I wanted to start a thread on how to swap the 08+ panels into the older trucks with lots of pictures. I will be mounting the 08 panels to my 04 f250 supercab, i also have super cab rear panels but those will take some work to get to fit correctly.

First i would like to show a comparison and the cuts i made to maek the door panels fit without hitting the older dash boards. I am taking this from another thread I posted in to save the retyping lol.

OK, as you can see here is a comparison of my current 04 panel (Right) and my 09 panel (left).



Close up of the 04 panel


Close up of the 09 panel, now you may notice that next to the speaker grille there is an extra hook this is nothing to worry about because there is an opening in the door already for it.


Opening for extra hook.


Pictured below is my door with the current screw hole locations and where (roughly) the 08 door ones will be. Red is 04 yellow is 08 sorry i know its horrible but best i could do on Photobucket lol.


Also as you can see here I'm mounting the 09 panel, the 04 handle cup contacts the 09 panel so you will need to get a newer one to install these panels correctly.(or cut up the old one I chose new ones)


Here is a shot of me mounting the 09 panel on my 04 door, all the hooks line up the same.


Now, if you want to upgrade to the new door panels there are a few things to be aware of. You will need to re-pin your drivers side window switch, the passenger side is plug and play. The lock switches require a different connector that will need to be spliced on and the same goes for the power mirror switch. for you there will be no issue physically mounting it to the door however you will run into issues with clearing the 99-04 dash sides (i believe the 05-07 is the same). what i did to resolve this is i made a few relief cuts and used a heat gun, using a heat gun solely and not making a few relief cuts is highly suggested IMO i ****ed up my drivers side panel, luckily i got it cheap and will use it as a dummy to disassemble for painting and stuff. the corner of the panel is what contacts in the picture below i am pointing to where it will hit on the dash when you close the door with an un modified dash or panel.

EDIT: actually is is right behind the vent in this picture i didn't realize where i was pointing to in this picture until just now.



First cut i made was along the side shown here, i removed the lip as you can see it sticks out farther on slightly down.


Second cut was here, i cut this so that the outside of the panel fould fold back towards the door. I cut right along that "body line" to make it reletivley unseen, i am moving it by hand in this photo.


Lastly i made this cut to relieve the panel more so that the side could fold back more against the door. with the black pillar cover on this cut only sticks out maybe 1/8" at most and what i am going to do is heat it up and smooth it out or fill it with some super glue or something because it is permanently depressed. After cutting i used a heat gun and heated up the outside of the panel and pressed on the corner of the panel so that it would hold its position folded back slightly.


I have not dash contact any more with this door panel but the drivers side is boned so I didn't even really try to finish it.

since this post i have gotten the newer door handle cups , the lock switch pigtails and the wing panels.

I will upload pics tomorrow of what each part looks like for reference but here are the part numbers.
Door Handle Cup P/N: 7C3Z-2522634-AA (Both Left and right)
Lock switch pigtail: WPT-982
Right Door Wing Panel: 7C3Z-17K709-AA
Left Door Wing Panel: 7C3Z-17K709-BA

 

Great post. Thank you for taking the time to write out the steps. I was hoping to see the pictures but they are not showing. Is there any chance to see the pictures that were in this post? I am considering interchanging the door panels from a 2010 F250 to a 1999 F550 and am trying to see what I am going to be in for.

 

Same here, Matt did you delete the pictures from your account? I too would like to see this as I am planning on this swap along with the "08 - UP power folding mirrors.

 

Sorry guys I was in vacation so I had no computer at my disposal just my phone. I moved them so I will repost them around lunch time today!

 

thanks! Are the front doors the same size on the single, super and crew cabs?

 

Yes the the doors are the same size.

 

Here is the fixed photo links let me know if you guys need any more info. Also i now have the 08 dash so i can't take really any more pics of the doors contacting the 99-07 dash anymore unfortunately. I cannot find two of the pictures but the one relating to the cut i will highlight because it is visible in another picture.

Also so extra goodies! you do not have to get the new lock switch pigtails you can reuse all your old electronics let me copy and past from my dash swap thread into this thread...give me a few.

 

OK so basically you disassemble both the 99-07 and the 08 switches by removing the switch from the housings.

Next you remove the rocker preferably with a small flathead that is used on something like glasses. The rocker might fight a little but dont be afraid to pry at it just don't break them be ginger but firm.

Once the rockers are off the you can separate the upper and lower housings revealing the circuit board inside. Now is the perfect time to change the LED colors if you would like a different color lock switch. There are 4 tabs that you can release to allow the housings to separate.

Now remove the black circuit board rocker from the 08 circuit board and install it onto the 99-07 circuit board in place of the old white rocker. The new rocker will snap the new exterior rocker into place holding the old circuit board to he new housing.

Some trimming may or may not be requires both of my switches were different but some tabs needed to be removed and some needed to just be shortened inside but it is very easy to see what needs to be trimmed to get it to fit correctly.

Once everything is trimmed take the 99-07 bottom housing and the 08+ upper housing snap them together and now you have a new lock switch that requires no rewiring and looks like the brand new trucks!

239734[/ATTACH]

 

Matt great write ups you have done. Starting my panel update on my 03 Excursion this weekend since the weather is starting to clear up. Can you tell me how did you repined the window switch? I'm going to do the same thing you did the lock switch. Or is it on another tread I most of not seen. Thanks for the info

 

Thanks, I dont remember off the top of my head but if you search through my 08 dash swap thread it may be in there i will look too once i get out of work tonight.

 

Thanks well check out that thread again during lunch to see if I find
Orlando

 

No problem, i will skim it at the same time as well!

 

Checked out the thread found the diagrams for the steering wheel swap and the lights and shifter starting on page 15 . No luck with the window one do. I would have thought it was before those. Thx for your time
Orlando

 

Matt thanks for the info but Is it possible to just modify the side panel of the dash instead of the door panel? Are they just touching or is it like a hard scrape?

 

Roger I'll get those diagrams for you.

It's possible but it hits the removable side panels and the main plastic frame of the dash so it would be a pain to modify. It's a big hit if you open your window and stitch your head in while it closes you will see the it pretty clearly. People have put bolts in the metal frame of the dash that hold the plastic frame in but it doesn't look that's good IMO, it's all I what you want to modify though because mine were going to be painted I didn't want them to touch but if they were not getting painted I would have left them.