1g door panels.. need oppinions!

[Bigcheeba]

I'm looking at buying new door panels. mine support manual locks and windows. But the ones im looking at buying have power windows and locks. i have two pictures to compare. mine and the panel i might buy. is it possible to just drill a hole for the manual window handle and have it function the same?

 

[HighPsi92GST]

Yes it will work the same, just have to drill the hole at the right spot

 

[badbu68]

All of them start off that way.

 

[pelco]

Hey, just wondering how you went about putting your speakers in. I did a custom install on my car recently , but I cut a hole and shimmed the speaker so it was somewhat flush with the panel.

 

[Screamin Eagle]

Is that just a piece of sheet metal?? I am working on a fiberglass enclosure for mine, that is definately different.

 

[pelco]

Yep, just a piece of sheetmetal. All it is a piece furnace galvanized steel that I sanded swirls in. I sprayed the other side of the car with clear, this side is yet to be done. The carpet piece had tabs that went into vinyl, that's where I put the bolts. I wanted to do aluminum, but it was too expensive for my taste. Lowe's had sheet aluminum for $40 a sheet, $90 or something for diamond plate. This stuff cost me $6. Big difference.

 

[Bigcheeba]

Hey, just wondering how you went about putting your speakers in. I did a custom install on my car recently , but I cut a hole and shimmed the speaker so it was somewhat flush with the panel.

All i did was take the door panel off and install the speaker. Put the door panel back on and then put the speaker grill over top of the door panel. I had to tear off the original speaker grill first.

 

[pelco]

All i did was take the door panel off and install the speaker. Put the door panel back on and then put the speaker grill over top of the door panel. I had to tear off the original speaker grill first.

That probably wouldn't work with my speakers because of the way my grill is made. I put 6 1/2 's in, not sure what yours are, but mine just barely fit the factory speaker bracket. I did have to cut a hole in it for the wires. I used washers to bring the speakers out a bit so there wasn't a gap.

 

[Bigcheeba]

That probably wouldn't work with my speakers because of the way my grill is made. I put 6 1/2 's in, not sure what yours are, but mine just barely fit the factory speaker bracket. I did have to cut a hole in it for the wires. I used washers to bring the speakers out a bit so there wasn't a gap.

Mine are 6 1/2's also. It almost seemd like i had room to spare. i had to add a mounting plate also.

 

[Dr3wStx]

That probably wouldn't work with my speakers because of the way my grill is made. I put 6 1/2 's in, not sure what yours are, but mine just barely fit the factory speaker bracket. I did have to cut a hole in it for the wires. I used washers to bring the speakers out a bit so there wasn't a gap.

I did the same thing when I put in my 6.5s. Was the hole behind your grill only like 3 inches? I thought that was retarted to have a 5 1/4 speaker with a 3 inch hole in the panel.

I cut the hole big enough to go around the new grill. I'm not sure what to do with the edge...if anything.
Ideas?

 

[Bigcheeba]

I did the same thing when I put in my 6.5s. Was the hole behind your grill only like 3 inches? I thought that was retarted to have a 5 1/4 speaker with a 3 inch hole in the panel.

I cut the hole big enough to go around the new grill. I'm not sure what to do with the edge...if anything.
Ideas?

I guess i just mounted mine lower than yours. Then i just drilled the speaker grill right through the carpet on the door panel and it seemed to fit fine.

 

[pelco]

I did the same thing when I put in my 6.5s. Was the hole behind your grill only like 3 inches? I thought that was retarted to have a 5 1/4 speaker with a 3 inch hole in the panel.

I cut the hole big enough to go around the new grill. I'm not sure what to do with the edge...if anything.
Ideas?

Do like I did, take a piece of grey hose and split it down the middle, then run the hose around the edge and cut it off. I got my hose from my dad's work, but just go to the hardware store or something and get something grey or black. I didn't glue the seam, but you could, just to make it look a little more professional. Here's a pic of my driver's door.

 

[madatgravity]

i like that sheet metal idea, did you just throw the old carpet peice over it and cut it out? i just might have to steal that from ya

 

[Dr3wStx]

I would do that in a second if I could get the brushed aluminum look.

 

[pelco]

Yeah, I used the old carpet piece as a template, I was able to get both pieces out of one piece of metal. I can't remember if it was a 3x4' or a 2x3' piece. The whole thing cost me less than $15 to do, except for the speakers, of course. The only difference aluminum would make is it would be just a little bit brighter in color, and a lot more expensive. I had to take a piece of sandpaper and sand it down and put swirls in it to get rid of the "furnace" look, since that's what the sheet galvanized steel was supposed to be used for. Then I sprayed it (drivers side) with clear to prevent rust. The passenger door has wax on it which I have to clean off and clear. It looks pretty sharp. I can't seem to get the little tabs on the back of the door panel to stay in, though. The panel flops a little when it's bumped because of that. Might need new clips. Just don't be lazy like I was and measure, measure, measure! I cut my speaker holes a little off, not much, just a little. That's where the rubber strip comes in...check out my rear speakers.

 

[madatgravity]

did you have to drill holes in the sheet metal? n what kinda bolts did ya use?