I will be doing some experimentation on repairing old door panels during the course of 2009. I have five black door panels, all of which have defects of some sort. Either wrinkled vinyl, destroyed fiberboard, or chipped fiberboard around the mounting clip holes.
I plan to take one of the better condition (but warped) panels, and use it as a template to cut out new panels out of plywood or other type of material that won't warp when exposed to moisture. We shall see about that aspect.
I will be experimenting with different ways of reapplying the vinyl to the panels, not quite sure about this part yet.
Last but not least, I need some help from those of you who still have complete door assemblies. What type of paper is used behind the door panels? I would like to replace the paper on my car since the originals were shredded, but I don't know what type of paper to use, or the type of tacky sealant Ford used to hold it to the door.
Pictures will come as progress does.
EDIT: Would ice and water shield paper (like used for roofing) be similar to what the inner door paper is?
Dave,
Home Depot carries a paneling that is suitable for use in mobile homes and other moisture prone areas. It is cheap and thin. I used it for the roof and wall panel in my 1976 GMC motorhome and covered it in vinyl with 3M spray on adhesive. 8 years and counting - zero issues. Unless you have a penchant for using the original backing paper, I used clear plastic cut to size and attached it directly to the back of my door panels with metal foil tape. All available from Home Depot. Metal foil tape is much, much better than duct tape for this kind of work. Lasts forever. You can also attach the plastic directly to the door itself. I did that with another car I have. Six of one......
Mark
What is the paneling called? I would be interested in getting some of it for this application.
Dave,
I don't know the name but they had several different 4x8 panels available with different patterns printed on the finish side. At least at my Home Depot, they had the characteristics or applications listed on a card under each group. It is in the building section. I'll probably be in Home Depot today/tomorrow so I'll check and see.
Mark
Here is one more question for you. When securing the plastic sheeting on your door, did you tape it to the outside or the inside of the door cavity?
Quote from: Mark78cat on December 28, 2008, 09:26:59 PM
much, much better than duct tape
i didnt know anything could be better ???
how about some thin plastic or plexi glass instead of that fiber board. i dont know how thin it comes but i cant see the weather effecting it for a long time.
bob
That is a definite possibility. The only problem I see with using a plastic type base, is that plastics become weak and brittle over time. Obtaining plastic sheets isn't the hard part, nor is the replication of original panels to plastic. It is just the preservation of such panels that scares me.
Dave,
On the Bobcat, I taped the plastic directly to the back of the door panel using the foil tape. I got within a quarter inch of the edge and then cut openings for the door/window handles. You could just as easily tape it the the door, on the outside, not inside the cavity. The only problem I see taping it directly to the door is that you would have to make sure the factory goop is all cleaned off. I know my masking tape had a hard time sticking when I repainted the inside of the doors.
Still haven't been in Home Depot. Unusual for me:)
Mark