I purchased new unassembled door panels and I have 4 questions.

I have the metal top removed from the old panel. How did you guys attach the metal top to the card board of the new panel? It has a long series of these round holes that were punched in the cardboard on the original.

How did you guys attache the weather striping? The originals had staples is there a way to duplicate them?

What holds the bottom of the door panel to the door. Are there trim screws?

What would be the best glue for attaching the Firebird emblem?

I have deluxe i had to drill the holes for the carpet trim by placing the trim on the panel and make the hole placement. next, you have to take the old fuzzies off by straighting the staples and pry it off and placing it where it should be mark and drill the holes for the staples to go into the new panels. the emlems on the originals are attached in back with a push clipon the back of the emblem. the trick is to remove the clips without breaking the emblems. I cut them out first and remove the material and then remove the clips. i don't know what the new emblems are like but, that's what i did on mine. yes there screws on the bottom

I'm working with the standard door panels. So I have a diffrent door emblem.



Many of my staples broke when I took them out, but its good to know that you drilled holes for the felt. I think I have a few left over staples from flaps around the inner fender wells that should work.

I just purchased a whole interior (panels, foam and seats cover) unassembled for a 69 and am deciding if I should hire someone or do it myself. Two shops told me about 1 week of labor for me to do it. That cant be right. Anyone have any experience?

The panels are easy but I would probably get a professional for the seats. I'm sure other people could do their seats though.

Give it a try and see how it goes.

This is the part that scares me. Well this and what kinda glue to use. I bent all the little points strait out and plan to pound the new card board on with a hamer along with a good stong glue to bond it together.





I'm doing a test out in the garage to see what will bond the best.

Contact cement - didn't stick
Super weather strip adhesiv - Looks to work really good
Trying some Gorrilla glue right now and
Will buy some 3M Super strength adhisve tommorow too.

i would use contact cement. place the board on to it and then mark them out drill a hole in the same diameter press on the board. then fold the points on to the cardboard. good luck mark.

I don't think I can do that. If I drilled holes in the card board they would show through the thin vynil.


So far my card board test
Contact cement - didn't stick
Super weather strip adhesive - Looks to work really good
Gorrilla glue pulled right off.

I couldn't find the 3M adhesive but since it looked like the contact cement I'm going with the Super weather strip adhesive.

I m not sure what i am looking at. what is it?

top metal piece of the door panel.

on mine that part is allready attached to the panel when i bought it. those holes should be attached to the panel for support. ie the points on the edges. might have to skin the replacement and attach the board then replace the vinal. mark

Just use a small rivet...?

I think that's the top metal peice on the rear side panel?

Rivets work. Note: When you did the contact cement did you paste the glue on both pieces and wait for them to be tacky before attaching? I had to use a lot of spray on 3M contact cement for my first restoration. I'm trying to get the stuff off now (30 yrs later) and finding it impossible!

Well I'm past the first step.

I have the cardboard attached to the metal top. As I stated above I straightend the points on those 1/4 holes in the metal top piece. I used the 3M Supper weather strip adheasive and hammared and clamped the the two together. I will post pic later.

I have also attached the trim at the top of both door panels. The top trim was pretty easy since the cardboard was marked on the back. I also polished all the trim with the Dremal tool.

Last night I tried to use the same the same 3M Weath Strip adheasive to apply the first layer of vinyl to the metal top of the door panel. It sticks but I question how well, it seems to pull off pretty easy. I'm wondering if I need a diffent product here.

Anyone have a recomendation for the vinyl to metal?

Contact cement will work. I can send you pics of vinyl I cannot get off the steel I glued it to 30 yrs ago.

I finaly got the right 3M spray adhesive and got the vinyl covered over the metal top.





I will post some more pics soon.

The last step I have is attaching the weather stripping. I really want to put the staples back in but I dread the time that is going to take. The staple I pulled out of the original weather striping were extreamly stiff wire like you would find in springs. I could use rivits but I don't want to if I can help it.

I'm getting ready to do the same job, which 3M adhesive did you use?
You're right about those staples...big pain in the behind!

The number was 08090. The only place that had it was an sherwin williams automotive paint store.

The weather stipping was no fun to install but I have it done. I drilled each hole with a 1/16 bit for the staples. I had new staple from the inner fender flaps that I never used.









I pulled out the splash sheild paper that I have had purchased 10 years ago.







I had to pull the first panel back off as I discovered in my door parts a spongy pice that looks to go around the inside door handle and I also bought springs that go behind the window crank that needed to be installed. With out the springs I had a nice gape between the window crank and door panel.

My upholstery was done in a day the !@#$%^ door panel install has been going on for some time NOTHING on it fits properly!! even the top curvature is incorrect!!!!