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HOW TO-Make custom inserts for door panels

53K views 83 replies 31 participants last post by  ambercopper 
#1 · (Edited)
Hey! Here is how I made suede inserts for front and rear panels on my SVT. Also, what I learned from it and how I would go about doing it again.
I took the rear panels off to do them first, here are the tools I used.

and a heat gun.

Very carefully use the heat gut to melt the adhesive holding the inserts on, but be careful not to melt the leather or get it so hot that the leather peels up. I did and it makes gluing the panel in when finished much harder. Heat the insert evenly, then use the putty knives to slowly peel the panel off.

Be sure to take your time, and avoid breaking the panel. Its made of particle board and is rather brittle. Here is what the first one looked like when I was done getting it off.

The second one I took my time doing and got it to come off in one piece. You want to do this for both so you don't have to recreate the inserts. because that can be difficult. Try to get them both to look like this.

If you get both rear inserts off like this that is awesome because it is hard. If not don't worry, you can just make new ones like I did. For the front inserts, just pull the panel off, and do the same technique to remove the inserts. These ones are plastic, but I still managed to break one. Just take your time and its a lot easier in the long run. If you botched the inserts, you need to make some new ones. What I did is buy some thick illustration paper, and cut them to shape. Then I got spray adhesive, and used trunk padding from a fabric shop to replace the original foam. Just follow the instructions on the can, its extremely easy. I recommend replacing all panels if one is messed up, to keep them looking uniform.
Then, after remaking your panels, or being awesome and not having to, you have to upholster them in your fabric of choice. I decided on a red suede, which isn't very stretchy. The stretchier the fabric the easier this part is. Upholstery is really simple, just get some fabric glue and thumbtacks. If you are using the original inserts, just put the new fabric right over the old, saves a lot of work and is easier. Then lay your insert on the fabric face down. Pull it tight and pin the top in place, making sure there is NO slack in the fabric between pins.

Then go to the bottom and slowly work outward wrapping the fabric tightly around the insert. The front inserts are much more difficult than the rear because of the unusual shape. I recommend doing the rear ones first to get a feel for it. For the front inserts you have to do some pleating to make the fabric fit around the outward curve. This is how mine looked when done.


After pinning all of the fabric in place, just use a generic fabric glue to hold them in place. Gluing the corners down can be a bit tricky but just use a lot of glue and hold the folds down until it dries enough to stay on its own. Again, follow the glue instructions for use and dry times. After you inserts are all done, here is what mine looked like.

I just used some generic Loctight glue to put the inserts back on the panels. I would recommend using a quick drying high strength epoxy instead. It was very difficult to prevent the panels from peeling up without it. I applied a lot of glue to both panel and insert.

Then just hold the insert to the curves of the panel until the glue dries. I used some sand bags and my hands. If it peels up at all, just get some more epoxy and apply it directly to the spot needed. If you accidentally get glue on your fabric like I did, I discovered a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a que tip will remove the glue with out messing up the fabric. Just dilute the left over alcohol on the insert with water when your done and let it air dry. After all of that these are what my panels looked like, front and rear.


I also replaced the little handle insert on the front panels with suede. THat wasn't too hard, just tricky. If y'all want I'll post how to do that aswell.

EDITTTTTTTT:::::::::::::::::::::
Finished and installed!
My windows are so dark I had to take 7 pictures of the rear until I got one with enough light to see it. And it was mid day.




Another tip, Mechanics have black hand, and WILL (and did on mine...which sucks balls) ruin the suede if they touch it. SO BE WARNED. I have to redo one of them or find a way to clean it.

If you have any questions or additions, just throw them up here and I'll edit this, or help you out! It took me a long time to do this cause I"m a lazy bastard, sorry!
 
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#2 ·
Very nice job! Good tip about the heat gun, I almost destroyed my panels ripping those things off. When I did this, I found it easier to cut the vinyl layer with a razor and it pulled right up. The adhesive for the vinyl was weaker than whatever unearthly crap they used for the inserts.

I think I like your method of making new inserts better than the balsa wood I used. More easy to trim than wood is
 
#14 ·
I heard of these mysterious plastic clips you supposedly have to dremel off to get the insert out. I also noticed on my car there are no clips holding the inserts on, just glue. There is a divot underneath the rear ones, but only glue was holding mine on. Maybe if you send me a few pictures of the clips in question I can help, cause my car didn't have them so I didn't need to solve around that. And I have an '03 SVT


EDIT: Unless you mean clips holding the entire panel on, then if you have a hatchback just pull all the parts out of the trunk first so you can reach your hand behind the panel and pop them out from the inside. If they pop off you can just glue them back on, I had to do that for 4 of mine because they were super stubborn and I got frustrated.
 
#15 ·
EDIT: Unless you mean clips holding the entire panel on, then if you have a hatchback just pull all the parts out of the trunk first so you can reach your hand behind the panel and pop them out from the inside. If they pop off you can just glue them back on, I had to do that for 4 of mine because they were super stubborn and I got frustrated.
yup thats what i meant lol, just asking cuz i broke 2 last weekend running wires for my amp lol.
 
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