Crazy Idea on Inner Door Panel: Would it work? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

TIMSPEED · 07-17-2003, 05:16 PM

I was thinking...
Why couldn't I take off my inner door panel, then have a friend of mine (REALLY good with sheetmetal) make me a piece of sheet metal to replace the door panel. Have it all molded in really nice and voila. I would put the switches for the windows on the dash (like a blazer rear window switch) and I would of course have door poppers, to open the doors. Would that look ok? I think it'd look cool, because it would be all smooth and nice looking.

PHOENIX · 07-17-2003, 06:53 PM

If done right I think it would look good. Do you plan to paint it or have a stainless steel finish?
If you leave a stainless finish you will need something to match it, or it will look out of place.

Prerunner1982 · 07-17-2003, 06:56 PM

you could have scallops or flames or whatever design etched in the sheet metal. Or you could do some kind of cut out, with plexi over it and have it backlit at night. but i agree it would look out of place if it was the only thing you had, could do the dash bezel and inserts........

*1FaastC10* · 07-17-2003, 09:24 PM

you dont ever plan on working on the windows, do you? if you fill all hte access holes, there's no way to even install them in the door.

TIMSPEED · 07-17-2003, 09:29 PM

No no, I don't plan to fill the access hole's till the door is put together, then my friend will fill em. As for color, I plan to paint the door as a whole..the same color as the rest of the car...Medium Closoignne Blue (Aka: Admiral Blue, aka: Grand Sport Blue)

Prerunner1982 · 07-17-2003, 10:30 PM

i wouldnt fill the access holes to the doors, i took it as you were going to put a large piece of metal over it.

rockman20 · 07-17-2003, 10:38 PM

Filling the access holes would be bad. What would you do if the glass was ever broken out?

Placing a sheet over it though, like the door panels are right now, I think it would look pretty cool.

raceman6135 · 07-18-2003, 12:39 AM

Another idea: make them out of aluminum, go to a race car chassis shop that has a bead roller, and get any design you want rolled into the aluminum.

Polish it up, and you're good to go!

Here's what non-polished aluminum panels look like (these are rear floor panels for a drag race chassis):

DJS

Mike76251 · 07-18-2003, 05:18 AM

Aluminum diamond plate would look good too......(?)

TIMSPEED · 07-18-2003, 05:51 AM

Hmm..maybe I'd just make it the same shape as the factory door panel, and make it so it LOOKS flush, but it has clips to take it off if I ever need to.

07-17-2003, 05:16 PM	#1
TIMSPEED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,321	Crazy Idea on Inner Door Panel: Would it work? I was thinking... Why couldn't I take off my inner door panel, then have a friend of mine (REALLY good with sheetmetal) make me a piece of sheet metal to replace the door panel. Have it all molded in really nice and voila. I would put the switches for the windows on the dash (like a blazer rear window switch) and I would of course have door poppers, to open the doors. Would that look ok? I think it'd look cool, because it would be all smooth and nice looking. __________________ I have a few cars... See Them Here

07-17-2003, 06:53 PM	#2
PHOENIX Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 4,703	If done right I think it would look good. Do you plan to paint it or have a stainless steel finish? If you leave a stainless finish you will need something to match it, or it will look out of place. __________________ * AVOID: LOPER'S PERMORANCE / LOPERSPEED.COM OF PHOENIX, AZ & COTTMAN TRANSMISSION *

07-17-2003, 06:56 PM	#3
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,904	you could have scallops or flames or whatever design etched in the sheet metal. Or you could do some kind of cut out, with plexi over it and have it backlit at night. but i agree it would look out of place if it was the only thing you had, could do the dash bezel and inserts........ __________________ Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call

07-17-2003, 09:29 PM	#5
TIMSPEED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,321	No no, I don't plan to fill the access hole's till the door is put together, then my friend will fill em. As for color, I plan to paint the door as a whole..the same color as the rest of the car...Medium Closoignne Blue (Aka: Admiral Blue, aka: Grand Sport Blue) __________________ I have a few cars... See Them Here

07-17-2003, 10:30 PM	#6
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,904	i wouldnt fill the access holes to the doors, i took it as you were going to put a large piece of metal over it. __________________ Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call

07-17-2003, 09:24 PM	#4
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,399	you dont ever plan on working on the windows, do you? if you fill all hte access holes, there's no way to even install them in the door.

07-17-2003, 10:38 PM	#7
rockman20 "The dude abides" Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: North Dakota Posts: 472	Filling the access holes would be bad. What would you do if the glass was ever broken out? Placing a sheet over it though, like the door panels are right now, I think it would look pretty cool. __________________ RockMan 1993 Chevy Silverado C3500 1 ton dually 1994 Honda Civic 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass S 1953 IH Farmall Super M New to the fleet: 1992 Subaru Loyal

07-18-2003, 12:39 AM	#8
raceman6135 Dino burner Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 602	Another idea: make them out of aluminum, go to a race car chassis shop that has a bead roller, and get any design you want rolled into the aluminum. Polish it up, and you're good to go! Here's what non-polished aluminum panels look like (these are rear floor panels for a drag race chassis): DJS

07-18-2003, 05:18 AM	#9
Mike76251 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,499	Aluminum diamond plate would look good too......(?)

07-18-2003, 05:51 AM	#10
TIMSPEED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,321	Hmm..maybe I'd just make it the same shape as the factory door panel, and make it so it LOOKS flush, but it has clips to take it off if I ever need to. __________________ I have a few cars... See Them Here



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