cyteone

iTrader: (1)

I got my door panel inserts from redlinegoods the other day but I couldn't find a write up on how to install them so I thought I would make one.





To take off the door panel there are 4 main screws you need to remove, the arrows in the pic point to where they are, including the little plastic triangle thing on the upper corner of the door.
To start remove the switch trim by pushing it towards the front of the car and while pushing lift up on the back and it should pop out easily. Remove the wires and unscrew the door handle trim. Take a screwdriver and pop out the door lock cover, then open the handle and maneuver the trim around it, don't forget to unplug the light from the trim. You will then see the hidden screw for the door panel. Remove this screw along with the others in the picture. Afterwords just push up on the door panel and it will pop out.
Make sure the wiring comes through clean and unplug the tweeter wire.





With the door panel off the car begin by carefully peeling the insulation off the door panel, set it aside as it will be put back on later.





With the insulation out of the way you can see the cardboard backing and that it is held in by little tabs of melted plastic that fit through the slots on the cardboard. You need to either pop the cardboard up and over the tabs, or you can cut them and use plastic weld to make new ones.





I ended up cutting them after trying to get them off for a while and not having any luck. Here are the tools I used. The small trimmer scissors I got at ace and used on the black plastic. The blue tool was used on the white plastic tabs.





With the insert removed from the panel, take your new insert and line it up on the cardboard insert. Now take a stapler (common paper stapler) and start stapling the insert to the cardboard. Start on the inside edge and make sure you pull it tight as you go. After you are done you should have something that looks like the picture above.




Cut slots in your new insert to fit the mounting holes on the cardboard.
Now take the insert and press it back onto the door panel. Make sure the plastic pops through real good. If you cut the tabs get them through as far as you can and apply a generous amount of plastic weld to each one covering the cardboard. Check out the pic above and you can see how much I used. Let it dry for for a while then use some spray-on adhesive to reattach the door insulation. Let it dry then put it back on the car and admire the new look!

FastRidesOnly

i never thought of this.

VIP1

Looks good. I wrapped mine myself in silver. There was a site with good instructions and pictures, but its gone now.

Here's pics of mine:
http://www.fadingarrow.com/DoorPanels.htm

While you have the panel off, its a good time to add some sound deadener to the door.

TruBloodTransAm

iTrader: (24)

Don't forget about fixing the infamous door panel crack..

VIP1

Mine now have a visible 2" crack. I plan to fix that and wrap my interior in vinyl. No progress yet, but I think I have all the supplies I need.

spirow1555

what material did you use? (the white material)

truekoa

iTrader: (21)

how would you go about fixing the crack?

VIP1

Post #159:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/pontiac-f...te-pics-8.html

Post #433:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/pontiac-f...e-pics-22.html

Article on HPP:
http://www.highperformancepontiac.co...air/index.html
(link doesn't work for me, but maybe it will work for you)

Other threads:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearanc...or-panels.html
http://www.ls2.com/forums/showthread...hreadid=340995
https://ls1tech.com/forums/pontiac-f...cks-fixed.html

I found some more, but those appear helpful.

cyteone

iTrader: (1)

I used white perforated leather for the door panel inserts.

I removed the staple that makes the door panels crack a few months ago when I changed my door speakers and passenger window motor.

I forgot to mention it in the write up but removing the staple from the door panel while it is off would be a good idea.

lemons12

iTrader: (71)

.Ice work.

Daniel Richards

iTrader: (1)

I know this is an old thread, but has anyone ever tried using a soldering iron to melt/soften each tab enough to pull it up then using it to melt them back in place, instead of the plastic weld method?