Suburban rear interior panels.

[HO455]

I am wondering what others have used to make new interior panels? The ones in the WMB were made by the PO with some 1/4" plywood which doesn't really fit well in the chrome trim. I looked around the box store and all the hard board they have seem flimsy.
Thanks in advance for your input.

[iriereggaeman]

I think my rear panels are original, so I can't help ya much.

[FLYNAVY30]

May not be the look you're going for, but I thought these turned out well in this particular application...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=201623

[k5kev]

I used 1/8” Masonite (Home Depot). Worked great. Fit in the upper chrome strips. I also used spray contact adhesive to glue cut pile carpet to it, and then wrapped and stapled to the back with a staple gun and the shortest staples I could find (1/4” I think). I think you could do the same with vinyl.

[HO455]

Thanks everyone. Does anyone know the thickness of the factory panel material?

[FLYNAVY30]

In my '72, the cardboard type backing is about 1/8 inch, but with the padding and vinyl, the entire panel is about double that.

[72-k20-burb]

I'll upload some photos a little later today. Mine original ones were something like 1/8" cardboard. I just traced them onto thin hardboard and cut out new ones. Planning on re wrapping the old material over the new ones this weekend.

[HO455]

Thanks again everyone. Looking forward to photos!
HO455

[LockDoc]

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You might try and find some cheap plywood paneling. (or damaged pieces) some of it is about 1/8" or 3/16 " thick. It would be a lot easier to work with than tempered Masonite and much easier to drive a staple into.

LockDoc

[vectorit]

I too used masonite from the local big box store.

[72-k20-burb]

So two of us did it at the same time. We took my panels out, traced onto 1/8 hard board and cut it with a jig saw. You can see the old material, it's practically cardboard but with the green foam it's nearly the same thickness. The hardboard holds it's shape much better which is what I was looking for.

Both of us wished we had waited until the carpet kits (or vinyl floor in my case) and wheelwells were finished prior, so now I'm shaving the height on mine.

My friends 1970 - he didn't have panels when he bought his burb, so no metal strip to hold the top in. He bought this fabric online that came with foam backing and installed. I think it looks pretty good.




I haven't wrapped the old material over mine yet, but I like how tight it fits and how straight it is.

[72-k20-burb]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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You might try and find some cheap plywood paneling. (or damaged pieces) some of it is about 1/8" or 3/16 " thick. It would be a lot easier to work with than tempered Masonite and much easier to drive a staple into.

LockDoc

This is true regarding the stapling. I thought about plywood but like how masonite cuts. I kind of wish I used plywood at this point, I think the masonite was 1/4 the cost though.

[HO455]

I never thought about stapling the covering material. I just figured on using contact cement but staples sound a lot less messy.
That diamond material is really nice looking! Where did you find it?
Thanks for all the information everyone. I'm really glad I decided to post the question.