Kick Panel Pattern???

[55 Fargo]

Hi, does anyone or could some that may have done this or is somewhat crafty, please explain how I might make patterns for my kick panles, if I don't have a sample to go by.

I am starting some interior work, will start with kick panels, and see how it goes, before moving onto the door panels.

I appreciate any advice, suggestions, experience on this request......Thanx Fred

[RobertKB]

I would take an old newspaper or maybe slightly thicker paper (kraft paper) and hold it up against where the kick panel goes and tape it roughly in place. With a pencil or sharpie, mark the outline of the area you want to cover. Cut the paper along the lines and you have a rough template. If it doesn't fit in a couple of areas, you can refine the template any number of times. Once you have a template that works you can cut you kick panel from whatever material you are using. I would think you would only need one template as the other side should be a mirror copy. I cut my rubber for the running boards on my '38 Chrysler using this method. Hope this helps.

[Norm's Coupe]

Fred,

To make your pattern from scratch without the benefit of the old.

1) Hit your nearest office supply or art supply store, and pick up a few sheets of poster board. It's cheap.

2) Measure the area that the kick panels are placed, just a rectangle measurement is fine for now.

3) Cut out the poster board to your measurements.

4) Take the cut out piece of poster board and line the door post edge up with the straight edge of the poster board. Then push (force) the poster board into position, bending it under the dash, firewall, floor, and heaters, etc. Make a crease near along those areas.

5) Now, take that piece with the creases and cut out along the crease lines. It's best to purposely cut it a little larger than your creases show. Then place it back up to the area for the kick panels to see how it fits. Now, you'll be able to see where it needs to be trimmed.

6) Place it back in the car again, to see how much needs to be trimmed again. Keep doing this process until you get it to where it's supposed to be.

Won't take long to get it doing it this way. And, if you screw up one piece of poster board, just grab another poster board and start over.

[Norm's Coupe]

Robert,

Mirror copies won't always work on kick panels. Been there, tried that on my coupe. The problem was the heater vents and emergency brake. On the drivers side of the coupe I had to have an extra cutout section on the top for those. But.........at least once you have the pattern for one side, it's much easier to make those adjustments.

[55 Fargo]

Hey thanx Guys, I know I have asked this ??? a few years ago, but I really wanted to know what may be a slick way to cut outa pattern.

Gonna try this out, sure it will be fine.

I am not using the heater vent kick panels anymore, don't see the point, my car is not completley stock, nor is she a show winner, just an old driver, giving reliable service.

I spoke to my seat upholsterer, he will be doing the front split bench this way, backs and bottoms, will be dark blue vinyl, the seat faces themselves will be grey cloth, with OEM pleats, and seams sewed in.

The back seat will be light grey cloth, and dark blue vinyl on the bottom front of the seat, the seats will be 2 tone, but with both vinyl and cloth.

The door panels will be the same grey cloth, the armrests will be dark blue vinyl, the kick panels will be dark blue vinyl also.

I will buy a ready made headliner in grey of some sort

The price is quoted at $600 for both seats, any spring rebuilding will be a little extra....Fred

[Frank Elder]

Buy your headliner first then have your guy match it with his fabric..

[55 Fargo]

Buy your headliner first then have your guy match it with his fabric..

Will have to settle for close enough, I am okay with that, but your idea is sound.....

[Norm's Coupe]

Will have to settle for close enough, I am okay with that, but your idea is sound.....

Actually, according to the people who make the headliners and seat covers, the headliner material (cloth or vinyl) is made from a lighter weight material, so it doesn't sag from the weight. So........all you'll ever get is close since both the seat covers and headliner are ran with different dye lots, not to mention the fact that the materials are different weight and will absorb the dye differently.

This is what I was told when I use to sell the interior kits/material straight from the manufacturer.

[Frank Elder]

Quit making me think Fred! Actually if your headliner is a slightly different color it won't really matter, because it won't look the same after the seats fade a little anyway.:eek:So maybe seats darker than headliner?