Door panel skin install?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 228
Likes: 3
From: Tampa FL
Door panel skin install?
I have a pretty badly cracked GM interior door panel and was given a door panel skin as part of my 72 purchase. This is a new vinyl cover to be glued over the existing panel.
I haven't been able to find any installation instructions/tips on how to glue this on.
I am thinking that the skin should be as warm a possible to make it pliable and that it should be applied with 3M spray adhesive. I also need to fill in some of the larger cracks in the arm rest with something, before installation.
Has anyone installed one of these skins or know somewhere that has some tips on how to best accomplish this?
Thanks,
I haven't been able to find any installation instructions/tips on how to glue this on.
I am thinking that the skin should be as warm a possible to make it pliable and that it should be applied with 3M spray adhesive. I also need to fill in some of the larger cracks in the arm rest with something, before installation.
Has anyone installed one of these skins or know somewhere that has some tips on how to best accomplish this?
Thanks,
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 1
From: St. Petersburg, Fl///Columbus, Ohio
I had to re-apply my pass side door skin after it pealed off
my project is my daily driver .... all the hardware was already off the door (I'm re-painting her) when a passing motorest informed me my pass door was falling off!!!! when i pulled up on the door skin it went "pop" & there I was.... In Panama City Florida, 100 miles from home during one of the best Corvette events I've ever been to.... with no door skin on my pass door!!!
The "super duty" fiberglass epoxy that got me through the weekend only lasted @ 9 weeks & again .... my door panel was flapping in the wind!!!
AGAIN I removed the door skin... sanded off all the old and new adhesive from the skin & door frame .... tacked it in place with epoxy then bonded it in place with short strand fiberglass filler. It would take a stick of dynomite to get my door skin off now!!! Lining it up was easy with the door frame still on the car!!!
my project is my daily driver .... all the hardware was already off the door (I'm re-painting her) when a passing motorest informed me my pass door was falling off!!!! when i pulled up on the door skin it went "pop" & there I was.... In Panama City Florida, 100 miles from home during one of the best Corvette events I've ever been to.... with no door skin on my pass door!!!
The "super duty" fiberglass epoxy that got me through the weekend only lasted @ 9 weeks & again .... my door panel was flapping in the wind!!!
AGAIN I removed the door skin... sanded off all the old and new adhesive from the skin & door frame .... tacked it in place with epoxy then bonded it in place with short strand fiberglass filler. It would take a stick of dynomite to get my door skin off now!!! Lining it up was easy with the door frame still on the car!!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 228
Likes: 3
From: Tampa FL
Yes, I am looking for any information on an interior door panel skin installation.
Thanks for the info on the outer door skin though. Mine is a bit loose on the pass lower rear corner, but this is a project that is lower down on the list of things to fix on the car at the moment.
Thanks for the info on the outer door skin though. Mine is a bit loose on the pass lower rear corner, but this is a project that is lower down on the list of things to fix on the car at the moment.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
I've never done it, but your first post sounded like the best plan.
The 3M trim adhesive is good stuff, but you might need to do
small sections at a time. You don't wanna put the skin on and
need to re-adjust it. A blow-dryer might be handy.
The 3M trim adhesive is good stuff, but you might need to do
small sections at a time. You don't wanna put the skin on and
need to re-adjust it. A blow-dryer might be handy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 4
From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
I plan to do this on my '68 door panels. After a headliner install on my buddies Camaro I decided to go with brush on contact cement. Started using 3M's 90 spray formula (the good stuff) and didn't like it. Spray control was not good and had trouble getting insulation to stick to the roof panel. I went with brush on contact cement for the headliner and it worked like a charm! The headliner looked as good as a pro's job.
Control with the brush was excellent and I was able to make small adjustments as I went. The stuff stuck much better as well. I am going to use this stuff on my door panel skins too. I will use a hair dryer or low power heat gun to soften the skin as I go.
Control with the brush was excellent and I was able to make small adjustments as I went. The stuff stuck much better as well. I am going to use this stuff on my door panel skins too. I will use a hair dryer or low power heat gun to soften the skin as I go.
