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How hard is it to make your own custom door panels? Right now mine are orange/brown carpet, but I would rather them be... whatever that non-carpet fabric is. Vinyl or something? Anyways, my carpet panels are tearing in a circle around the window lever, and I would like to replace it myself. Any help would be much appreciated.

I made my door panels out of aluminum. Then I just pop rivot them to the door. But I don't have a window crank.

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Well, I was just gonna use the panels that are on there already and see if I couldn't refurbish them or something. Plus they need to match the new color scheme I have planned for the paint.

If you want to spend $ on them, go to an auto upolstry(sp?) shop. They will do it too.

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it's pretty easy if the panels are in good shape, if not are the panels good enough to make a template off of. i had to replace one of mine on the stepside i bought, what i used is not sure of the correct type of wood it is but it's like press board or the stuff the make peg board out of just without the holes, you can get it at any home depot,lowe's, etc....made my panel cutting all hole for the door handles,crank and clips.....i first used headliner material over the press board to hide the holes and clips that would show through the vinyl i used....spray an aerisol type of glue or whatever you have..... becareful some adhesives will melt the backing on the headliner material.....once you have everything right( make sure all holes that need to be cut through the headliner material is done before the you use the final material) take the top material your using and start at one end attach it and work from end to end i used staples to attach this material to the back of the board.....once you have the fitt you want carefully cut the final holes for the window crank,door handle and screws for teh arm rest.

The material CT is talking about is called Masonite, most lumber yards should have sheets of it (Usually with the peg board since that is what it is made out of). It is also what the original LUV panels are made out of. CT pretty much nailed what you need to do. If I would have know at the time I had my interior done, how simple it was, I could have saved some $$ on mine.

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Bagged79: Those door panels are sick.

Tilted: Masonite, hardboard, it has a few names. I used to work in a mill around here that made the stuff. Treated is much more water resistant and would hold up better, though a coat of paint will help especially on the rough porous side.

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77 LUV 2wd stock beltway blaster (resting)
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[quote="800xl"]Bagged79: Those door panels are sick.

Thanks man, I appreciate it!

Damn dude, that looks sweet. I think I might do that to my LUV once I get cracking on it again.

As far as my door panels, I took them in to the local upholstery shop along with my seats, and they did an excellent job. I don't have the pics of it, but I will take some whenever I get around to it

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thanks.

Very nice panels CT's LUV. Nice and clean, well laid out. Only thing I would do is get some vinyl dye and get the arm rest looking nice and black again.

Bagged79, again, very nice... Although I'd be a little worried about that skull biting me when closing the door. Love that truck though, absolutely beautiful color.

And yeah, use masonite, NOT and I repeat, NOT plywood. If you use plywood in about 6 months you'll end up with wavy panels...

Also, you'd be best off using 3M headliner adhesive when attaching the fabric to the board. It's pretty much the best stuff for this purpose... And if you have some left over you can redo the headliner too

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All window felt-rubber leaks some. That is why they put weep holes in the bottom of doors. That is also why door panels have plastic between the panel and the inside of the door. I am not sure if Masonite is water proof, but that seems to be the material that most use.

You could water proof it with fiberglass resin if you need to.

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