Upholstery questions, mostly door panels

[chrisnsarah]

I'm going to start doing some of the upholstery since the Cherokee is gutted and the weather is getting cold enough to move some projects inside. Last night, I removed the vinyl and fabric from the rotted door panels. The vinyl is in excellent shape. The fabric insert is faded and dirty. I want to substitute something else. My questions are:

Best material for backer board. I could get OEM upholstery board, but I hear people have success with masonite and FRP. Will glue stick to FRP? I actually have a scrap on a job enough for 2 door panels. Is masonite better since I can staple it? I don't want something that will warp and mold.


The vinyl has some areas with deformities and wrinkles. Will a hairdryer smooth them out?

Has anyone came across a fabric close to the vertical striping on a '79? I saw some automotive fabric online, but was a solid color.

When I use spray glue, do I just do the edges or spray the entire area. The original panel was fused to the backerboard where the designs were heat pressed in.

Finally, if I order a complete carpet kit for a cherokee, does it include the tailgate panel with the backerboard?

Thanks

[Gambler68]

The kit does include the carpeted tailgate panel. I have the black BJs kit in my Cherk, and it doesn't suck.

I'd get that blueboard that interior shops use. There's also a ton of great doorpanel links via google, you can do some fun stuff fairly easy.

Why not try a leather insert? There's tons of 80's leather jackets at thrift stores just begging to be cut up.

[chrisnsarah]

The kit does include the carpeted tailgate panel. I have the black BJs kit in my Cherk, and it doesn't suck.

I'd get that blueboard that interior shops use. There's also a ton of great doorpanel links via google, you can do some fun stuff fairly easy.

Why not try a leather insert? There's tons of 80's leather jackets at thrift stores just begging to be cut up.

I was actually thinking of some tan denim inserts, like the Levis interior. Too bad my interior is not blue, otherwise my drawer has an ample supply of blue ratty demin.

I may go browse the fabric store tonight. I'm not too interested in a purists interior, but I want it to look period correct. The fabric on the seats is a mess too, so whatever I do to the door panels has to carry to the seats.

[Gambler68]

Carrhart tan demin would rock We need a Carrhart Ltd. Edition, sure beats 11oz denim!

[ThisGuyUKnow]

my panels aren't faded or anything but I was considering getting some really thin plywood and replacing the cardboard part of the door panels.

[chrisnsarah]

Carhart tan would be neat. My problem is this is the color I have to work with, kind of a orangish or reddish brown.

[men in black]

I have templates for all the backer boards and kickpanels
Masonite or ABS, what ever you want.

[chrisnsarah]

I have templates too. Kaiser panels are a slightly different size than AMC's.

Anyway, I bought a piece of 1/8" temp masonite. For $6, I think I'll give it a shot. It will make 4 door panels. I'll put a coat of sealer on them first.

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

Carhart tan would be neat. My problem is this is the color I have to work with, kind of a orangish or reddish brown.

Hey some people would KILL for that color interior...I HATE tan interiors but its what I always get stuck with...

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

OH! OH! OH! I had an idea...get some reddish brown corduroys from a thrift store and make some inserts. Keep it 70's man...

[chrisnsarah]

OH! OH! OH! I had an idea...get some reddish brown corduroys from a thrift store and make some inserts. Keep it 70's man...

Uhh..I kinda like that idea. Off to the thrift or fabric store tonight.

I love this interior color, but it's sure hard to find a match for the colors. I spraypainted a tan headliner with a Rustoleum designer paint from Home Depot. I think it was called Brick, but it came out almost exactly like the original color.

The green on the seats is not the camera. They faded from the sun. Whatever I do for the door panels I want to copy for the seats. I even thought of a laminate insert in the panels. There's some neat designs out now and a cabinet guy I know can get me small scraps.

I haven't found a carpet sample online that matches yet.

If anybody knows exactly what this interior color scheme is called, let me know.

[scannman70]

You hate tan interiors, I've been lookin for tan for a year now, all I find is Blue ! Not gonna go well with white and orange paint

[chrisnsarah]

all I find is Blue ! Not gonna go well with white and orange paint

It will if you live in Boise

[goldhammer]

Oh yeah, got to love the smurf turf, and the overwhelming support in thwe poll when it came up for replacement.

[ThisGuyUKnow]

I have templates for all the backer boards and kickpanels
Masonite or ABS, what ever you want.

I would definately appreciate them if you want to send em to me