Side panels
 

I'm going to re-do my CST side panels in the rear....I'm going to use black naugahide...but what should I use for the back boards?
Wouldn't plywood be too thick for the holders on the top rail?
Any ideas would be great! Thanks......


:flag: :metal:

I am going to use either thin gauge aluminum or steel. My hubby is a welder, so he thinks steel is better than anything else:D I actually have steel "Z" purlins as the joists in my backyard deck!! He is hilarious!!:p We will probably either paint or powdercoat the panels once we get them done, or maybe even carpet. I just don't want it to have the wall to wall carpet look goin' on! Know what I mean! I just think you ought to use something that won't warp if it gets moisture.

Maybe a "wall of carpet" WOULD be coooool! I'm thinking Lime Green Shag:metal: Then take out the side window, fiberglass it up and cut a round hole for a bubble window. And... well, it's a dream I have. Time to go get my mullet trimmed.:D

options
 

I used that fake wood wall board (woodpaneling) that is about an 1/8 of an inch thick. Easy to cut yet, still durable and doesn't fall apart when wet like the original cardboard did. Looks great and can't tell the difference when installed. If you want to see pics let me know.
Darrell...

What look are you going for?
If you frequantly haul stuff in the back an aluminium or sheet metal panel would work.
If it's cosmetic only black vinyl(or what ever color you want)with a small amount of padding on the back side could be mounted to a 1/8"sheet of plywood( a replacement door panel would work.Used to reskin a house door.It's thin like that.)
If you can find some factory ones(goodluck)that would be my choice.I know they reproduce them but they are about $400 bones.
I got mine from a guy in B.C. for $125.00.A good deal I think!
Here's mine
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...d/fbc41682.jpg

side panels
 

Hey BobbyK, you bought those from me a couple of years ago. They look good still!!!

Ya Darrell show some pics of that. I'm planning on doing the same thing with mine, but maybe use polyurathane and then that short nap carpet, like boat carpet. (Not astroturf)

Darrell,
ya man they do look great.Thanks again for the deal.
The 1/8th inch board they have been mounted to has held up well.

I used masonite real thin and cheap $7 for a 4x8 sheet. Cut to fit loose to allow for thickness of the black material and matting from local fabric shop...cut holes for speakers. Found all the mounting holes with the masonite uncovered first. Used spray adhesive to mount material to board.

Here they are installed...the red plug on top right is for the interior lights in the hardtop.

another shot...

Those look real nice. Clean and tight! What did you use to cover the masonite? padding and vinyl? Looks great! I like a little bit of a custom look like that.

What are the side panels mounted to? My blaze didn't come with them, but I intend to add them at the end. I have two chrome strips that are about the length of the bed. Are these part of the side panels as well? Thanks, Jeff.

The chrome strips you have are probably for the hold downs on the single wall top. The panels mount to little brackets welded onto the inner bedsides.

Thats wierd. I have a double wall top. Of course everything about this blazer has been wierd. Why stop there! Guess it would be easy to fab up some mounts to mount the sides to. Thanks Gee emm! Can't wait to see the blaze. Its been sitting waiting patiently for me for 8 and a half months! Jeff

Red71Cheyenne- There are two diff. chrome strips. wide ones that hold down a singlewall top, and skinny ones that your side panels can slip into on the top. The panels mount to some brackets that are screwed to the middle of the bedsides. This picture shows the brackets there are 3 per side.

Thanks for the pic. That makes it easy to understand. I will have to take a pic of the chrome strips and post them when I get home to see if they are the ones I want or something someone else needs. Thanks 70Blazin! Jeff.

The chrome strips that hold your panels are a longer version of the ones that hold in your door panels same design