door panel idear

I've been pondering how to use velcro to attach my interior trim panels.
I was thinking velcro, but seems to me that would raise the panel away from the mounting surface, and might be ugly.
So, what if you glued strips of say, 3/16" thick wood strips around the periphery, and then foamed and covered as usual. I was thinking the strips would in effect, create a recess on the backside of your panel, providing space for your velcro strips.
Think that would work? Of course I'll still have to lengthen my window and door regulator shafts.
I'm still a long way from worrying about my interior but I'd still like to have something in mind.

Nah. Velcro ain't gonna cut it, bro' ... aside from the problems you've already sighted, how are you gonna pull your door shut without yanking the panel off in the process?


You'd do better buying some nice looking chrome screws from a local Harley shop or speed and sport shop and screwing the panels in place. Or glue it in place and screw your door-pull in good and snug.

It's good that you're planning and scheming well in advance though -- by the time you get to doing it, you'll have a good plan in place.

Alan
54 Chevy Pickup

Depending on what type of car or truck, you might just get some screw caps to cover the screws and be done with it.

Well it's a '54 F100, and the door panels are just a flat square with a notch in the corner. Nothing but steel behind it.
I'm trying to avoid having fasteners showing on the panel.
I could wimp out and buy premade reproductions with the factory wire clips installed and cover them, but I'd just as soon buy a piece of panel board and cut to fit. Problem is locating the wire clips so they work in the factory holes.
I thought velcro would be the easiest way to avoid that mess. As far as pulling the door shut, I imagine I'd most likely pull it shut with the door handle, which is solidly bolted to the inner door skin.
Plus velcro applied properly is some pretty strong stuff these days. We even use it in certain places on fighter jets now. As long as its something that don't get ripped open every day, it'll last a long time.

From someone that builds interiors everyday, trust me, dont use velcro on something like a door panel. A trunk panel, small underdash panel, access panel, etc. velcro would work fine. But not a door panel that is going to get slammed every time you get in and out of the truck. Use the same wire clips like the factory panels had. The adhesive backed velcro will never stick. It can be sewn to the panel and riveted to the door, but still, not a good method of fastening the panel.

OK. Thanks guys. I'll use the clips. I found out the factory clips clip on the sides of the panel so locating them in their proper positions isn't going to be a problem at all.
Any recommendations on what to anchor the clips to the panel? Some kinda glue or something?

For just that panel, I'd do the deal I mentioned ... some nice chrome button-head sheet metal screws from a speed & sport shop.

Alan
54 Chevy Pickup