53-56 Panel Rear Door
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,094
Likes: 654
From: Brentwood, TN
53-56 Panel Rear Door
I decided to start a new thread on this topic after reading/posting on https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...door-56-a.html
I have been speaking with a few fellow club members about a single rear door for 53-56 panels just to see how much interest there was in such a product. Some folks have good doors but would like to have a top-hinged single door. Some folks have rusted doors and just want something to replace them. Some like the idea of having a more custom look...that is, no window and a smooth 1-piece look.
I have the means to produce a 1-piece rear door assembly constructed of vacuum infused carbon fiber and epoxy resin...this means no shrinkage and none of the problems associated with fiberglass. The door would be reinforced at the mounting points and be filled with structural foam to add strength and further reduce weight. The production costs are high, even after the molds are fabricated, but I feel that the end product would be worth the cost.
Here is the question I would pose to my fellow FTEers: if you could buy a 1-piece rear door for a panel, that is configured the way you want it, would you be willing to spend $1,000 or more for it?
I have been speaking with a few fellow club members about a single rear door for 53-56 panels just to see how much interest there was in such a product. Some folks have good doors but would like to have a top-hinged single door. Some folks have rusted doors and just want something to replace them. Some like the idea of having a more custom look...that is, no window and a smooth 1-piece look.
I have the means to produce a 1-piece rear door assembly constructed of vacuum infused carbon fiber and epoxy resin...this means no shrinkage and none of the problems associated with fiberglass. The door would be reinforced at the mounting points and be filled with structural foam to add strength and further reduce weight. The production costs are high, even after the molds are fabricated, but I feel that the end product would be worth the cost.
Here is the question I would pose to my fellow FTEers: if you could buy a 1-piece rear door for a panel, that is configured the way you want it, would you be willing to spend $1,000 or more for it?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,369
Likes: 1,729
From: AKRON ohio
IF I had a panel that needed rear doors, YES I would be willing to pay that and more.
Steel doors are almost no existant, and the ones that are out there will cost nearly $1000 in labor and materials to repair.
I though, do not need doors for my panel as they are rust free, with no damage.
Steel doors are almost no existant, and the ones that are out there will cost nearly $1000 in labor and materials to repair.
I though, do not need doors for my panel as they are rust free, with no damage.
FTE Legend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 283,801
Likes: 8,317
From: northwestern Ontario
I would have been interested 4-5 years ago before I welded my rusted ones together. The weight factor would be a big plus for sure. If you were to make molds to make original doors you probably could get some buyers and get some vendors knocking on your door(s),lol
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: fargo ND, + OTR midwest
i need doors, mine have nothing inside, are rusted and damaged, with only 1 glass, so i would need 2 complete doors, i would prefer the 1 piece door look, so i would be up for 1 of ur doors if u make them.
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,094
Likes: 654
From: Brentwood, TN
I have a number of other projects in the works right now but this panel door has caught my interest. A friend of mine fabricates carbon fiber prosthetics for amputees. This technology is so strong that one of his customers plays college football with a below-the-knee carbon fiber leg/foot. The vacuum infusion process ensures that each layup comes out flawlessly, no voids, no bubbles. If I go forward with this door project, the inner and outer shell of the door will be carbon fiber with epoxy resin. The inside of the door will be filled with structural grade foam...kinda like a high tech surfboard. Light and very strong.
I am going to talk to the guy in our club that has the 55 panel and see what he would want in a 1-piece door. Since I would be using his doors/panel to develop the molds I think that he will probably be the first in line for the 1-piece version.
Thanks for your inputs, I'll keep you apprised of my progress.
I am going to talk to the guy in our club that has the 55 panel and see what he would want in a 1-piece door. Since I would be using his doors/panel to develop the molds I think that he will probably be the first in line for the 1-piece version.
Thanks for your inputs, I'll keep you apprised of my progress.
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,094
Likes: 654
From: Brentwood, TN
Making single doors would be easier...the only reason I addressed the 1-piece option was because that was what was being discussed.
