My doors are off the car and the bottom sheet metal on the doors are rusted through. What do people generally do here - have the skins replaced on the whole door or patch the lower section only? I don't how to do this myself but it seems that the labor to do it either way might be about the same(?) Also, one door has a dent about 6 inches across and both have minor dings down the center line. I can't find much on this topic trying to search for it.
A good shop would have much better results replacing the whole skin. It would be less labor too. I would be leery of a shop that would suggest anything else but replacing the whole door skin.
If possible, I would use GM approved skins, or Dynacorn...
Yes, much easier and faster to replace the whole skin, and they wouldn't have to also fix the other problems. Instant gratification so to speak. Typically they grind the edges to cut through, cut any spot welds, clean the metal on the door frame and the new skin. Fit, bend, crimp (Hammer/dolly) and depending on the shop and car they are doing they may use a bonding agent or spot weld, and you have a new door!
Search around for the best skins... I haven't looked but there may only be a few who produce them?
NOS skins are MUCH better. The newer repros bend easier. You could bang the door with your knee and dent it with the new stuff. Just like a newer car. Having said that, any new skin is better than an old, rusty, dented one.
Those are the exact ones I have in mind! I am picking up these fenders tomorrow http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=015&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=250069500976&rd=1&rd=1 and the trip will bring me very close to the location of those skins. I had already contacted the seller about possibly picking those skins up. It would be great to get all these parts without shipping - just the good part of a day driving. And I should be back in time for the Patriots game! I'm also driving distance to Ames Performance and they told me the GM fenders are now pretty much gone. I see Classic Industries are asking $800 per fender for the OER ones using the GM tooling. Plus shipping! Thanks! - Dave
Today's 450 mile road trip netted two GM fenders and 2 GM door skins. I'm determined to make 2007 a productive year and officially target 2008 to get my (40 year old) 1968 on the road! (after being off the road since 1979) And oh yes, got home to watch the Patriots, with 1 pro bowl player, beat the Chargers, with their 9 pro bowl players. I don't know how they did it but it was awesome. Lucky the Pats have the best QB in the league. Tom Brady is cool - probably drives a first generation firebird.
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