Build Log: XXX Install and More...

[UNDERGROUND_BUM 10+ year member]

I am however gonna pick up some allen headed chrome screws for the holes for the endcaps.

wouldnt know the size of the these screws would you ? i lost mine and need to pick some up : ) lol. looking goodman cant wait to see the end result.

like the doors //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/yumyum.gif.0556df42231b304b9c995aefd13928a8.gif what are you going to wrap it in? or are you going to paint it?

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

Are you planning on doing anything additional to secure your door panel to the sheet metal in the door? I ask because my driver's side door in my 1996 Thunderbird was real loose and sloppy when I traded it in around December 1999. Your (ETA unmodified) Cougar panels look real similar to the panels that I had in my 1996 Thunderbird.

They are the same panels yes. But no they dont need anything else to hold them tigher. With the deadener on there they are almost impossible to get on in the first place. Also, behind the switch panel theres a screw that goes into the sheet metal, Ill add a nice beefy self tapper in there or something when the time comes.

I am a little worried though since I glassed over the spot for the bottom screw thats behind the light cover, but in my thunderbird and in this car they didnt really do much to hold the panel on so Im not too worried.

Ill be putting more deadener on also, so it should be even stiffer then, and the screw behind the switch panel will keep it from popping off.

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

wouldnt know the size of the these screws would you ? i lost mine and need to pick some up : ) lol. looking goodman cant wait to see the end result.


like the doors //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/yumyum.gif.0556df42231b304b9c995aefd13928a8.gif what are you going to wrap it in? or are you going to paint it?

Not sure on the size off hand, Ive got some layin around though that Ill take with me when I go pick some nice ones up. Ill post up when I do.

I was originally going to pant the door panels gloss black, to match the amps and dash pieces, but now Im not so sure.

Its my daily driver so I dont want to end up tearing the paint up on the doors real bad, which I am afraid might happen.

Thus Im thinking I will vinyl the doors and a-pillars which will match everything in the trunk. And then Im gonna pop off the top fabric piece on the doors and finish them off smooth with glass, then paint them the same gloss black as the amps. That or just suede them, since it needs an accent there. I think paint would look hella sweet though on that piece.

 

[JayinMI 10+ year member]

Nice build, man. That's the nice thing about bigger cars, you can kick a mid out like that and not have it be right where your knee rests. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

I think I would have made the pods on the bottom and add on piece, tho, just because it's easier to vinyl and have look good. If you wrap the whole panel, you might have problems with the ridge under the arm rest. That will be where the vinyl will want to come off at. You might want to pick up some contact cement or Miami Rubber (this is the stuff the old upholstery guy I worked with used) for it...should hold better. Also, I recommend using Rave vinyl, and peeling the backing off of it. It stretches like mad and is fairly thin so it would show detail really well. It's about $35/yd at Joann Etc.

(Which I only shop at because my GF's sister-in-law is the manager //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif )

Jay

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

Nice build, man. That's the nice thing about bigger cars, you can kick a mid out like that and not have it be right where your knee rests. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif
I think I would have made the pods on the bottom and add on piece, tho, just because it's easier to vinyl and have look good. If you wrap the whole panel, you might have problems with the ridge under the arm rest. That will be where the vinyl will want to come off at. You might want to pick up some contact cement or Miami Rubber (this is the stuff the old upholstery guy I worked with used) for it...should hold better. Also, I recommend using Rave vinyl, and peeling the backing off of it. It stretches like mad and is fairly thin so it would show detail really well. It's about $35/yd at Joann Etc.

(Which I only shop at because my GF's sister-in-law is the manager //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif )

Jay

!!!! Im gonna need to get a ton of vinyl lol. Doin most of the car with it. But yeah I plan on getting some contact cement for covering. Hopefully with some patients and a heat gun Ill be able to make it work.

Whats awesome is I have more leg room now with twice the mids as I did with the pods I had before, FTW!

