Custom door panels.
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New User
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Custom door panels.
My husband and I own a '78 F150 and a '79 Bronco. As I'm sure many of you have discovered, the door panels don't age well. I have been trying to find a reasonably priced place online to get custom door panels. I don't want those hard plastic aftermarket things that are supposed to look like the original.
Or has anyone had luck in making their own? My husband tried for the truck but didn't like the results and doesn't want to try again.
It is beyond agrivating not being able to find customizing parts, like instrument panels and stuff.
Or has anyone had luck in making their own? My husband tried for the truck but didn't like the results and doesn't want to try again.
It is beyond agrivating not being able to find customizing parts, like instrument panels and stuff.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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Custom door panels.
What colour,and trim package are you looking for if original ?
Post here or e-mail me direct .
Dennis
Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
78 F-150 429CJ,Silver
w/Explorer Pkge.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon
Post here or e-mail me direct .
Dennis
Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
78 F-150 429CJ,Silver
w/Explorer Pkge.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon
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New User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 12
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Custom door panels.
Well in my Bronco the current color scheme is Root Beer and Creme. I'm thinking of changing the interior to black and creme so I have more options for body color. My husband hasn't decided whether or not he'll get rid of the ones he made for the truck.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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Custom door panels.
Check the classifieds as there are door panels for sale there.
Access is on the right hand side of the page.
Dennis
Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
78 F-150 429CJ,Silver
w/Explorer Pkge.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon
Access is on the right hand side of the page.
Dennis
Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
78 F-150 429CJ,Silver
w/Explorer Pkge.
641/2-Mustang 260,Pre-World's Fair Car.
64-Fairlane500 S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang 289-Sunlit Gold 80,892Mi
78-Buick LeSabre 403 4V
84 Volvo DL Wagon
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,172
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From: SW Missouri
Custom door panels.
check out in the wrecking yards the early 70s torinos/montegos, LTDs and Marquis the pedistal-mount arm rests use the same type of door release, and are easy to mount. similarly the 1973-78 fullsizes use a similar setup but with a large armrest.
make a doorpanel backing plate with 1/4 plywood (not pressboard), and make the necessary holes for the door panel clips. pre-fit the desired type of armrest (1970-72, or 1973-78) and then cover the plywood with the desired fabric or vinyl or carpet or whatever. if desired you can first glue on a thin layer of foam to make it padded.
the hardest part is making amount for the little spring clips that mount the arm rest to the door. it's not that hard.
the 1973-78 big armrests work well if you are converting to power windows, as they have space to hide most conversions, and they house the switches and power mirror controls ect
make a doorpanel backing plate with 1/4 plywood (not pressboard), and make the necessary holes for the door panel clips. pre-fit the desired type of armrest (1970-72, or 1973-78) and then cover the plywood with the desired fabric or vinyl or carpet or whatever. if desired you can first glue on a thin layer of foam to make it padded.
the hardest part is making amount for the little spring clips that mount the arm rest to the door. it's not that hard.
the 1973-78 big armrests work well if you are converting to power windows, as they have space to hide most conversions, and they house the switches and power mirror controls ect
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 113
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Custom door panels.
I don't think the 78-79 panels had the push in wire clips anymore. I am sure that was how a lot of these things got broke. Mine have round plastic discs inserted into the doors in strategic locations. The panels slide into these. I agree totally that the plastic door panels just look too cheap. They don't seem to hold up very well. I've seen many of these things at the scrap yards and they are all tore up. I retrieved the best looking pair of blue ones I have found so far. These had screws put through them to hold them on the doors which is probably the only reason they weren't broke too. I would also like something padded and covered in vinyl something like the door panels on my 65 mustang.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 166
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Custom door panels.
Have you looked thru any streetrodder mags.?They usually have several companies that offer custom panel kits.They are usually plastic boards that you can cut and shape the way you need them.Ford trucks having flat square panels should be pretty easy to work with.If you go the custom route,post the pics and tell us how it went.Good luck,
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Ephrata USA
Custom door panels.
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 04-Feb-02 AT 00:11 AM (EST)]hey,
i just had this very same problem myself for my '79 f-100. i ended up driving to a junkyard about 120 miles away and buying an old one. it had only a minor crack that i glued. i used screws and not the plastic insert deals, because the hooks on the door that hold to those were broken. hope this is helpful.
Mike S.
PS: one helpful thing in junkyard hunting is to know anything from a 73-79 (as far as interior goes) will fit with each other, at least in my expericne. good luck!
i just had this very same problem myself for my '79 f-100. i ended up driving to a junkyard about 120 miles away and buying an old one. it had only a minor crack that i glued. i used screws and not the plastic insert deals, because the hooks on the door that hold to those were broken. hope this is helpful.
Mike S.
PS: one helpful thing in junkyard hunting is to know anything from a 73-79 (as far as interior goes) will fit with each other, at least in my expericne. good luck!
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