Low Buck Door Card Update

[OUTFXD]

Got tired of looking at bare door cards but my money is wrapped up in other things.  Stopping me from affording real upholstry at the moment.

 

 

Edited October 31, 2023 by OUTFXD

[OUTFXD]

Also,  I have been sitting on this roll of sound deadening for nearly a year.

Edited October 31, 2023 by OUTFXD

[OUTFXD]

Cut off a chunk of sound deadening larger than the door card.

[OUTFXD]

Trim the sound deadening to fit the doorcard, Taping it to the card as you trim

[OUTFXD]

A bit of spray paint  on Connector holes. Window regulator holes. Door handle holes.  etc etc

Edited October 31, 2023 by OUTFXD

[OUTFXD]

Now you have the holes precisely marked for cutting. 

[OUTFXD]

The door handles have seen better days.

[OUTFXD]

Cut away any old cloth and... duct tape...  (Sadly the padding on my gunner side door handle did not survive this process)

[OUTFXD]

Turn the door handle over,  At the ends of the bottom of the handles will be a pair of philips head screws holding a metal plate down.  Unfasten these screws and gently pry the plate out.    Remove any remaining upholstery.  Place on your new upholstery (In my case... a shop towel).  Trim a little around the door handle... leaving about two inches  extra material.  Wrap the door handle in the upholstery, bunching up any extra along the bottom of the door handle.  Replace the Plate and screw it down,  The plate will pull the material tight and secure it in place. (Sadly I failed to get pictures of this last part)

[OUTFXD]

Wrap your door card in your new fabric (In my case I used a $7 plastic table cloth from wallmart).  again trim it with about 2" extra material. For a more permanent fix use spray adhesive to secure the material,  Wrapping the extra material around the edge of the door card,  cutting it to fit around clips and screws.  Replace your door handle and window crank.

Edited October 31, 2023 by OUTFXD

[OUTFXD]

In my case,  not a permanent solution,  but one that looks better than a naked door until I can get real upholstery.

 

Edited October 31, 2023 by OUTFXD

[oldodge41]

I like it. Functionality wise it's perfect.

[Sniper]

What did you use for a board?

[OUTFXD]

20 minutes ago, Sniper said:

What did you use for a board?

The Door cards where ordered as new Items from Ecrater.  I looked for a link, but the shop I bought from is no longer there.

[Bob Riding]

Thanks for the play-by-play photos. Very helpful!

[Ivan_B]

The cards look like thick construction cardboard. I figured they were not DIY by the look of those clean cuts Why didn't you just do a normal (cheap/simple) upholstery? I don't think it would be more expensive... Most of it is your time and labor. All you really need is a card (could've DIY that) a piece of soft underlayer and some fabric from a store. Assuming your card is thick enough, you fold the fabric over the edge and clip it to the card with upholstery stapler. Done.

Even simpler solution - buy a good weight rug by yard, cut it, sew some trim over the edges (or have it overlocked by the carpet store) and use it as your door card.

 

For reference - the fabric for my whole car cost like $137; but I did have the old cards and everything else in place.

[Dave72dt]

The one problem I've come across with that material of cards is it's susceptible to moisture.  It should probably have some type of moisture barrier installed or the boards sealed.  Otherwise, they may start to warp out shape.

[Ivan_B]

That is true, although, I would suggest not using your classic in adverse weather

I've also heard of individuals using plastic panels, but would probably not do that myself since plastic in a classic is kind of wrong for my taste ? A waterproof plywood is probably a better alternative.

[Sniper]

49 minutes ago, Ivan_B said:

I would suggest not using your classic in adverse weather

 

Why not?

 

[Dave72dt]

I drove mine yesterday in the snow. Not far. Just enough to get it put away for the winter.  It's got handmade Masonite cards in it and it's still exposed to the weather even if it does have a roof over it as well as a cheap car cover,    I''ll see how it fairs in the spring.  I've got other vehicles I can drive in bad weather. One's old enough to be called a classic and the other one is close.  Both sit out year round.  If I need to go, that's what I'll take.

[Ivan_B]

2 hours ago, Sniper said:

Why not?

Well, it is up to you. I just prefer to take vintage things of value out of daily use to preserve them in enjoyable authentic condition for as long as possible and, maybe, even pass along to someone else. That's all. Not exactly a museum-type person (although I'd certainly had one if I was rich) but a useful preservationist for sure

Edited November 2, 2023 by Ivan_B

[Sniper]

Cars were made to be driven, not hidden away.

 

 

[Dave72dt]

Out and about means other people get to enjoy them also, even if only momentarily as they pass by on the highway.  This post is wandering away from the original topic.  The Masonite I used was a 4 x 8 sheet I picked up in the "damaged" section of a local Menards store for 5 bucks so I got a couple sheets.  Vinyl was about 8 / yard, less than a yard used, left over from sewing seat covers, some 1/ 4"landau foam left over from covering the package tray.  Less than $20 in them total, aside from time.  I had enough Masonite left over to pattern door cards for the B3B as well as the roof panels.  I haven't decided yet on full length door panels or half panels like the originals would have been on the truck.

[OUTFXD]

18 hours ago, Ivan_B said:

Why didn't you just do a normal (cheap/simple) upholstery?

Financial issues.  I am broke in a big way.  I already had the cards and sound deadener.  just drop $7 for a plastic table cloth and my interior can pass as complete until I am in a better situation.

18 hours ago, Ivan_B said:

Even simpler solution - buy a good weight rug by yard, cut it, sew some trim over the edges 

This is a great idea! Thanks!

[OUTFXD]

17 hours ago, Dave72dt said:

The one problem I've come across with that material of cards is it's susceptible to moisture.  It should probably have some type of moisture barrier installed or the boards sealed.  Otherwise, they may start to warp out shape.

I have thin gauge plastic and "tar rope" to use as a moisture barrier.  but I am waiting till I have time and finances to remove the doors,  strip and paint them in and out.