Door Panel clean up

[N PRGRES]

While I would love to be able to get brand new panels, they aren't in the budget this year and my OEM ones are actually in good shape other than some items that need corrected.

Not sure what the plastic part at the top is called but its bracked (see photo).  I am thinking of just glassing it but how do I go about getting it attached back to the board.  Was it just glued and if not, can I just glue it, or even glass it to the board?

Second is the "chrome" trip piece on the front side (also photo attached).  Any thoughts on how to get it chrome again?

[FormTA]

I thought the plastic part was glued and stapled to the board but maybe just glued. I used a screwdriver that I heated with a torch and melted stainless wire I bent into a zigzag shape and I also used stainless screening I pulled from a new kitchen strainer. I cut it up into strips and heated the screwdriver with the torch and pushed the screen into the plastic on both sides. Then sanded it smooth and reglued the fabric down. I think mine was in like 8 pieces. Seemed to hold up so far.

[roadking77]

I like Lukes idea to fix the plastic half round. As for the chrome, I did exactly what Walli said. I bought some chrome foil in a package from a model supply house. No idea where it came from at this point. Probably something I found on the net. I was trying to save money and re-do the panels for my TATA. The chrome piping was a bit of a pain in the *&^&*^*&. Results were marginal at best. I did the piping and tried to trim the loose strings from the embroidered bird and the carpet didnt looks so good so I scrapped the idea and bought new. Without the fancy stuff I would imagine the panels can be cleaned and dyed (if necessary) to look pretty good.

[N PRGRES]

I thought the plastic part was glued and stapled to the board but maybe just glued. I used a screwdriver that I heated with a torch and melted stainless wire I bent into a zigzag shape and I also used stainless screening I pulled from a new kitchen strainer. I cut it up into strips and heated the screwdriver with the torch and pushed the screen into the plastic on both sides. Then sanded it smooth and reglued the fabric down. I think mine was in like 8 pieces. Seemed to hold up so far.

I think its supposed to be glued and stapled but the staples have pulled through and the glue is long gone.  I think I can reglue it without too many issues.  I like your idea on the plastic.  I will give it a shot but probably also add some resin over it for added strength. 

[FormTA]

Let is know how it goes.  It's been a while since I did mine and I will have to do it again for my formula as I bought un assembled panels from Legendary and they don't come with thw plastic panel.  I'll have to fix my originals or make them from sheet metal like legendary does for their assembled panels. I tried to buy the metal ones from them but they wouldn't sell them to me.

[Warren Seale]

I tried to use the silver mylar tape that most closely matches the original silver piping trim but it wasn't flexible enough to make the turns.  The next best thing is using silver pin striping, like what is intended for exterior use.  This stuff can be stretched to make the turns without buckling.  However, it won't match the chrome like silver that was originally there.  I've had this on the door panels without issue for over 30 years.

[81Blackbird]

It's hard to get the corners to lay down with pinstriping as mentioned.  I solved the problem by using a sheet of chorme.  Lay the sheet over the corner an trace it out on the
sheet.  Then trim along the traced lines.  You'll have to piece the rest with striping once your on the straight parts.

[N PRGRES]

Got some repair work done to the plastic this weekend.  Used a resin and embedded fiberglass matting into it.  I wanted to try the resin but fiberglass would have been just as good IMO.  I alaso repaired around the holes for the plastic clips holding the panels on.

[FormTA]

Was it already saturated in a pouch or something?

[N PRGRES]

Was it already saturated in a pouch or something?

No, I bought the resin off amazon and mixed it, and brushed it onto the plastic.  then just laid the matting in and added more resim overtop and brushed it in till it was saturated.

[rkellerjr]

Ingenuity, looks good

[FormTA]

Gotcha. Ya, I did the same thing to my cardboard holes were the clips go. It worked really well. My panels are tight to the door.

[N PRGRES]

What is a good grease for the window tracks?

[N PRGRES]

Also, are the window roller supposed to swivel or remain fixed in position?

[roadking77]

I have a brand new box of hardware in the shop but cant remember off hand. I am pretty sure that some of them do swivel, not sure if they all do.

Again, its been several years since I did the ones in my black car but I used white lithium grease from a tube. I think that is what the shop manual calls for

[Wallington]

They will swivel if needed but usually far too firm to roll like their name implies. They just pivot from side to side and slide up the channel changing angles as required. Just as long as they can be flipped over the full range of the travel, actually turning is not important.