Well guys, I have been browsing this site for a while and just decided to join. At the beginning of the year we bought my wife a 79 f150 as sort of a project/daily driver. Ive been slowly replacing things and upgrading starting with the interior. When she got it it the worst excuse for a painted blue interior you could imagine, crushed velvet visors, headliner and flat boards as door panels(crushed velvet as well of course). Well those were pitched in the trash in a hurry and the hunt for oem door panels was on. Around where I live there isnt too much in the way of our era trucks and what is there gets picked over FAST.

So as per the tread title I figured id try my hand at some simple custom door panels. Nothing crazy with fiberglass or anything just a simple panel to clean the door up. Only thing is im trying to figure out arm rests and swapping to a different interior door handle. Im thinking maybe the arm rest off an early 90s cherokee and the handle as well since they are flat might work out?

What can you guys suggest as far as something pretty easily available, cheap and similar door structure? If a quick drawing in paint or something will help visualize what im talking about would help I can post one.

Thanks guys!

 

You don't want to just use replacement ones?

 

At Around $100 a piece that ive found, I cant justify spending $200 for door panels on a truck that was bought for $800 lol.

 

That's true, Not sure about your jeep idea.

 

3/16ths thick aluminum plate - dress it up with a brushed finish using a 220 paper on an orbital sander. Apply sharkhide or shoot some clear.

 

Why not these and paint with SEM color coat. Last set I bought cost $110 total and came with clips, then $20 in SEM color coat paint and they should look real nice. Youll need armrests though maybe salvage some.
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000024D

 

Find a member on here that has a blue set for sale??? And ck the FTE classifieds.

I recon you could get a used set cheap....

PM sent.

And welcome to FTE.

 

I'm making a set out of 1/4" masonite. I just want something to cover the holes and look decent. it's cheap and easy to work with

 

Just a tip(something I discovered) I have aftermarket 1 piece door panels. They were held on by 8 plastic push pins(xmastrees) When I took off the panels to replace the window rubber I distroyed all the pins. I went to Pepboys to look for more but they didn't have any as long as the originals and they were expensive. I did find some plastic screw inserts that fit perfectly into the holes on the door. So now I have screws painted flat black holding on the panels that can easily be removed. Those plastic inserts work great.

 

Post some pics if you could of the progress, good idea on the masonite.

 

I personally would stay away from masonite for door panels. It warps and doesnt do well with moisture. But if you want something cheap and easy it will work perfectly fine, just wont last as well as the other options.

Besides fiberglass or aluminum most guys who make custom panels use some sort of thin plywood, PVC foamboard or ABS.

If you didnt want to cover the panels in some sort of material, you could use the textured side of a sheet of ABS. Its pretty easy to cut, just use a utility knife and snap it. Super tough and will last forever.