Custom Inner Panels
 

I moved this from another thread to avoid a hijack situation...

1)Bought the wood grain paneling at Home Depot. I think 2 4x8 sheets was all it took at about $10-$15 each. Also bought some foamy insulation tape to go on the top edge of the panels. This gives it a snug fit in the chrome trim.
2) Removed existing ugly-as-sin inner panels.
3) Traced the outline of all panels including all holes onto the new paneling. I made sure all the top edges were cut on one of the horizontal "milled" lines so they all lined up front to back when installed. I also made the left rear panels one-piece instead of split. So pay attention to the gap between those as originally installed if you plan to do the same. Set that gap when tracing the panels.
4) Cut with a fine tooth jig-blade. Put masking tape on the saw shoe to prevent marring the panels.
5) Not shown in my pics, I drilled trough the panels into the doors and tapped w/ 1/4-20 extra holes around the parameter of the panels. So there are 3 screws on the each side and 4 on the bottom. All the same 1/4-20 pan head allen screws.

One thing I might change if I did it again is the rear panels were hard to get all the screws to line up. You might be better off putting them in place and drilling/tapping those screw holes in place.

Also, be sure to use a sealer of some kind on the back of the panels in case they ever get wet back there (and they will even with all new seals/scrapers).
Those are just the standard escutcheons. 7 required for a Suburban. I made the holes in the panels the right size so they clip in. You can get them from any of the vendors. Here's an example ->Link to escutcheons
I have family in Phoenix, but I won’t be coming down there until after the summer months when the sun moves from its current distance of ¼ mile away. :hot:

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

Here are the pics:

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

Something I started on and plan to finish at some point:rolleyes: is using parts of 72 deluxe panels over the wood grain. I have all four panels to do it with and I have the matching armrests for the front. Maybe posting this will motivate me to get 'er done... Here's what it will look like:

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

Looks great. Post some pictures of the panels with the 72 sections when you complete them. I have the complete panel set for a 72 also that I might have to modify. Hope you don't mind if I copy your idea.

Aaron

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

Not at all. The nice thing about this is that you get some of the look of the '72 panels without having to change to longer post cranks.

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

damn those doors panels still look great man! i would do that to the 72, but i guess after i get the motor put back together its goin to a new home.....

Aaron

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

I like the way you had the lines in the wood match from front to back

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

Good idea! Looks retro!

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

Awesome look... old school for sho!!!

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

WOW

great job, looks very clean and classic :)

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

Looks good to me. A friend of mine found an old 1952 Ford 4 dr. with a flathead V-8 3 speed with overdrive that had sat for years in a shed. He didn't want to spend a lot of money on it so a set of wal-mart seat covers and panaling for doors, House carpet for floors and headliner. It got a rattle can dark green with white top paint job. He drove it for years proud as he could be. Will died 10 or 12 years ago and I don't know where his pride and joy ended up.

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

Thanks guys. Most people that see it just think it came that way. I'll definately post pics here when I add the 72 panels.

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

Any update on the panels?

R

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

No update on anything...:rolleyes: New position, lotza travel, yada, yada...:(

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

Hay Frizzle you did any more work to the pannels yet . Im thinking about doing the same think with Diamond plate aluminum.

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

Would be cool to have the outside of a Suburban "woodgrained" woody style!
Make it look stock as if they offererd that as an option! :)

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

That turned out to look quite nice! I like how nice it looks with the green.

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

Very cool!

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

thier is a company that makes a woody kit for the PT cruzer I wounder how much they would charge to do a burb.

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

Thanks guys. No change except that I installed the passenger side arm-rest :lol:
The inner-woody look is what I was going for. Surfburban style. Exterior woody looks pretty cool too. Zumo did one up a while ago. I don't think he'll mind if I re-post it:

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

Hey Frizzy Fry your Suburban looks nice. I'm building one myself and it has absolutely no interior other than seats and metal door panels. Have you got any photos of what you started with or what you made your patterns with. I have to do headliner and all and need some ideas. By the way I'm just over in Newberg.

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

I started with crapped out vinyl covered origonal panels. Used them as patterns. You should be able to use yours to do the same. If you have no rear panels, come up and we'll pull mine off to make patterns for ya.

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

Frizz I don't have any panels to make patterns from, do you have dimensions? Or how much would you charge to make a set like you really have time, LOL. Thanks,

Rob

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

Seems like there may be a common need for these patterns. Should be able to trace them and then get full size copies made at Kinkos. I am moving houses in the next couple weeks (just in the same neighborhood), so I can't do it until then. Ping back in a few if you still need them.

Re: Custom Inner Panels
 

You da man!