<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%">Ok i have heard it before but i am just wondering about making my own door panels for my truck. have the idea of going past the original door panel to include the kicker panel on the bottum of the door. list : MDF board, hole saw, card board, staple gun, black leather, 2 inch foam. ok thats some of it but i have the original arm rest and want to put them on the new door have a idea. does anyone have pics of their door panels or done this before. help would be nice. thanks
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1974 F150

 

I was considering doing some out of aluminum (probably leaving them - possibly glueing twead to them) on my 77 crew cab, but I was trying to figure out what to do for the arm rest.

I saw your post in 73-79 trucks forum and did a search after that without much luck. This is the only thread I could come across that dealt with custom door panle - after 3 different searches...
of course it's old and the pic doesn't show anymore
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/282211-custom-door-panels.html

I'd be interested to see what others have come up with for these old trucks

 

I'm concidering making door panels to for my 77 f250. I'm thinking of going with polished aluminum diamond plate. I think i will try to bolt the old armrests on from the back.

 

You all may laugh, but if you watch "Pimp My Ride" a couple of times you will probably see them make some door panels. They usually make some extreme fast and furious looking panels, the same technique will apply for some updated looking panels for our trucks.
I'm not 100% certain, but I'll tell you what I remember.

First they make a base, just a flat piece with holes where you need them and where there are raised spots in the inner door skin, and it is cut to shape of the original door panel. MDF would be a good material for this, unless you will get them wet (window leak, or mudding freak) because it will swell. A 1/4 sheet of plastic would be ideal.
Then you can decide where you arm rest will be and how far it will stick out, as well as speaker housing and you will make a mounting pad out of the same material for you armrest and attach it(glue, screw, rivet) to your base where you want it. You can make a ring/collar to go around the window crank handle, or just make some design on the base out of the plastic. Make a ring/collar to go around your speaker housing, or to outline the kick panel. You can get creative and make whatever pieces you want on there. If you want a different thickness just double up on your plastic and glue pieces together. I would suggest once you get a piece made that suits you, make a pattern from it for the other panel, so they will be the same, before you glue it on.
Once you get your pieces attached to your base like you want them, you can stretch a fabric over the constructed base (I cant remember what kind of fabric). You can probably clip it across the back from one side to the other in order to not distor the front while holding it tight.
Next, you spread some kind of resin over the fabric(I dont know exactly what, but I think its like what you use to repair busted fiberglass. Get it good and smooth, and put it on thick so you can sand and buff without getting into your fabric. You may have to apply more than once, or you may like it like it is. Cut out your holes when it dries and attach. Youll need to make you some tabs on the back to attach them with. use your old panel for referrance. Im gonna do this for mine when I get to that part. Jake

 

There is a write up on how to do this in the tech articles thingy at the top of the screen. I saw it just tonight...., wierd.

 

under what category? I didn't see it under "interior" or "body, bed & appearance"