I NEED DOOR PANEL ADVICE PLEASE

[crazyhorse]

i have the door panels out of my 72 ranger xlt . the panel board is warped/bucked up/.
i need ideas/thoughts/advice on replacing them.
do i buy new ones ? if so who from? do i cut my own ? if so from what?
my upholstry is diamond tuck (kinda thick) & i am going to keep it, (just put it on my new panels).


also my window cranks are wore a little ,should i replace them while i have them out? if so from who?

another also, i am going to paint inside the doors to help rust from forming, what should i paint with?
does it need to match the interior paint or just paint inside the door with a rust preventer primer such as red oxide primer.

this truck is not a show truck,( wish i could post a picture of it,but i can't).
on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being a show truck i would place it at 8(but thats me judging )
i use it some but i take good care of it.
the reason i am giving this information is so everyone will know before giving advice.

thanks in advance for the advice/thoughts/ .

[fordamericana]

i have the door panels out of my 72 ranger xlt . the panel board is warped/bucked up/.
i need ideas/thoughts/advice on replacing them.
do i buy new ones ? if so who from? do i cut my own ? if so from what?
my upholstry is diamond tuck (kinda thick) & i am going to keep it, (just put it on my new panels).


also my window cranks are wore a little ,should i replace them while i have them out? if so from who?

another also, i am going to paint inside the doors to help rust from forming, what should i paint with?
does it need to match the interior paint or just paint inside the door with a rust preventer primer such as red oxide primer.

this truck is not a show truck,( wish i could post a picture of it,but i can't).
on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being a show truck i would place it at 8(but thats me judging )
i use it some but i take good care of it.
the reason i am giving this information is so everyone will know before giving advice.

thanks in advance for the advice/thoughts/ .

If you go to the vendors list on this site you can find all the information you need on buying new stuff for your truck. Other than that, go to a wrecking yard or buy a parts truck. If you want nice though, your best bet is to buy new. LMC truck, The Paddock, Mac's, etc, etc, etc...

[crewdcab]

You can buy new panel board from an auto upholstery shop. Get the black stuff, it is water resistant. Use your old board for a pattern, trace it out and cut with a utilty knife. Just don't gut yourself in the process. I like to use welding gloves and a thick coat when I do this. Get some good hole punches. If your old ones are quite shrunk, trace out the corners and use a straight edge to connect them.

[fordman]

that black panel board sounds like the thing to use. as far as painting the inside of the doors. i would use paint. primer isnt really very good at keeping rust away. it is used to help paint stick to the metal surface.

[amishbuggy]

Do you mean your window regulators are worn out? If so I got a set for $30, or are you talking about the handle?

[70_F100]

For your door panels, contact Parts Unlimited at http://www.pui.cc/ I've also seen their door panels on ebay a couple of times.

I have a friend who runs a world-class auto restoration shop, and he is one of their dealers. I asked him about Parts Unlimited, and he highly recommended them.

Here's a link to his website: http://www.classicautomotiverestoration.com/

[crazyhorse]

THANKS to all of you for taking time to give the great information. this is what i needed.
AMISHBUGGY,i have only pulled one door , will keep you in mind. thanks for the offer.

[cdeal28078]

If you have red oxide I would use that inside the doors. I think that is about the best you can get BUT I didn't think it was available anymore. Used tons of it on transformers and stuff like that. Good stuff.
If you have a good upholsterer I would just let him make you some door panels. I would fix the window regulators so the cranks don't wallow around and ruin the panels.
If you like a painted door panel I used some from a custom truck. They are all metal. Paint it to choice. Some also have a chrome trim that covers the screws which I have on mine.
clint