I've been avoiding these door panels for about 2 years now, Moving them here and there, trying not to damage them further. So it's time to put some thought into bringing them back into a state that they'll look acceptable in the 65. There comes a time where you get tired of not having them, and they obviously would finish things off a lot better. Impossible to find (and no, I'm not doing SMS panels), there is no other practical way forward except to try rescuing them in some way.
So as in most winters, I'll try to make a post on how I'll do it. And with some good input and ideas we'll see how it goes.
As they sit, the carboard has gotten wet, and the drivers door has suffered most, the board getting quite warped, and the metal top sill has separated from the board. Same deal overall with the rear drivers side. there is some evidence of black mold on the cards as well. The top vinyl sections are wasted on all 4 panels and the fuzzies are iffy, maybe still usable, the embossed sections below, remarkably are pretty good with some cracking on the drivers lower corners. The chrome Mylar has come away from most of the wide trim strips. Most of the "nails" on the back are still intact and the metal wrap around strips are good.
The plan;
Soak the cards on the most warped panels with a water/mild bleach (for mold) solution, them sandwich them flat under some super heavy weight and let them dry over time.
When dry, apply some waterproofing to the cards.
Carefully, with a straight line, cut away the old upper vinyl along the top of the trim strips.
Remove the fuzzies from, then clean up and re-attach the upper steel sills to the cards in some way.
Glue new thin foam or padding to the uppers.
Apply new vinyl over the uppers, tucked slightly under the old trim strip.
Re-attach the window fuzzies.
Thoroughly scrub clean/degrease the panels. Fine scotchbrite to de gloss. Apply adhesion promoter, paint the panels less the trim strip. I know the colour I'll use.
Apply and burnish bright aluminum adhesive tape (which I have) along and into the trim strip. 2K satin clear the entire panel. I tried a small section, and it works.
Apply a possible trim cover strip along the new vinyl/trim cut.
New door lock ferrules.
I'm open for suggestions guys, please feel free to comment. This one is new to me as well and I need the help.
As they sit,
Probably the best panel. You can see the original colour at the door handle position,
Top metal section removed, a view under the trim strip. The top panel has little crowns that pass through the panel, and get flattened down.
You may want to contact Jim (hawkeye5766) for more information.
-G
Ambitious is right! But that would be Jim. Incredible!
Thanks for the link to the new panels. I have seen on line that some guys have actually eased the embossed vinyl off the old card, and re-attached it to a new one, but I don't think you'll ever get the vinyl to sit smooth again.
I'm actually thinking my panels are really not so far as to give up on them. Just some warping on two of the four to get around.
The biggest issue will be getting the top metal section re-attached to the card. Only the left panels have detached. Maybe a 3" wide light gauge metal reinforcing strip PL glued along the back of the card at the top, drilled to match the panel crowns. Fit the top panels with PL, clamp it in place, then glue through to those crowns. Then maybe some kind of flush rivet, or some kind of pin you could fit through the holes and bend over might work as well.
Second biggest issue will be hiding that new cutline above the panel trim line for the new vinyl.
The one thing that has just come to mind is that the 65 bodyside door trim is the same length 2 door sedan and HT. Does that mean it's essentially the same door panel between the two? Or are the window cranks and door handles in different spots?
-- Edited by cdnpont on Monday 13th of December 2021 11:29:42 AM
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
I just watched an episode of All Girls Garage and they were doing door panels for a 71 LeMans. They bought new panels, bit had to transition the metal tops from old to new.