Side Panels?

[Patch]

Okay...I'll admit it...I'm a cheap bastard. I just cant see paying
$400-500 for Blazer rear side panels. Has anyone out there taken some sort of paneling, and painted it black, or covered it with some other type of material, and made your own? I still have my side panels, but they are rough...and this is just my fixer upper daily driver. I cannot afford to shell out the bucks for brand new side panels from Golden State. Ideas? Thanks fella's.
P.S. Does anyone make new chrome trim holders for these panels?

[Mike C]

I removed the chrome holders completely. I made side panels out of 1/4" plywood and covered them with black vinyl. They look good. I made them go nearly to the top of the rail and screwed them to it with stainless sheet metal screws and trim washers. In the front where the cardboard panel is molded to go over the inner brace, my wooden panels tuck in behind it. I drilled a hole slightly larger than the sheet metal screw in it, then threaded the screw into the plywood to hold it to the brace. I have a set of 6 1/2" speakers mounted in the panels. I'd post a pic but my server has been down for weeks now . Shoot me an email if you want and I'll send you a couple of pics. This is my second set of panels. The first made the same way wore out... FYI I made door panels out of same and used 67-71 armrests. When I first went through the interior on the JImmy the 72 armrests were $100 a pair and rear panels weren't even available regardless of the price.

[junkyardjohn]

PATCH ---- I'VE GOT A 71 BLAZER FOR MY DAILY DRIVER. NOW DON'T GET ME WRONG.... IT'S A NICE RIDE....... JUST NOT A NUMBERS MATCHING, ANULLY RESTORED CONCOURSE TRUCK. I TOOK 1/4" PLYWOOD, & USED MY OLD SIDE PANELS FOR TEMPLATES & CUT NEW ONES. THEN I COVERED THEM WITH AUTOMOTIVE CARPET WITH A HOT GLUE GUN. THEY LOOK GREAT. I THINK THEY LOOK MUCH BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL VINAL. I HAD A FULL CARPET KIT IN IT FOR ABOUT 4 OR 5 YEARS, BUT SEEING AS HOW I USE THE SH!T OUT OF IT, & TREAT IT LIKE A PICKUP (I BET I'VE HAULED 50 MOTORS IN THE BACK SINCE I'VE OWNED IT) I'VE PULLED ALL THE CARPET (EXCEPT THE SIDE PANELS) OUT OF IT & HAD THE WHOLE TUB, FROM THE TAILGATE TO UP UNDER THE DASH SPRAYED WITH SPRAY-IN BEDLINER. NOW I JUST RINSE IT OUT. I HAVE SOME CHROME SIDE PANEL RETAINERS FOR THE CARGO AREA IF YOU NEED SOME. EMAIL ME IF YOU WANT AT FK9U812@AOL.COM
JOHN