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Hey guys I recently picked up a pile of parts which included a decent set of lariat door panels.
I noticed they have 4 screw holes at four corners but i am having a hard time telling if this was a factory hole or not. Does anyone know if this is how they were mounted along with the clips on the back of the panel or is this a modification?
You mean the overlay panel correct? No door panel itself (Lariat or otherwise) was ever mounted to the door from the factory (AFAIK) with screws. The were mounted to the door with the metal double 90* door clips. Now the Lariat/vinyl overlay panel is mounted to the door panel itself with plastic studs thru the door panel and then a small metal washer is pressed on that plastic stud. Here are some of the Lariat door panel options. More to follow.
I found an old pic that barely shows some of the plastic stud and washer (which is made into the vinyl overlay panel) and the stud breaks very easy when you remove the washer and then its 2 part epoxy or liquid nail time...red blue green circles indicate know locations. I am trying to find a pic in my collection that shows the exact location of the pins. And of the metal door panel 90* mount clip.
Thanks for the pics. I will post some myself to see if what we have matches up. I am pretty certain that it does. Guess I will have to get creative for something to make them look nice. On topic, my panels were a little fragile in transport and a couple of them broke on the edges. Any good method to rejoining the pieces? My plan was to use JB or some sort of epoxy, any suggestions would be appreciated.
I hope you have the pieces? A quality 2 part epoxy used on the back side after you clean it and then rough up the surface before applying the epoxy. I will post some pic of my "overhaulin" before install mods to give you a fighting chance at making them last. Lariat panels are hard to find.
LMC, Dennis Carpenter, Macs, JBG or others vendors sale a metal finger cup, get them.
Use GM not Ford mount "trees". Dorman sales them at most parts stores. GM are longer and have a bigger head.
See the metal bracket on the door where the opening handle mounts. See the 2 bolt heads? With the door panel off remove the padded arm rest/finger cup and Dremel grind 2 notches on the door panel back side to clear those bolt heads. I dry fit first...No worries when you put the arm rest and the finger cup they covers that area anyway.
JB weld or again more of that quality 2 part epoxy to reinforce the back side where the trees mount.
Make some thin sheet metal overlays to reinforce the area where the finger cups mount/ the flat tab set on top of the metal bracket and make them wrap around...pic explain.
I see what you are talking about with the mounting spots for the finger cups. Fortunately mine are in good shape but I don't have the cups but they are cheap and there is a guy around here who parts out these trucks like nothing. Tony's Truck Parts Portland Oregon, in case anyone was wondering he has an Ebay store I don't know the name though.
Yeah I noticed that my panels used the GM style clips and on the original panels from my truck they still had the metal "U" clips like passenger car fords of this era had. The old panels are not broken around the edges but the middle where the handle on the drivers is toast and some other cracks etc. So my plan is to square cut the lariat panels and make a matching piece from the old panels and HOPEFULLY that will work out.
I will have pictures of the lariat panels later today after I go home and go to bed. Gotta love the night shift.
A smart once once wrote..."If you have a cracked door panel don't throw it away, you can easily fix it with Threebond Plastic Repair Kit. It's mostly used by motorcycle guys for repairing cracked fairings, but it works great on door panels. It has super glue and fiberglass cloth and makes the repaired area stronger than new."
Even if your finger cup area mount cups tab pieces are not broke, easy to make the over lay to reinforce it. That is all that really holds the door panel middle area to the door when you pull it closed. And yes the metal cup and the 2 small s/m screws take a bunch of that chore.
FTE member 77 shortbox was going to remake the map pocket below the door. And then we started discussing him trying to remake the Lariat panel. I am suppose to send him a old panel to have a OEM pattern...I am busy busy working. But I have it on the work bench to mail to him, maybe he already has some made up?
Yes that is the dreaded "I can't get my door panels to stay on the right way, so lets just ruin them and throw some sheet metal screws in them" move.....
Yeah i was afraid that would be the case. Fortunately the passenger side is not as creatively modified and my truck is not a looker so I will live with it.
You can fill the lower holes with JB weld or paintable 2 part epoxy from the back side, dremel sand off what comes thru and paint marker it. Maybe the same for the upper just fill the hole in the vinyl and use a white paint marker?
