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Patroller · Joined: 03 Apr 2008 Posts: 15 Location: Wisconsin Dells, WI

The bottom of my 1979 Door Panels (cards) have some water damage. As a result some of the panel clips have no solid place to go! Has anyone done any repair/resoration work on that molded fiberboard material?

Any suggestions will be appreciated! Thanks

Patroller (Dan)
1979 - 924
1973 - 914

Rasta Monsta · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 11733 Location: PacNW

My Cherokee has the same problem. I hope someone has some good ideas.
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Toofah King Bad

WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3

PORSCHEV · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 10:28 am Post subject:

Remember that ugly wall paneling from the 70's? That makes a great replacement backing. You can section it in where the flat section meets the first lip(up at the dash level). Make a template of the the piece your replacing and staple and hot glue into place. You'll have to have the holes pre-drilled into the panel for the clips. Then just fold your material back into place and staple.

Clean your doors drain holes..thats what caused the problem in the first place.
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1976 924
5 lug conversion, 17'C2 wheels,custom body work,327 vette engine.

1978-#53 "D" track racer.

Rasta Monsta · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 11733 Location: PacNW

So, Adam, you mean replace the entire card? Have you ever tried splicing in just part of it? I ask b/c my Jeep panel is more than just a flat piece.
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Toofah King Bad

WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3

Chrenan · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 3903 Location: Canada

When my power window wiring caught fire and destroyed my door panels I made some replacements when I swapped in a manual window setup, all in all not too hard:

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1987 951 - M193 Version for Japan

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

Chrenan, I've been meaning to ask since you first posted on this...what materials did you use for:
1. the door card?
2. the covering?
3. the pull strap?

I really like the look you went with there, sort of the 911 RSR or Cup look, sleek, clean, spartan, whatever. Looks great. I'd like to duplicate this with the possible exception of integrating the stock molded part along the top (especially if I can find some with the Porsche script) with a very simple door card and pull strap. To make it complete, how about duplicating the door stop strap as in the GTR?!

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erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

Chrenan · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 3903 Location: Canada

OK, those GTR door stops are officially cool.

1. the door card?

Thin card from your local buidling supply store. Hard to explain what it is, like Adam suggested it is sort of like that fake wood panelling from the 70's, but without the wood pattern on it.

2. the covering?

Marine vinyl from your local fabric store. It is very thick stuff, nice and durable. I used the leftover to recover my mechanic creeper.

3. the pull strap?

Nylon load tie down strap from Canadian tire, cut to fit. Note that the strap goes through the door panel and is connected to the door itself by one of the bolts holding on the window lowering mechanism. This gives a nice solid point to pull on so you don't bend the door panel.
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1987 951 - M193 Version for Japan

2Fast · Joined: 09 Dec 2007 Posts: 459 Location: Klamath Falls, OR

Alright, i have the same problem...with my door panels and...my ummmm.....damn I cant remember the name of them lol. The things that hold the seat belts and speakers in place. Anyway, I had a great idea on how to fix them. Fiberglass. I plan on sanding the really bad spots with a D-A, then I will reinforce them with fiberglass. Then I'll take a digrinder to it, to put holes in the fiberglass for the clips.
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=====>Alex<=====
1979 Porsche 924 NA 5spd
1979 Parts Porshce 924 NA 5spd

v8carreragts · Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Posts: 665 Location: Tucson, AZ

What I have done in the past and am going to do to my door cards is I carefully pull the vinyl away from the damaged part of the card then I mix up some polyester resin (used for fiberglass) and then paint the cardboard with it. After a few coats on the front and back the card can be sanded flat and the vinyl can be reglued. The plastic christmas trees that hold them on can also be reinstalled. This also kinds of helps to water proof them also.

This also works on the edged of the dash and the cards under the 1/4 windows.

Splineless · Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 86 Location: New England

To pull the vinyl away do you use a heat gun? I was going to try that on my panels.

thanks.

v8carreragts · Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Posts: 665 Location: Tucson, AZ

The ones that I have done already had loose vinyl. A heat gun may work but you need to be careful not to deform the material.