Rear interior panels
Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
Forum Description: Technical discussion for 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=13633
Printed Date: 19-April-2024 at 5:23PM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Rear interior panels
Posted By: IndyLTD I I
Subject: Rear interior panels
Date Posted: 28-March-2015 at 4:22AM
http://s30.photobucket.com/user/levirden1972/media/20150328_114759_zpskzu54ci4.jpg.html" rel="nofollow"> Looking for suggestions. The rear interior panels of my LTD II S are in really sorry shape. Between sun exposure and scratches and stuffing from the original owner's walker, they look horrible. I'm no stranger to dying interior parts, but the plastic is just turning to dust. I know I need to just replace them, but I haven't found any local, and I believe they are exclusive to the Sport roof non opera window cars. What I am wondering is anyone has any ideas of something I could use to seal them, before respraying them to match the interior, or maybe an idea of how hard it would be to wrap them in vinyl? Just looking for a way to clean up the eyesore, while I deal with the more mechanically important projects first. ------------- Lee Virden 1978 LTD II S |
Replies:
Posted By: 72FordGTS
Date Posted: 28-March-2015 at 5:26AM
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I know Just Dashes could restore those, but that will probably be very expensive. Otherwise I think the only other option would be to find replacement panels. If you do find someway of restoring the plastic ones, please share. Many of us with early GTS cars have the same construction on our door panels, ------------- Vince 1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 28-March-2015 at 7:53PM
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those may be hard to find??? so you might want to contact them and maybe get an estimate on cost, it may not be expensive vs not finding any! the only thing i can think of that might stick and seal it would be fiberglass resin (without any glass) then maybe fill scratches and prime and redye them??? not sure how well than would hold up for a long period of time??? never tried anything like that just a thought! ------------- 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 |
Posted By: IndyLTD I I
Date Posted: 28-March-2015 at 8:17PM
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John: Resin was my first thought. Since I don't have a test panel, I was hoping someone had tried it before me. I definately think it would work, I would lose the original texture (of course it's already gone in patches) and as you mentioned it might not last. These definitely could turn out to be rare, I never noticed the difference between the different 72-79 cars in the past. Of course I used to go to the junkyard and have a whole feild of cars to choose from. ------------- Lee Virden 1978 LTD II S |
Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 29-March-2015 at 2:57AM
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cougar 77-79 should be about the same. there was a non-xr7 version that was an LTD II with cougar badges and front clip. My thunderbird was about the same, most of the panels were replaced with junkyard parts, but a few were filled with high build primer and sprayed with Krylon Fusion paint. Not perfect, but... ------------- "What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 29-March-2015 at 6:10AM
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texture would probably be the biggest factor here with this idea. vinyl wrap would work too but the hardest part would be those inset armrest pockets (probably would need to be cut and sewn then all glued onto the panel) ------------- 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 |
Posted By: IndyLTD I I
Date Posted: 29-March-2015 at 10:20AM
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Here's a better picture of the top of my panel. You can see how the lower and upper are two pieces. http://s30.photobucket.com/user/levirden1972/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150329_103249_zps6bt3xxtj.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">  l'm pretty sure even the non Xr7 Cougars had the opera window, so the panel goes up into the window area like this one, however they didn't have the arm rest pad. I might be able to trim the top off and make a panel I could use... though I would hate to ruin a good panel someone else might need. http://s30.photobucket.com/user/levirden1972/media/Mobile%20Uploads/79xr78_zpsrlydmqse.jpeg.html" rel="nofollow">  I have decided texture isn't that important to me, as long as I can get an even finish. I really like the vinyl idea, I plan on doing some custom door panels, and could use the same material. I have seen how they do leather skins for formed panels. Definitely beyond my abilities, but that would be cool, and then add the arm rests like the XR7 picture. ------------- Lee Virden 1978 LTD II S |
Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 29-March-2015 at 10:44AM
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The sail panel is removable, and if it's coming out of a junkyard.... Nobody was using it anyway. ------------- "What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 29-March-2015 at 12:19PM
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so the t-bird ones are the same? would they be the same distance away from his sail panel if they were cut off to fit like his? ------------- 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 |
Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 29-March-2015 at 1:19PM
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Not T-bird ones, cougar ones. T-bird is a one-piece plastic monster. The cougar-LTD II panels come apart and the sail panel is a separate (seperable) piece. Details, such as armrests will vary. My brother had a base cougar back in the 80s, with no opera windows, buckets and a floorshift with a bezel, but no console (like a Fairmont or an escort). He got it from the original owners, and apparently, that's the way it was made. ------------- "What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |