My 1979 Squire's front door panels had some after-market speakers in the kick panels that were toasted. And they only went up to the metal window sill, leaving painted metal to rest your arm on. Well HandyAndy and I took a tour at a pick-and-pull and I got the whole interior from a 4-Door sedan (1982 Zephyr) with the door panels which had been there in snow and rain for at least 4 years, all for $40. The door panels are pretty decent, with wood inlays and the same color carpetted kick panels as mine, but they got a bit warped, after they dried off in the house, over the summer. So I was thinking I'd take a damp towel and let it seep into the backface of the cardboard with boards on top to flatten the panels. I guess they'd flatten out once they're installed, but I thought I might 'help' them out. Any ideas? Do it or leave it? I'm going to Dye the carpet kicks to match the floor carpet today. And get some other upholstery stuff done, but I got to wondering about the panels.
Decided to leave it. The warping is ok until next year. I need to re-upholster them - the vinyl is cracking. So I'll just make templates for now and prep some new ones.
It's cardboard, not hardboard (masonite). It's only the front door panels that have cracked vinyl, but I really can't do much about it right now. I took another look at the back and the top part is metal and clipped to the flat section with a separable bent-tab setup. This top part hooks into the window sill. In theory, I could use my old panels and adapt them, but they were all cut up for the after-market speakers. I've got a drill-press and can mill out the little slots (clips) and handle openings. It's just that time doesn't give me the luxury of delaying anymore.
lol...its like everything else Normin the same thing that messed it up can also fix it!!! just lay the panles on flat ground....soak(not drown) the back boards with water..(spray gun or what have you)...then pile many heavy flat things on them and let them dry ....badabing...flat again!!!! and if you really want to make sure...then clear coat(spray bomb)...the backs once they are dry...then stack crap on them again...till dry again!
I just checked the ones from the 2-door and they're perfect for flatness and hole location. and they're flat. Wrong colour though. I still have the vinyl cracks to patch for now. Thanks Rev.
