Re: [T3] El Cheapo Door Panels

[Stan Schaefer <stans4@ix.netcom.com>]

Having spent a lot of time grubbing around Bay Area wrecking yards,
I've got to agree with you on the condition of door panels you get out
of them.  Since the windows usually disappear first, they tend to
resemble soggy cardboard.  On running cars, the plastic moisture
barrier usually goes, a P.O. fails to realize what it's there for and
doesn't reattach it.  Now what I would do, is find a TAP Plastics
outlet and see if you can scare up some fiberglass sheet, or maybe
polycarbonate, the same thickness as the original fiberboard.
Masonite would also work, but you've got the same moisture problem
there.  Use the old panel as a pattern and bore or punch the same
pattern of holes.  Reattach the cover and you're better than stock.  I
mention TAP, because I know that they sell offcuts by the pound, even
their regular prices were reasonable.  The problem with reusing the
fiberboard panels is that, even if you get them flat again, the
strength they had(what there was of it) isn't going to be there and
you're back with the moisture problem again.  I've got to do this with
my hatch panel on my Square, the fiberboard is just falling to
pieces..  For vinyl, I just use some stuff I get by the gallon that's
general purpose cleaning concentrate, looks like 409 cleaner.

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