Superman09

iTrader: (65)

Looking at possibly doing my door panels but i really want it perforated so it looks like it door now, just color change. Anyone know where i can get this? Also, would it be possible to embroider over it? Thanks!

1QUIKWS6

iTrader: (61)

I'm not all that sure that the door panels are really leather - might just be perforated vinyl - just as the seats are not entirely made of leather - only the actual seating surfaces, the sides/back/etc. are made from vinyl.

At any rate you can find either at you local Auto Upholstery Shop. They will have books there for you to go thru with everything that is available to pick style and color...

You will find that leather is very expensive - when last I worked at an auto upholstery shop during college in the very early 80's - leather was 25 cents/sq. in. That was 26 years ago - damn, now I'm really depressed!

-Jay-

1BADCTS

iTrader: (17)

I got my perforated "leather" (vinyl) from the local fabric store.

To be honest, I would never attempt that project again. Huge PITA!

Superman09

iTrader: (65)

the door panel project itself, or using perforated?

1BADCTS

iTrader: (17)

The project! I did the passenger side first, and I couldn't get the heat stakes that hold the panel onto the plastic to re-melt properly and therefore re-attach. So I had to rig it.

The drivers side I didn't even remove the panel from the plastic. I cut me a piece to size and slipped it under/between the plastic and the panel, and cut notches around the heat stake posts, and just tucked it under the lip all the way around. Huge PITA, but overall it worked better.

Superman09

iTrader: (65)

hmmm yea, the only thing i odnt like about the project is the melted tabs... cant you use screws instead?

1QUIKWS6

iTrader: (61)

Only reason I didn't mention a fabric store is that generally the material they sell is not of the industrial/HD grade that is needed in cars - allthough on a door panel it would probably be OK as they never really see any wear.

I think he is referring to how difficult it is to remove/replace the vynil inserts on the door panels. The vinyl covers a seperate piece that is fastened to the main door panel with integral studs that are melted over on the back side once the panel is installed. To remove you must cut off the melted end of each stud so they will pass back thru the holes in the main door panel - being careful not to cut too short or they will not protrude thru enough on the re-install to enable you to remelt them over to hold the panel in.

1BADCTS

iTrader: (17)

Yes, what 1QUIKWS6 is referring too is heat stake posts.

You can use screws for the door handle part, because it just so happens that the heat stake posts are hollow, and therefore once you cut off the tops to remove the door handle from the rest of the door, you can use a screw for re-attachment. This is what I did as well.

However the ~20 other heat stakes that hold the actual vinyl panel onto the door panel are thin plastic bars, so there is no possible way to use a screw. These you either must re-melt into place (which many people have done quite successfully...), try and use some adhesive (I tried JB weld after I couldn't re-melt... but couldn't get a reliable bond)... or RIG IT!!

My "rigging method" of choice was a wire tie at each heat stake post. It looks like crap from the back side, but who's gonna know but me??

VIP1

I used LockTite Plastic Epoxy.
Worked perfectly.
Its available at Home Depot.
Mix it up, put a blob on each stake, put some stuff on the panel to hold everything in place and apply light pressure, come back 10min later (or longer).

Here is the write-up I followed:
http://www.lastofthebreed.com/Instal.../DoorPanel.htm