Door Panels - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

mightyatom · 10-29-2010, 01:10 AM

Hi All,
I decided to try to clean up the door panels on my 72 C10. They were the original door panels with wood inserts. The original saddle plastic door panels were badly faded so I sprayed them up with vinyl spray, which surprised me how good it worked. For the wood inserts I decided to cover them with some material I picked up cheap at a local fabric store. For $20 I got enough material to cover both door panel inserts and the bench seat which will be a future project. I used 3M spray fabric adhesive to stick the fabric and polished up the original chrome surround the door/window handles. It definitely came out better than I thought and for a total cost of around $40 I am pretty happy with the results.
The only new part was the armrest, as the original had pretty much disintegrated. I plan to spray this to match the panels when I have time.

kevmcrae · 10-29-2010, 01:20 AM

Looks terrific! Great idea and great job! I just did something similar on my 71. It had the stock metal panels. I painted them silver and just didn't like it. Wanted something richer and warmer so used the 3M spray to first adhere 1/4 inch foam to the panel. Then stretched black vinyl over it. Now it looks way cool!

barryvanhook · 10-29-2010, 01:54 AM

Nicely done

shiner2001 · 10-29-2010, 03:03 AM

Very very nice indeed.

jondancer · 10-29-2010, 07:33 AM

yeah thats real nice

72BLUZ · 10-29-2010, 07:49 AM

nice

Cisco714 · 10-29-2010, 08:05 AM

Man that came out real nice. I've always been hesitant to use the spray can vinyl paint, but after seeing these results I think I'm going to give it a shot. Thanks for sharing.
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71meangreenc10 · 10-29-2010, 08:50 AM

Looks good...

Smitty

DZL1 · 10-29-2010, 09:19 AM

WOW! What a difference! Great job.

DZL1.

pat 70/71 · 10-29-2010, 10:38 AM

I have a 72, and thats the answer I was looking for! good job! cheers,Pat

shiner2001 · 10-29-2010, 10:45 AM

What brand of vinyl spray paint did you use?

mightyatom · 10-29-2010, 11:45 AM

It was the Color Bond brand (Leather, Vinyl & Hard Plastic Refinisher). I got it from LMC Truck as I ordered a few things, its on page 96 of there latest catalog (PN 37-8379). I did not use any of the prep products, just wiped them down with warm soapy water.

One thing to be aware of is the the color match is not exact as you can see from from new armrest in the photo so if you want it all to match exact you will probably have to spray everything.

**GOPAPA** · 10-29-2010, 12:11 PM

Great way to make a nice looking door panel using the old wood grain inserts.. I may do just the same ,,I was going to just leave the panels off ,,but you have shed some light on keeping them the way you did,, thx for the look ..

Fastfun · 10-29-2010, 04:59 PM

I did the same thing on my 72, but I had black interior

MVHandy · 10-30-2010, 10:20 AM

I used color bond on my panels, worked great.

For the inserts I used regular old contact paper from Home Depot. I just got a roll of the dark wood grain one for about 6 bucks and it was enough for probably 10 door panels which was good since I took 2 tries to get it right but they look good. Was thinking about very carefully using a razor to trim it in around the raised bead but I didn't and it still looks good (at least my wife and I think it does).

d.uccello · 10-30-2010, 10:54 AM

mightyatom, looks good, nice work. I would give a bit of a warning against spraying the armrests though, since they are flexible and get elbowed all the time the dye tends to wear faster there, among other issues. You may be surprised but most upholsterers I know use spray cans too.

swamp rat · 10-30-2010, 01:22 PM

Just another reason why i love this forum! Great mos gives a modern touch to the interior!!

10-29-2010, 01:10 AM	#1
mightyatom Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 76	Door Panels Hi All, I decided to try to clean up the door panels on my 72 C10. They were the original door panels with wood inserts. The original saddle plastic door panels were badly faded so I sprayed them up with vinyl spray, which surprised me how good it worked. For the wood inserts I decided to cover them with some material I picked up cheap at a local fabric store. For $20 I got enough material to cover both door panel inserts and the bench seat which will be a future project. I used 3M spray fabric adhesive to stick the fabric and polished up the original chrome surround the door/window handles. It definitely came out better than I thought and for a total cost of around $40 I am pretty happy with the results. The only new part was the armrest, as the original had pretty much disintegrated. I plan to spray this to match the panels when I have time. Attached Images __________________ Jay ----------------------------------- { 1972 Chevrolet C-10 Fleetside, 350 V8, 5.7L. } -----------------------------------

10-29-2010, 01:20 AM	#2
kevmcrae Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Kalispell Montana Posts: 92	Re: Door Panels Looks terrific! Great idea and great job! I just did something similar on my 71. It had the stock metal panels. I painted them silver and just didn't like it. Wanted something richer and warmer so used the 3M spray to first adhere 1/4 inch foam to the panel. Then stretched black vinyl over it. Now it looks way cool!