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New User
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 10
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Panel doors
Someone told me about this forum and this topic because I made my rear panel doors 1 piece with a 1 piece window that's hinged and supported by gas shocks. I also modded the hood with a BMW tilt, got rid of the dash humps, vent,air scoop and drip rails looks good and works great but I can't post pics here unless I upgrade my membership 
so sorry gang that's a no go but if you'd like to see my panel reach out and I'll respond
Over and out
so sorry gang that's a no go but if you'd like to see my panel reach out and I'll respondOver and out
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,599
Likes: 34
From: Rockingham, VA
Welcome to FTE! 
You can post pics here but they have to be on the Internet first using something like Photobucket.
Go to Photobucket and sign up for a free account. Then create an album for your truck. Upload any pics you want to post on FTE to that album. Have this album open on your computer when you want to post pics on FTE.
While you're making a post on FTE, select the pic you want to post from your Photobucket album. When the large version of the pic is open, right mouse click on it and select "View Image Info". The image info will be highlighted and will look something like this:
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...ghtsafter1.jpg
Copy that highlighted info (right click / copy).
When you have the spot in your post where you want the pic to be placed, select the "Insert Image" icon at the top of the post (looks like a mountain)
and paste (right click / paste) the image info you copied in the highlighted box (just shows "http://" when it opens).
Your pic will be placed in the post.
Hope that helps.
You can post pics here but they have to be on the Internet first using something like Photobucket.
Go to Photobucket and sign up for a free account. Then create an album for your truck. Upload any pics you want to post on FTE to that album. Have this album open on your computer when you want to post pics on FTE.
While you're making a post on FTE, select the pic you want to post from your Photobucket album. When the large version of the pic is open, right mouse click on it and select "View Image Info". The image info will be highlighted and will look something like this:
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...ghtsafter1.jpg
Copy that highlighted info (right click / copy).
When you have the spot in your post where you want the pic to be placed, select the "Insert Image" icon at the top of the post (looks like a mountain)
and paste (right click / paste) the image info you copied in the highlighted box (just shows "http://" when it opens).Your pic will be placed in the post.
Hope that helps.
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,094
Likes: 654
From: Brentwood, TN
Someone told me about this forum and this topic because I made my rear panel doors 1 piece with a 1 piece window that's hinged and supported by gas shocks. I also modded the hood with a BMW tilt, got rid of the dash humps, vent,air scoop and drip rails looks good and works great but I can't post pics here unless I upgrade my membership so sorry gang that's a no go but if you'd like to see my panel reach out and I'll respond
Over and out
so sorry gang that's a no go but if you'd like to see my panel reach out and I'll respondOver and out
New User
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
AXracer
i dont think you would if you opened a rear door with a swing.
they swing up and lay over on the side not even like a house door and if your parked in close quarters forget it
mine swings up smooth and close's even smoother like a late model van and the rear window is a pop out the bottom opens like the rear vent windows in late model vans
BUT to each's owen thats why everybody's is different, no wrong or right way just your way!
i dont think you would if you opened a rear door with a swing.
they swing up and lay over on the side not even like a house door and if your parked in close quarters forget it
mine swings up smooth and close's even smoother like a late model van and the rear window is a pop out the bottom opens like the rear vent windows in late model vans
BUT to each's owen thats why everybody's is different, no wrong or right way just your way!
FTE Legend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 283,801
Likes: 8,317
From: northwestern Ontario
AXracer
i dont think you would if you opened a rear door with a swing.
they swing up and lay over on the side not even like a house door and if your parked in close quarters forget it
mine swings up smooth and close's even smoother like a late model van and the rear window is a pop out the bottom opens like the rear vent windows in late model vans
BUT to each's owen thats why everybody's is different, no wrong or right way just your way!
i dont think you would if you opened a rear door with a swing.
they swing up and lay over on the side not even like a house door and if your parked in close quarters forget it
mine swings up smooth and close's even smoother like a late model van and the rear window is a pop out the bottom opens like the rear vent windows in late model vans
BUT to each's owen thats why everybody's is different, no wrong or right way just your way!