I just gutted the interior of my 69 and am going to install 97 seats, and some upraded parts. I am doing alot of work myself due to money and pride issues. I really want to make some custom door panels. I am pretty good working with wood and have good attention to detail. Question is: Has anyone done this themselves? What kind of wood is used for door panels and what thickness is recommended? I have my old door panels that I can use the top portion, where the panel curves towards the window. I dont want any thingwild. Just a little different from stock. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

i would use a high-density fiberboard instead of wood. i've never done it myself, but that's what i've seen others use. you can cover it with whatever material you choose and put any design on it. just mark the armrest and fastening holes, and you're off!

I'd probably use wood. Some good thin plywood that won't rot or come apart. I'd be tempoted to use something thick enough to take a staple, but would have to check how that would effect the window crank and door handle.

Backside of thin wood paneling or masonite?.

Anyone install panels from this company, or even heard of them?

http://www.roddoors.com/pages/camaro.html

I've read that people are using abs plastic: 1/8" inch

Marquez makes some nice fiberglass panels that you customize yourself.
I saw quite a few of these at SEMA.
A bit pricey for unfinished panels, but lot's of high end cars use these.

http://www.marquezdesign.com/products/doorpanels/doorpanels.jpg

I wish I could afford those door panels, but I'm not the high end guy. I've come to theconclusion I will try to make my own. I might even try to make them out of fiberglass. Maybe. I've done some research and I don't think this is the most challenging thing I'll do. It's still a little scary doing something you've never done before, but I've never liked my comfort zone anyway. I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Thanks to everyone.

p.s. Fresno State ended the year pretty good. Go Dogs!

Gabreil,

I owned a retail store located next door to a custom interior shop for about 5 yrs. When things were slow ,I would go next door and hang out. I was amazed at how simple it was to build door panels , consoles, speaker boxes and the sort. These guys were very good at what the did ..... many awards from the World of Wheels for best interior on the wall ! If you are good with a tape mearure and a jigsaw ,you can do it without any trouble. Most of the time they used tile board from lowes to make door panels. Its white on one side and brown on the other, and about 3/32ths thick. Any fancy shapes to be added were cut from the same sheet and glued on with contact cement. Then they covered the whole thing with 1/4" foam and cut details with a razor blade. Next came the vinyl or usually leather and it was glued on top and folded over the edges.
Its not rocket science .....It just looks like it.

Good Luck:thumbsup:

Thanks Mike. I'm on the fence as weather to go the tile board way, or to try my hand at some fiberglass panels. I'll make the decision in a week or so. This website has really given me a shot of confidence with everyone's "why not?" attitude. It's really what I needed. Before I was so scared to do anything. Now I have the whole front clip, subframe removed from the 69, and I'll be rebuilding the suspension and installing a 3rd gen. steering box soon. I would like to thank everyone on this site for their knowledge and positive attitude. I will take pictures of everything I do, for it is my goal to post something on here where I am actually helping someone out, for all the times I have generously recieved help and advice.
Now to post my first smiley dude. I like this one. He has a good jab.:boxing:

Thanks Mike. I'm on the fence as weather to go the tile board way, or to try my hand at some fiberglass panels. I'll make the decision in a week or so. This website has really given me a shot of confidence with everyone's "why not?" attitude. It's really what I needed. Before I was so scared to do anything. Now I have the whole front clip, subframe removed from the 69, and I'll be rebuilding the suspension and installing a 3rd gen. steering box soon. I would like to thank everyone on this site for their knowledge and positive attitude. I will take pictures of everything I do, for it is my goal to post something on here where I am actually helping someone out, for all the times I have generously recieved help and advice.
Now to post my first smiley dude. I like this one. He has a good jab.:boxing:

You can do anything you set your mind to, no hill for a climber, you have to have a positive attitude. When you do things yourself you know they are done right. I try and do everything I can myself but there are jobs that are better left for the folks that have the proper equipment to do and it only makes sense to let them do it, you'll learn.