for small amounts of such work.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 30
Likes: 1
From: Surprise, Az
I have looked in other Vette groups and eBay and Craigslist and there are used ones there, but again, at $300-400 plus shipping. Not worth it to me. Anything less money are trash and I’m back in the same boat. So looks like I will give it a try. The backings are good shape, but the material covering them are dried out, worn out, split and just nasty. I will post pics of my progress.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
I have looked in other Vette groups and eBay and Craigslist and there are used ones there, but again, at $300-400 plus shipping. Not worth it to me. Anything less money are trash and I’m back in the same boat. So looks like I will give it a try. The backings are good shape, but the material covering them are dried out, worn out, split and just nasty. I will post pics of my progress.
Please keep these things in mind before you start spending money in hope of saving it
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
I suggest that you prep the existing panel covering before putting new material over it. Trim off all loose ends that stick up. Then, use some polyester body filler to fill in for missing material where you removed it, and also fill in any cracks. What you want is a surface without gaps, cracks, pits, so that the new material will lay smooth on the existing surface. Otherwise, any surface defects will be transferred to the surface of the new material as low areas. Patch it up first.... 
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 4,888
Likes: 202
From: Jackson MS
Here's a thread from a couple of years ago in which a user reskinned his door panels.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...n-restore.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...n-restore.html