No More Beat Up Door Panels and A-Pillars!!
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i was one of those people the bought a lambo conversion kit way back in the day. as many of you know, the problem with the early kits was shredding of the door panels and a-pillars. after almost 2 years of stressing out about looking everywhere for an answer while my pillars and panels were getting beat up, i was fed up.
there are door panels around now that are supposed to fit with certain lambo door kits, but none that are specific to my decah kit. and even at that, fitment is terrible on pretty much all of them and modification was needed. i didnt want to risk spending near 1k on something that might or might not fit or work properly and made my vents useless.
so i decided to cut out the part of my stock panel to where when i lift the doors, no contact is made with the a-pillars. it was a lot of measuring and cutting and remeasuring and recutting, but do-able. then with the help of a few nice members on this site (BamBam and PumpedVA), i was directed to a website that had a good diy write up on fiberglass. closing the newly made hole with fiberglass was fairly easy, but time consuming. but i did it and damn did it look good for a first timer.
next, i went to a local shop to get a quote on how much it would cost to have my door panels simply wrapped in 1 color leather. i was quoted $450-500 a panel.
right.
so with the help of my neighbor, we decided on one way stretchy black crushed velvet. we bought a ton of it fairly cheap on ebay, also some heavy duty headliner glue, and wrapped the newly cut and fiberglassed panel with it.
let me know what you guys think. the driverside panel is still under construction, but i'd like to get some input on the finished panel. im thinking of putting crushed velvet on the interior a-pillars just to make it match a little more with the rest of the car's interior. the best part is, my vents are still somewhat functional.
there are door panels around now that are supposed to fit with certain lambo door kits, but none that are specific to my decah kit. and even at that, fitment is terrible on pretty much all of them and modification was needed. i didnt want to risk spending near 1k on something that might or might not fit or work properly and made my vents useless.
so i decided to cut out the part of my stock panel to where when i lift the doors, no contact is made with the a-pillars. it was a lot of measuring and cutting and remeasuring and recutting, but do-able. then with the help of a few nice members on this site (BamBam and PumpedVA), i was directed to a website that had a good diy write up on fiberglass. closing the newly made hole with fiberglass was fairly easy, but time consuming. but i did it and damn did it look good for a first timer.
next, i went to a local shop to get a quote on how much it would cost to have my door panels simply wrapped in 1 color leather. i was quoted $450-500 a panel.
![](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/icon20.gif)
so with the help of my neighbor, we decided on one way stretchy black crushed velvet. we bought a ton of it fairly cheap on ebay, also some heavy duty headliner glue, and wrapped the newly cut and fiberglassed panel with it.
let me know what you guys think. the driverside panel is still under construction, but i'd like to get some input on the finished panel. im thinking of putting crushed velvet on the interior a-pillars just to make it match a little more with the rest of the car's interior. the best part is, my vents are still somewhat functional.
Last edited by MySunset350Z; 04-28-2006 at 11:41 AM.
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I have to agree about the velvet but funny you posted this I was just thinking about your doors the other day while talking ideas over with noah at AAM. Glad it worked out bro Now find somebody to mold those door panal in FG so I can have a set LOL
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true the velvet is not as nice as say leather or suede, but for $50 total in materials for both panels, i cant complain. i didnt want to dump another 1k in door panels that i might not keep around forever. this is after spending $2700 already on the lambo kit & install. i wont be too bummed about throwing away the door panels if i ever go back to the stock hinges.
maybe this winter ill see how hard it is to wrap them in leather or something else with a little more give to it then leather. if its not too bad and i can do it myself, ill give it a shot. but for now, im just happy to have clean unscratched door panels and a-pillars. i was getting sick of saying "my new shaved door panels are on the way" for 2 years. lol.
pumpedva: it seems like with your kit the doors hardly open out before they go up. but, youre more then welcome to swing by and "make" a copy. lol.
maybe this winter ill see how hard it is to wrap them in leather or something else with a little more give to it then leather. if its not too bad and i can do it myself, ill give it a shot. but for now, im just happy to have clean unscratched door panels and a-pillars. i was getting sick of saying "my new shaved door panels are on the way" for 2 years. lol.
pumpedva: it seems like with your kit the doors hardly open out before they go up. but, youre more then welcome to swing by and "make" a copy. lol.
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that's a horrible tint job on your window. i did a better job on the first car i ever did. whoever did your car, don't go back. look at that monsterous gap on the edges.
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Not my cup of tea..A little to "lowrider" for me..
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MRC MOTORSPORTS LLC.
YOUR VQ35 SPECIALISTS AND #1 UTEC RETAILER AND TUNER IN THE COUNTRY!
WWW.RACEMRC.COM
732-251-8200
Sales@racemrc.com
AIM: SALESMRC
Authorized dealers for: APS, Greddy, Turbo XS, GT-Spec, Strup, Unlimited Tuning, HeadGames and more.
On site Dyno tuning with our load based Dyno Dynamics Dyno, specializing in Uni-chip, UTEC, Emanage and LS1 Edit.
ASK about our easy and felxible financing options now available for all your automotive and performance needs!
#11
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Rip that stuff off and cover them with vinyl or leather yourself. If you're worried about being able to do it right , buy some cheap vinyl and practice a few times. You'll need a heat gun, some plastic cement (or ther very quick drying glue) , and some patience.
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Originally Posted by USN HM 350Z
way to 70's for me man, did you make a dinner jacket with the left over material?
j/k
j/k
HA HA HA! That's great! "A dinner jacket" - ha ha ha ha!
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