Replacement or restore 1963 door panels?

[Richard G.]

I have two full sets of origial door panels for a 63. However they are old and the chances of making them look new seems daunting.
At the very least the lower carpeting would require replacing.
I am not against purchasing reproductions and using my existing trim.
I have read about some fit issues with the existing reproductions.

If I purchase reproductions, who manufactures the best ones?
What do you thing the chances are of getting my old one up to judging standards are?

Thanks
Rick

[Vinnie P.]

Re: Replacement or restore 1963 door panels?

Rick,

The Winter issue of The Restorer had an excellent article by Gene Manno on restoring/refreshing your original door panels. It's definitely worth a look before you purchase anything. (page 7)

[Edward J.]

Re: Replacement or restore 1963 door panels?

Rich, If the vinyl is in good shape you can bye some corvette America dye and re-sprayed them, I did this to my red 63 door panels, once you spray the take a soft nylon brush and brush the carpet lightly.

[Frank D.]

Re: Replacement or restore 1963 door panels?

Rich, If the vinyl is in good shape you can bye some corvette America dye and re-sprayed them, I did this to my red 63 door panels, once you spray the take a soft nylon brush and brush the carpet lightly.

I have had Corvette America door panels in my split window coupe and Al Knoch in the car now...
AK panels didn't come with the 'bend' at the top of the panel where it meets the bottom of the side glass front channel - I had to put the bend in..
The fit at the very rear top where the door's window channel bead meets is not the best either. These issues might have been corrected since I used the product.

To wit, I would work hard to preserve the original panels..

[Richard G.]

Re: Replacement or restore 1963 door panels?

Thanks everyone for your input.
I didn't know about the restorer article or the bend/fit issues.
I will attempt to restore the best ones I have and if I am not happy ill try the reproductions.
Rick

[Bob W.]

Re: Replacement or restore 1963 door panels?

Frank, Did you use your original upper metal and felts or buy the deluxe door panels that are complete?

Bob

[Frank D.]

Re: Replacement or restore 1963 door panels?

Frank, Did you use your original upper metal and felts or buy the deluxe door panels that are complete?

Bob

The deluxe AK door panels...all complete.
Again, that was about 2015 so maybe there have been some changes...

On the ones I installed I had to lay the panels across some stacked up ceramic tiles and bend them at the proper location with me knee as I received them with dead straight upper sections.

It was nerve-wracking and if you overdo the bend - you're done, I doubt you could fix it....they look OK now but a bit of a bother to get looking the best...

This picture shows the final result a little more clearly..

[Bob W.]

Re: Replacement or restore 1963 door panels?

Frank, I don't have the deluxe door panels, I will be using the upper metal , felts and bright parts from my old ones. So I hope it will go a little easer.

Bob

[Ron G.]