Making Door Panels And Covering Seats

Page 14

When I got the car there was no door panels or package shelf with the car so I had no patterns to work with. So I had to make four door panels and two rear quarter panels, a package shelf and two rear arm rests. To make all the panels I used One sixteenth inch panel board and cut it to door panel size.I drilled holes about every eight inchs apart around the panel and then held it up to the door and marked on the door where the holes in the panel were. I drilled holes in the door the size of a push in GM plastic door clip. The other end of the clip screwed into the door panel hole after you enlarged it a bit. Now you have a door panel with push in clips so you do not have to use screws that show. Now to cover the screw in part of the plastic clip I glued a one half inch of foam rubber padding to the door panel. I then covered it with trim meteral and then installed trim buttons in a pattern. I did the same thing to all the panels I made for the inside of the car. The seats are out of a 1983 Cad the front was the same width as the old Plymouth seat was. The rear seat the bottom was the same but because of the slope of the rear of the car the back of the rear seat was too wide. But all I had to do was to cut the center arm rest out of the seat and it fit fine. I cut the center arm rest out of the seat and welded it back together. I ordered the seat covers from CSI interiors that were made for the 83 Cad. They cut the center arm rest out of the rear seat cover and when I got them they fit fine. The seat covers looked good and with a little work I had no wrinkles. I did have to make brackets to bolt the seats to the floor and run a hot wire for the 6 way power seats. I do have to tell you when you are installing the seat covers and headliner you best not get in a hurry you need to just take your time. I had never put in a bow type headliner or seat covers before but if i was going to keep this a low buck hot rod like I said I was going to have to learn.I will not try to tell you that they went on with no trouble but if you look at the pictures you will see I did learn.

1983 Cad Seats Fit Fine Covers Look Great

You can tell by the picture that the car is used and is not a trailer queen. Cars were made to be driven.

It sure is easy to get in and out of the back seat with this big of a door opening.

There was no door panels with the car I had to make and cover them all.