Plastic door panel repair |
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Notmikeb
Member Joined: 12-August-2018 Location: Ijamsville, MD Status: Offline Points: 46 |
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Posted: 25-August-2018 at 4:32PM |
I’ve got some somewhat nasty looking door panels on my 73 GTS. The tops of the panels are crumbling and have several holes already developing which is like to repair. I’m trying to think of ways to fill and smooth it out but I’m fairly sure Bondo won’t adhere well to the plastic. I believe it’s HDPE but someone please correct me if I’m mistaken. I was thinking about doing a fiberglass repair putty perhaps with a reinforcement fabric on the backside of the panel, then sand it smooth and paint. On that note, does anyone make a factory ford “blue” vinyl/plastic paint that matches the 73 interior blue?
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-1973 Gran Torino Sport 351C 2V
-2013 F150 XLT Ecoboost -2014 Flex SEL |
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lynchster
Senior Member Joined: 07-January-2006 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 2150 |
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They do make repair materials for all kinds of plastics. The trick is finding the right material to match what is being repaired. I know one test involves whether or not the plastic floats. Not an ideal test for a door panel.
If they are that deteriorated you may wish to dye better replacements if you can find them. If not stop by a jobber (auto body supply store) with the car or panel in question and they should be able to advise you on the correct material. From there it can get a little pricey. The dual mix cartridges run about $50 but there is also an applicator gun involved and mixing tips. I'm cheap and I rarely use the mixing tips. They waste too much material for me. I usually squeeze it out on a box an mix it like filler. Another option to get away from using a gun is to self meter. I had to do this once when using a 3M cartridge but having an incompatible SEM gun. I wound up using an extension and a socket that fit into the cartridge. One side at a time and you're eyeballing the mix. That's all I got for you. |
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Chuck
72 Gran Torino Sport 13 Taurus SHO "Mr Pig" |
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14606 |
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there's a topic on here somewhere about doing that can't remember who did it??? and something about using a heat gun to reflow the sun faded part but sounds like yours are beyond that?
yes those are HDPE FWIW the "A" pillar moldings,dash and consoles are ABS and the white dash cluster housings that crumble are PVC i believe |
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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72FordGTS
Admin Group GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 5802 |
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Sal wrote something up about fixing the door panels. Its over in the how-to section:
http://forum.grantorinosport.org/sport-door-panel-restoration-refinish_topic17064.html |
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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Notmikeb
Member Joined: 12-August-2018 Location: Ijamsville, MD Status: Offline Points: 46 |
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I saw that post before. Mine are beyond sanding as I have actual holes that would need filling. I know fiberglass won’t bond to hdpe but I was thinking I could basically “skim coat” the surface with a layer of fiberglass and then have a layer of fiberglass underneath with the holes acting like rivets. Alternatively, I could use the top portion to make a mold and completely replace the top portion with fiberglass.
Or I could just stop being cheap and try to find some good condition panels. |
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-1973 Gran Torino Sport 351C 2V
-2013 F150 XLT Ecoboost -2014 Flex SEL |
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MrSmog
Senior Member Joined: 21-January-2016 Location: Ky Status: Offline Points: 1407 |
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scott drake sells interior dyes that are a perfect match. I have used the med blue metallic dye with great results.
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changinlatitudes
Senior Member Joined: 14-April-2013 Location: Union, MO Status: Offline Points: 554 |
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Yeah, the heat gun trick that John mentioned works like a charm. If nothing else, I see the Sport panels come up for sale from time to time on fb.
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Matt
1969 Mercury Marauder 390 1972 Montego MX 2003 Mercury Marauder 300A 1994 F-150 5.8 2016 Ford Fusion Titanium |
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14606 |
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there are a set of black panels for sale on FB i think he may be a member here??? i think he has them on ebay as well... they are black with white inserts
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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Notmikeb
Member Joined: 12-August-2018 Location: Ijamsville, MD Status: Offline Points: 46 |
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Are the Ranchero GT panels the same as the GTS? They look similar in pics but I can’t tell for sure without having a set in hand.
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-1973 Gran Torino Sport 351C 2V
-2013 F150 XLT Ecoboost -2014 Flex SEL |
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changinlatitudes
Senior Member Joined: 14-April-2013 Location: Union, MO Status: Offline Points: 554 |
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Yep! Same thing. They'll fit Ranchero, Montego, Gran Torino......
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Matt
1969 Mercury Marauder 390 1972 Montego MX 2003 Mercury Marauder 300A 1994 F-150 5.8 2016 Ford Fusion Titanium |
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gentrysgarage
Member Joined: 02-January-2017 Location: lost Angels Status: Offline Points: 111 |
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This ought to be made a sticky...looking at the SEM line to get the right glue for console/dash and pillar repair! Thanks Johnny! |
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Notmikeb
Member Joined: 12-August-2018 Location: Ijamsville, MD Status: Offline Points: 46 |
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Pics to show the holes I’m speaking of.
Edited by Notmikeb - 27-August-2018 at 11:23AM |
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-1973 Gran Torino Sport 351C 2V
-2013 F150 XLT Ecoboost -2014 Flex SEL |
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14606 |
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yeah that's pretty sun rotted!
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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