anyone succesful in fixing broken interior panels?

[Erik S.]

Some of the interior panels of my 68 coupe are broken. Any ideas and / experiences in fixing these? Obviously I would like to keep the original panels as I suspect replacements will be different than original.



Best wishes from Amsterdam,
Erik

[Bill L.]

Re: anyone succesful in fixing broken interior panels?

Hope you get some replies. Have the same with my 70 Vert. I am particularly interested in what some of the guys may have done in making their own mold.


Kindest Regards,




Bill

[Edward J.]

Re: anyone succesful in fixing broken interior panels?

Eric I Have A 72 But The Panel Backs Are Like Pressed Cardboard , Yours Look Like Fiberglass- -i Did A Repair To One Of My Seat Backs Which Are Fiberglass- I Just Used Fiberglass Mat And Resin, Worked Great.

[Jack H.]

Re: anyone succesful in fixing broken interior panels?

Eric's door panels, if original, will also have a pressed cardboard backing like those of your '72. The picture he's showing us is NOT the door panel, it's the 'trim panel' (interior: behind the door opening and into the rear compartment).

On repair, the fiberglass backing should accept traditional glass mat + resin _ hardner for a repair. If the vinyl covering is also cracked, there are vinyl repair kits that can be pressed into service. But, first time users generally wind up with obvious repair lines where the texture doesn't match...

Those who are in the business of doing vinyl repairs professionally (seats in restaurants, Etc.) can generally get the job done almost invisibly!

But, there comes a point when the labor-$ of having this/that original part repaired doesn't make economic sense compared to biting the bullet and buying a reproduction replacement. Especially when you consider the reason the original vinyl component cracked is probably due to age and out-gassing of its plasticizers leaving it brittle. Bottom line, if you repair the part, will it re-crack in another spot that wasn't the object of the repair?

[Dick W.]

Re: anyone succesful in fixing broken interior panels?

Erik, Jack, et al, the fiberglass panels can be repaired and the vinyl can be recovered. Not a major job for a competent trim repair shop

[Erik S.]

Re: anyone succesful in fixing broken interior panels?

You are looking at one of the Q-panels - both are in bad shape but it's a 68 only part. And my thought was that new parts will always look different than original parts (color/fading etc). But thanks the feedback

[Chuck G.]

Re: anyone succesful in fixing broken interior panels?

Unless things have changed, I believe the reproduction quarter trim panels are all "one piece" cast, with the vinyl grain embossed on the outside.

They're not vinyl covered like the originals.

I went through this with my 69. Finally found a pair of nice used ones, which are on the car now.

I remember that the repros were much thicker too.

I've also repaired the thread inserts in 'em too.

Chuck