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Dennis Carpenter sells theses oem quality door panels new. They are made on the original ford molds and have trace outs on the back so you can cut pw or pl switch openings. They come in black but they are exact like the originals unlike the replacement style lmc offers for over $200 for a pair.
I ordered a pair for $175 after shipping and including a pair of window crank eschutions. Still need to hit up npd for blue arm rests which will cost me an additional $100 for the Pair.
But the door panels for those wanting new, part number is E1TZ-1023942-PR
I could have bought some 80-81 arm rests from dennis for $40 for a pair but didnt think the paint would stick and be durable.
On the difference, the lmc ones are painted and scratch easily to the black base. The speaker grills are snap in riveted style with a mesh where as oem ones hace geill slots molded into the door panel.
I also was happy with their fit when i mounted a pair on a customers 82.
Im going this route for panels as they are exact to whats on there now and being made on original molds it will fit right. They only come black but i will use the sem paint prep on it to clean ot and i will then use bulldog adhesive promoter for plastics and vinyls to spray first before the sem dark midnight blue. I want the paint to not chip or scratch easily like the painted lmc ones did just handling it.
On the difference, the lmc ones are painted and scratch easily to the black base. The speaker grills are snap in riveted style with a mesh where as oem ones hace geill slots molded into the door panel.
Good to know, thanks.
I just realized, though, that going by the photos on the Dennis Carpenter site, the door panels they have are for the later models with vertical door locks. My truck has the original slider locks, so I don't think I can use these.
I wonder if the LMC panels can be stripped and repainted with SEM?
I just realized, though, that going by the photos on the Dennis Carpenter site, the door panels they have are for the later models with vertical door locks. My truck has the original slider locks, so I don't think I can use these.
I wonder if the LMC panels can be stripped and repainted with SEM?
Lmc sells them in paintable black for slightly less money.
Would buy that but just seems too much money for just one arm rest when I can get two in Blue for te same price.
I will just have to make a decision this week. Door panels came in last night and they look great, have the original ford oval and part numbers on the back. There is some casting flash to clean up in the speaker grill slots but that's minor.
Only thing I have left is the arm rests and then decide what to do about a insulator between the door panel and the door itself. I want to say the truck used to have a black paper backed barrier but theres nothing on the truck now. Would like to put this barrier back on in some form.
Might even hit up Ford dealerships and see I know the cabs and doors were the same up to '92. Might luck out and get the stuff there.
I went and got one door panel finished today. Need to do the other tomorrow.
For the vapor barrier macs sells the paper backed barrier found in old cars comes in a 12 ft roll. Might go this route and i guess order some 3m strip cault from eastwood to stick it to the door.
As far as the panels goes i took some time with a razor and cut off the more noticeable casting flash. The second coat of sem came out even but i can see faint lines in the sheen. Have to let it fulley cure over night if still there i might try wiping the panels with armorall to even the sheen out.
Below are some pics of the panel cleaned and prepped for the sem and after 2nd coat.
Big things on my to do list is buy arm rests, decide which route I will go for the vapor barrier, and the final is the door handle boot. I found them in my parts guide for '82 I haven't found any blue ones on ebay but did find a pair of black ones. Down side they appear to affix via 3 studs on the door panel which this door panels I got from Dennis Carpenter does not have. I am fixing to look up the part numbers for '83-'84 and for '85 and '86. I know '87 fits in like a grommet but by '87 they were only black. Hopefully '83-'84 or '85 will fit like a grommet saving me another headache.
Just a heads up for anyone that buys these door panels, check both of them when you get them. I just pulled the passenger side door panel out to prep it and sem it only to find it is horribly warped and has a huge dent in the side of the plastic in the large flat area below the arm rest.
I went ahead and sem coated it as its better than what I have falling apart but I did email Dennis-Carpenter to see if they will send me a replacement passengerside door panel. I think they will send me another one considering its $150 for the pair of door panels and its just too much money to accept a panel that looks as bad as a used one you would get that is in good shape.
Plastic sheeting I picked up from Lowes that I installed
Door panels after installation. Need to get a new padded dash, paint the dash board and the new pad as well as get the seats recovered. But one step at a time.
Only thing I am not too happy with is the driver side door panel I cant get the clips to fully seat so the rear latch edge of the door panel has a slight gap that you can see the white plastic clips. I have already used my palm to smack the panel firmly and just cant get it to close up anymore. Might be something to just live with.
Aside from that, truck is a lot quieter inside. Don't know if it was the plastic sheeting that did that or the fact that these door panels are a lot stiffer than the old ones and it now has all the clips holding the panels in place. But I drove the truck to go pick up some transmission fluid as I just ran out as well as stop by lowes to get a mower air filter. Truck I have to say sounds inside just like the 2012 Chevrolet truck my dad bought
10-24-2016, 09:58 AM
