How hard is it to replace door skins?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BLACK AND BLUE 67-72 · 11-04-2003, 11:50 AM

How hard is it to replace the entire door skins? I remember someone doing it but I can't remember who.

BobbyK · 11-04-2003, 12:09 PM

The actual process isn't that hard from what I understand.
The trick is doing it without the door twisting after the orig. skin is removed.

If you could make some kind of "jig" that would hold the door,then remove the skin you'd have better results.

I remember Suicide-D had trouble with his skin replacement.The door somehow twisted on him after the orig. skin was taken off.

Here's his post on that.
clicky

Hope that helps some.

Old Dave · 11-04-2003, 02:00 PM

We replaced the ones on my son's 70 GMC about 4 yrs. ago with the assistance of my brother-in-law. We had the doors already off doing some other restoration so we laid them on a table to make it easier to work on. We used an angle grinder and ground through the old door skin at the edges of the door where the old skins was wrapped around and spot welded. This left about an inch of the skin still attached to the inside of the door. We use an pair of blunt nippers and once we got the end started it peeled off like opening a can. We fit the new skins and gently tapped the metal around the door on the inside, drilled 1/4" holes about every 6", and spot welded them on. They came out really looking great except we had to fill the 3 holes in each one that were for the old style OEM mirrors. The ones we used were from Goodmark Industries and although they weren't as thick as the old ones we took off, they were still good quality. My brother-in-law worked for a Chevy dealer as a body man for about 25 years when these trucks were new and he said they were as thick as the replacments they used to put on that came in a GM box.

>X< · 11-04-2003, 04:19 PM

i have replaced a few, but not on trucks, just pos little nissan cars and a honda. its easy after the first time. dont try to unpinch the skin, use the grinder method that they said above. it doesnt matter if you accidently grind off some of the edge because the skin has the new edge on it. that sounded funny, you have to start to know the right questions to ask.

BLACK AND BLUE 67-72 · 11-04-2003, 04:43 PM

Ok, Thanks guys!!!

I've got another question for ya, how do you know when it's lined up? As in being in the same position as the old one?

11-04-2003, 11:50 AM	#1
BLACK AND BLUE 67-72 Firefighter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Yellville, Ar, USA Posts: 1,943	How hard is it to replace door skins?? How hard is it to replace the entire door skins? I remember someone doing it but I can't remember who. __________________ '72 Chevy SWB 350 Auto '67 GMC LWB 350 4 speed '70 Chevy 4x4 Stepside 350 Auto Yellville, Ar. USA

11-04-2003, 12:09 PM	#2
BobbyK Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,Mi. Posts: 1,771	The actual process isn't that hard from what I understand. The trick is doing it without the door twisting after the orig. skin is removed. If you could make some kind of "jig" that would hold the door,then remove the skin you'd have better results. I remember Suicide-D had trouble with his skin replacement.The door somehow twisted on him after the orig. skin was taken off. Here's his post on that. clicky Hope that helps some. __________________ 71 blazer,350SBC,approx.375HP,700R4,factory GM TPI.Dual electric fans,33x12.5x15 ATR on stock suspension. Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,MI. See ALL my Blazer pic's HERE

11-04-2003, 02:00 PM	#3
Old Dave Is a bullfrog waterproof? Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: OLATHE, KANSAS Posts: 1,130	We replaced the ones on my son's 70 GMC about 4 yrs. ago with the assistance of my brother-in-law. We had the doors already off doing some other restoration so we laid them on a table to make it easier to work on. We used an angle grinder and ground through the old door skin at the edges of the door where the old skins was wrapped around and spot welded. This left about an inch of the skin still attached to the inside of the door. We use an pair of blunt nippers and once we got the end started it peeled off like opening a can. We fit the new skins and gently tapped the metal around the door on the inside, drilled 1/4" holes about every 6", and spot welded them on. They came out really looking great except we had to fill the 3 holes in each one that were for the old style OEM mirrors. The ones we used were from Goodmark Industries and although they weren't as thick as the old ones we took off, they were still good quality. My brother-in-law worked for a Chevy dealer as a body man for about 25 years when these trucks were new and he said they were as thick as the replacments they used to put on that came in a GM box. __________________ "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." Ben Franklin __________________ 1970 Chevy shortbed 2002 Harley Custom Chopper (Long sucker) 1998 K2500 5.7L 5-speed Longbed 1st two are My son's toys...they just live in my garage! 1997 GMC K1500 Suburban 1993 S-10 Blazer 4D (youngest son's daily driver) 2000 Dodge Ram 4WD Ext. Cab (5.9L) Wife is a late year 1951

11-04-2003, 04:19 PM	#4
>X< registered IWATA user Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 4,483	i have replaced a few, but not on trucks, just pos little nissan cars and a honda. its easy after the first time. dont try to unpinch the skin, use the grinder method that they said above. it doesnt matter if you accidently grind off some of the edge because the skin has the new edge on it. that sounded funny, you have to start to know the right questions to ask. __________________ -'63 Ford Fairlane 500 coupe, v8, auto, faded and rusty. awaiting built roller 302 and some flat black -'99 Honda Prelude. vtech/5spd. no pipe, no intake, bone stock. awaiting new top end. -01 GMC Yukon SLT 5.3 dented and scratched with a noisy tranny. Take off that Von Dutch hat before i stab you with a 000 Mack.

11-04-2003, 04:43 PM	#5
BLACK AND BLUE 67-72 Firefighter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Yellville, Ar, USA Posts: 1,943	Ok, Thanks guys!!! I've got another question for ya, how do you know when it's lined up? As in being in the same position as the old one? __________________ '72 Chevy SWB 350 Auto '67 GMC LWB 350 4 speed '70 Chevy 4x4 Stepside 350 Auto Yellville, Ar. USA



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