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

Small update, laid down a bunch of resin to dry over night. See where Im at tomorrow. Gotta pop off that fabric piece and then do the rest of the panels.

From there it looks like I can just get away with some bondo. I dont really think I need kitty hair but we will see. Could use some advice with that part.

 

[audiobahnuser18 5,000+ posts]

Nice work on the glassing mikey lookin good man. I'll probably c u 2morro man im heading up with scott to help u guy's with his BTL build.

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

Nice work on the glassing mikey lookin good man. I'll probably c u 2morro man im heading up with scott to help u guy's with his BTL build.

Yeah thats what he said. Sounds good.

 

[audiobahnuser18 5,000+ posts]

4 sure man. be sure to check out my girl's build thread in a bit got some more work done 2 her ride.

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

Got a little done today before finishing the other build I was working on.

Got a lot more work to do on the passenger panel, but the drivers side is gettin there.

Gettin some high build and sealer tomorrow so I can finish them up soon.

Just need the vinyl to wrap them.

 

[Rashaddd 5,000+ posts]

Looks good, I need to learn how to do this, my doors could use work.

 

[JayinMI 10+ year member]

Is there actualy vinyl on those factory panels, or is it textured plastic? Did you just resin over the vinyl? I'd be worried a layer of resin on something like that would crack and flake off after you vinyl'd it. Just curious. I'd hate to see you put all that work into them only to have them come apart.

Seriously, Rave "faux leather" FTMFW! after you peel the backing off, you probably won't even need a heat gun!

Jay

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

Is there actualy vinyl on those factory panels, or is it textured plastic? Did you just resin over the vinyl? I'd be worried a layer of resin on something like that would crack and flake off after you vinyl'd it. Just curious. I'd hate to see you put all that work into them only to have them come apart.Seriously, Rave "faux leather" FTMFW! after you peel the backing off, you probably won't even need a heat gun!

Jay

Well the bottom of the panel is just abs, and then from there up it feels kinda like vinyl. Its really rubbery. I was kind of worried about adhesion as well, I was gonna get some 40/40 and hit all the edges with it, but after checkin it out more today it doesnt seem like its gonna have an adhesion problems. Ill see though after I do some more sanding and glassing.

Any tips for something to coat on if I run into problems? I was gonna pick up some kitty hair but I dont have really anything to fill in or build up more. Gonna do some mat or cloth from the back when I get a chance too.

 

[JayinMI 10+ year member]

Well the bottom of the panel is just abs, and then from there up it feels kinda like vinyl. Its really rubbery. I was kind of worried about adhesion as well, I was gonna get some 40/40 and hit all the edges with it, but after checkin it out more today it doesnt seem like its gonna have an adhesion problems. Ill see though after I do some more sanding and glassing.
Any tips for something to coat on if I run into problems? I was gonna pick up some kitty hair but I dont have really anything to fill in or build up more. Gonna do some mat or cloth from the back when I get a chance too.

I can't think of anything that would really help. I've never done it that way. I'd probably wait til it's nice and dry and flex the door panel and see if it cracks anywhere. Ideally, I'd probably separate the panel into it's main parts and remove the vinyl and 40/40 it back together after I was done with it.

I like Duraglas (fiberglass reinforced filler, similar to Kitty hair or Bondo Glass) on parts that could benefit from extra bonding strength or rigidity.

My best suggestion would be to add some mat/resin to it and then use filler (or Duraglas or equivalent) to smooth it out.

If (for some reason) it doesn't work out and you need to replace the panels, check out Parts Galore on W. Warren in Detroit. I picked up a pair of 2000ish Neon door panels with switches and pigtails for $6.05 each. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I hope it works out for you, tho. Keep us posted.

Jay

 

[audiobahnuser18 5,000+ posts]

Saw those panel's in person just today when was at Mikey's. Mikey those panels are bad@ss nice work man.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif