More door panels

Topic: More door panels (Read 1937 times) previous topic - next topic

More door panels

April 05, 2008, 07:59:13 PM

Here's an attempt to simplify the door skin. The arm rest and map pocket are permanently attached to the panel. LEDs are in the door light and in the two armrest screw holes facing downward. This configuration uses five fewer screws to mount the panel to the door, including two for the speaker panel.

A local interior supply had some special velcro tabs ($1 ea), we'll see how those work in place of the factory style push pins, and for mounting the speaker grill.

Sorry about the py camera work, the autofocus is on the fritz.

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Reply #1 – April 05, 2008, 10:49:59 PM

They look pretty good. Any chance of getting pics of the LEDs at night? I'm curious what those would look like.

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Reply #2 – April 06, 2008, 12:20:53 AM

I'll take some "in action" pics once the panel's mounted.

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Reply #3 – April 06, 2008, 06:58:36 AM

Nice work so far.I'm curious to see how the Velcro tabs hold up.

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Reply #4 – April 07, 2008, 04:43:35 PM

I'm curious about the tabs also. To be safe, I'm going to epoxy a strip of metal to the board as a mounting point for the velcro to disperse the force.

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Reply #5 – April 07, 2008, 07:33:18 PM

How did you attach the arm rest to the door panel? Genius idea.

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Reply #6 – April 07, 2008, 07:50:38 PM

I went through a few ideas. This latest uses plumbers tape. I'm going to road-test it for a while before converting the other door panels I have, just in case. If this works, I'll post a more thorough write-up when I do the other panels.

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Reply #7 – April 07, 2008, 08:06:44 PM

Please do, I absolutely LOVE the door panels on the TC's, but HATE how flimsy they are.

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Reply #8 – April 08, 2008, 04:19:56 PM

About the only thing I'd worry about is the arm rest coming off too easily. All it takes is a little push to snap that sucker right off. I think that's probably why Ford designed multiple screws to go through the armrest and into the metal of the door in the first place.

Otherwise I like the idea...nice job so far. Looking forward to the real-world testing phase.

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Reply #9 – April 10, 2008, 06:11:48 PM

Eric,

Four of the factory mounting points are used, all "topside". The three not used are the the two underside points and the one behind the reflector. My main concern relates to the durability of the fiberboard that secures the screws and tape.

At this point, velcro or screws could be used to secure the forward lower corner, depending on the condition of the map pockets.

Okay, back from the dead.

Reply #10 – June 13, 2009, 10:49:15 PM

The interior is starting to go back together .. I hope permanently. NOT! Just after completing both doors, I remembered the new outside door handles which aren't ready yet, so the whole thing will have to come apart. The panels will be easy, the new RAAM insulation, not so much. That stuff is permanent!

First pic is the patch for the access hole. The odd-colored wiring is what I strung the other day for the door locks.
Second pic is the heavy insulation.
Third pic is the foam insulation.

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Reply #11 – June 13, 2009, 11:19:21 PM

As requested, the added lights. Sorry about the quality. Getting something that relates the correct impression is difficult.

I'd probably change the angle a little next time, so that they're pointing almost straight down.

Note the door new inside handle(s). And, somehow, I've managed to misplace the armrests. They'll show up eventually .. I hope.

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Reply #12 – June 13, 2009, 11:32:34 PM

Oh yeah for me it is going to be a real challenge to satisfactorily reattach my armrests to the door panels on my 84 model. Then there is the issue of the py power door lock switches that install behind the inside door handles. I don't see too many of these cars anymore with the armrests intact since they break so easy.