Original Door Panels

[Gary J.]

Always learning something new, that is what's great about restoring our cars. I bought a pair of original door panels off the flea-bay last week, arrived better than I could have imagined. The trim pieces are totally intact and nevery been off the panels. That is where the new knowledge begins, never knew that the after the tangs (my word) are push threw the panels to hold the trim onto the panels there were stapled in addition to keep them secure. After removing of all trim need to get the panels to lose the bend they have from storage at the previous owners location. The panels have a distinctive inward bend that will adversily affect their appear after mounting.
Any ideas out there on taking the bend out of these panels before dyeing them to match my car? Date of panels preceed my car's build date by 2-1/2 to 3 months.
Thanks, Gary

[Gary J.]

Re: Original Door Panels

Photos attached.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Original Door Panels

With the age of the material I would be afraid they will crack if you try to get the bend out of them. Even the originals on my 66 seem to have a bit of the curve you describe and as they say, they are original only once, the reproduction just is not he same as the original. After all this time these early things called plastics are real brittle...

[Keith B.]

Re: Original Door Panels

to get the curve out of them you might want to try and let them lay flat in the sun of under some heat for a while

[Michael F.]

Re: Original Door Panels

agree, lay out in sun and will help some.

[Jack H.]

Re: Original Door Panels

Also, since originals are constructed with a paperboard center vs. vacuum formed plastic stock they can/do absorb moisture. I've not tried this, but it might help to rejuvenate the cardboard stock's moisture content using, say, a steam tool like that sold for the removal of wall paper, before you weigh/lay the panels flat to dry in the sun...

[Scott S.]

Re: Original Door Panels

Photos attached.

Hi Gary,

Do you have any pictures showing the bend in the door panels more clearly, like looking at them from the end to demonstrate the curvature?

[Alan S.]

Re: Original Door Panels

Hi,
I think steam might be a good idea.
I wonder though if the steam might "un-set" what ever is in the fiberboard to give it it's stability and not "re-set"? Might you end up with "mush"?
Regards,
Alan

[Ronald L.]

Re: Original Door Panels

Steam will probably turn the fiber board to mush...