72 to earlier door panels?

[muddpile]

Has anyone ever done this backwards swap? I am thinking about going from the 72 style door panels back to the flat 67-71 style. I've been looking into it, and so far it looks like I will need the following.
-67-71 window regulators
-67-71 inner door handle stem/lock assembly
-Upper door panel trim
-67-71 style arm rests

I want to make my own door panels out of some sort of wood, then upholster them in grey velvet to match my seats. Am I missing some parts of what I will need to complete this swap? I have 1972 doors on the truck if that matters? Is this swap even possible? Thanks!

[blazerboy72]

If you were closer i would trade you parts. I have two sets of 67-71 and want 72.

[FormerMember]

I am interested in this as well. I am thinking I may do this with 72 doors I have.

Although I bought a vent window eliminator kit used and I think it's for a 72 door set up...

[muddpile]

I want to build custom flat door panels for my 72, but need the shorter posts for the door handle and the window crank. Does anyone know if there is anything else I need to change inside the door, or if I need to buy older doors all together? Here's my list of things I likely need:
-67-71 window regulators
-67-71 inner door handle/lock mechanism
-67-71 door panel upper trim
-67-71 arm rest
-67-71 flat style door panels.

Is it do-able to put a flat door panel in a 72, or do I have to stick with the bubbled out plastic stockers? If I can do it I am going to the upholstery shop tomorrow and will pick up the material to cover them. Thanks!

Also, does anyone know how big the stock headliner measures?

[LUV2XCLR8]

1972 window regulaters have a longer shank for the crank than 67-71, other
than that it is easy to go from 72 down to whatever if you are using custom
door panels, with factory ones you will need the shorter regulaters 67-71
Other than that, it's just switching them out, the flat ones will bolt right up.

[jhwkns]

If you changed the handles, and cranks to something else thats deeper flat panels would work with what you have.

If you're making wood panels you could just make wood escutchions that could space it out to where you need it. This would be cheaper, and easier than swapping all the parts, and will add some detail to the panels.

[Solver]

Arn't the holes drilled in the door round and larger for the plastic push in clips on a 72 door?
It has been a while but i think the older doors 71 and older have square holes with captured nuts that snap in those holes for the screws.
So by going backwards you wouldn't be able to stick in the caputured nuts!!
This is basically the same problem I had trying to go older to newer as the captured nut square hole is to big for the plastic push clips on 72 to grip in..
Maybe some more illumination on this is needed?

[muddpile]

That was one thing I was wondering was how to attach it to the door. The easiest way I can see is to epoxy the plastic clips to the back of the door panels I build. Any other unforseen obstacles?