Hot Rods door panel, kick panel backing material?

Working on my 39 ford and wondering what people are using for door panel and kick panels behind the material? I have the originals and can use them for patterns. Any ideas will help. Thanks Ron

 

I answered on the Ford Barn, but I'll answer here also. I believe Restoration Specialties has door panel material.

 

Ron, I have used water resistant hard board and ABS sheet, both with good results. Hard board is found easier but I think that the ABS is easier to work with and is longer lasting. MITCH

 

ABS or PVC sheet from the home store or foam core sheet from the office supply are in my plans. For doors, kick panels and maybe a headliner project. 56 Dodge pickup. The cardboard-like headliner kits just don't do it for me.

 

I use the FRP board from any big box building store. It's cheap, the backside is smooth, it doesn't separate and doesn't warp. An important consideration in a car that's gonna get wet... Hit the smooth backside with 80 grit on your DA so the contact cement has a good tooth to adhere to.

 

I used Eucaboard (hard bord) from home depot on my 39 tudor doors worked great. It has a water proof coating on one side. Plus at the time, it was 16 bucks for a 4x8 sheet in 2021. It was the same thickness as the original door card material and the factory panel clips worked great. there are some pics in my build thread linked below.

 

Trad is wood or fiber based, but the modern waterproof stuff is going to hold shape and not get damaged as easily. So long as it can curve a bit, handle the adhesive used and hold up to the clip or other fastener, it should be good.

 

I’ve used 1/8”ABS sheet in a couple projects with good results. Lasts forever, keeps its shape, accepts clips easily, bends with a little heat, glue sticks to it, it’s my go to for door panel and kick panel backing. Not real cheap is its only drawback.

 

I used Sintra, a 1/8" moldable (with a heat gun) glueable (SuperGlue) water-resistant PVC sheet. Got it from a local sign shop. With some wok, it even made a smooth transition in my A coupe in the rear corners where it goes from curving at the windows to a right angle lower down,

 

I used ABS in the Studebaker and some of the left overs in the roadster. I liked the ability to heat and bend it to fit. I actually heated and bent the trailing edge of the door panel over also, although it doesn't show. You can see the upper part of the quarter trim formed to match the body structure.

 

the cardboard used for closed cars is a very heavy chipboard, there are like two thickness' one for headliners and package trays and the heavier for the door cards. Check you local upholster supply shop. they re like 20.00 for a 6'x 3' piece, enough to so front and rear for one side.

Some of the black ABS you see here, check with local plastics suppliers, the textured stuff in black is sometimes cheapest as it is used to protect shipments of pure white styrene.

 

ABS gets my vote just because it won't fall apart when it gets wet.
For Ol' Furd, I used lexan, just because I had it.

 

Another ABS vote. I am building a panel now to enclose my fuel tank on my roadster. It is a complex shape and ABS holds it's form easily with a bit of heat. Oh, and water doesn't mess with it!

 

ABS here, but then again its finished.

 

I always use 1/8" thick Masonite from Home Depot (they call it hardboard nowadays I think). I spray it with catalyzed primer to seal it and tape a sheet of plastic trash bag (like the method OEM used before 100% plastic panels became the norm) on the door before installing the panel. Never had a problem.