10-29-2010, 01:54 AM	#3
barryvanhook Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 148	Re: Door Panels Nicely done __________________ Barry L. Van Hook '69 Chevy Frankentruck

10-29-2010, 03:03 AM	#4
shiner2001 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 222	Re: Door Panels Very very nice indeed. __________________ Derek 72 Chevy Cheyenne Super LWB 454 SS LS6 90 GMC Suburban V2500 350 ----------- 64 Chevy El Camino 357 73 Jeep Wagoneer 360 78 Jeep Cherokee 360 79 Scout II 345 88 Jeep Wrangler 4.2L 91 Jeep Wrangler 4.3L 98 Lincoln Mark VIII 4.6L 01 GMC Yukon 5.3L *"If it's not broken, fix it 'till it is!"*

10-29-2010, 07:33 AM	#5
jondancer Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: central michigan Posts: 1,192	Re: Door Panels yeah thats real nice

10-29-2010, 07:49 AM	#6
72BLUZ Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: lafayette, ga. Posts: 832	Re: Door Panels nice __________________ Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.... Ronald Reagan

10-29-2010, 08:05 AM	#7
Cisco714 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Anacrime Ca. Posts: 86	Re: Door Panels Man that came out real nice. I've always been hesitant to use the spray can vinyl paint, but after seeing these results I think I'm going to give it a shot. Thanks for sharing. Posted via Mobile Device

10-29-2010, 08:50 AM	#8
71meangreenc10 Its a Truck Thing...... Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sierra Vista, Arizona Posts: 3,159	Re: Door Panels Looks good... Smitty __________________ 71 C10 283/3SPD Full Resto 71 GMC 1500 Sierra Grande http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=518599 70 C10 Suburban Former military GSA truck. 72 Chevy Blazer 4X4, Sloppy Jo, Mountain Climber. Wife says no more trucks. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=707378 72 GMC 1 Ton Motor Home, wife said no more trucks until she saw this one. Gen 3 6.0/4L80E 4.10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=761110 68 GMC Suburban was 3/4 ton, now 1/2.Wife shook her head 71 C30 Wrecker 71 C20 Scott-Bilt As weird as it gets..BB Cheyenne AC Truck 68 GMC Long Stepside. They keep following me home 71 C20 Longhorn/Ole Yellor 69 C30 Former Motor Home, Flat Bed time

10-29-2010, 09:19 AM	#9
DZL1 One day..... Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ocala, FL. Posts: 702	Re: Door Panels WOW! What a difference! Great job. DZL1.

10-29-2010, 10:38 AM	#10
pat 70/71 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: newbury park california Posts: 1,038	Re: Door Panels I have a 72, and thats the answer I was looking for! good job! cheers,Pat

10-29-2010, 10:45 AM	#11
shiner2001 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 222	Re: Door Panels What brand of vinyl spray paint did you use? __________________ Derek 72 Chevy Cheyenne Super LWB 454 SS LS6 90 GMC Suburban V2500 350 ----------- 64 Chevy El Camino 357 73 Jeep Wagoneer 360 78 Jeep Cherokee 360 79 Scout II 345 88 Jeep Wrangler 4.2L 91 Jeep Wrangler 4.3L 98 Lincoln Mark VIII 4.6L 01 GMC Yukon 5.3L *"If it's not broken, fix it 'till it is!"*

10-29-2010, 11:45 AM	#12
mightyatom Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 76	Re: Door Panels It was the Color Bond brand (Leather, Vinyl & Hard Plastic Refinisher). I got it from LMC Truck as I ordered a few things, its on page 96 of there latest catalog (PN 37-8379). I did not use any of the prep products, just wiped them down with warm soapy water. One thing to be aware of is the the color match is not exact as you can see from from new armrest in the photo so if you want it all to match exact you will probably have to spray everything. __________________ Jay ----------------------------------- { 1972 Chevrolet C-10 Fleetside, 350 V8, 5.7L. } -----------------------------------

10-29-2010, 12:11 PM	#13
GOPAPA Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Nampa Idaho Posts: 7,469	Re: Door Panels Great way to make a nice looking door panel using the old wood grain inserts.. I may do just the same ,,I was going to just leave the panels off ,,but you have shed some light on keeping them the way you did,, thx for the look .. __________________ When you learn a thing a day you store up smart.

10-29-2010, 04:59 PM	#14
Fastfun Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 615	Re: Door Panels I did the same thing on my 72, but I had black interior

10-30-2010, 10:20 AM	#15
MVHandy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: East Brunswick, NJ Posts: 70	Re: Door Panels I used color bond on my panels, worked great. For the inserts I used regular old contact paper from Home Depot. I just got a roll of the dark wood grain one for about 6 bucks and it was enough for probably 10 door panels which was good since I took 2 tries to get it right but they look good. Was thinking about very carefully using a razor to trim it in around the raised bead but I didn't and it still looks good (at least my wife and I think it does).



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10-30-2010, 10:54 AM	#16
d.uccello Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 39	Re: Door Panels mightyatom, looks good, nice work. I would give a bit of a warning against spraying the armrests though, since they are flexible and get elbowed all the time the dye tends to wear faster there, among other issues. You may be surprised but most upholsterers I know use spray cans too.

10-30-2010, 01:22 PM	#17
swamp rat Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Spanaway Posts: 8,451	Re: Door Panels Just another reason why i love this forum! Great mos gives a modern touch to the interior!! __________________ Mike. Swamp Rat build thread : http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=595019 72 3/4T 4X4 4" BDS Lift 33" BFG's

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