Side panel replacements?

[bigbadchev84]

My brother just picked up an 86 gmc jimmy in a trade. He is working on getting the interior back into shape. The side panels are beat, there are holes cut in them for speakers, problem is speakers wont fit where the holes were cut

Anyways what have you guys done for replacements?

 

[Deuling]

Im gonna build some of my own out of some wood and cover in material

 

[Chief Brody]

My brother just picked up an 86 gmc jimmy in a trade. He is working on getting the interior back into shape. The side panels are beat, there are holes cut in them for speakers, problem is speakers wont fit where the holes were cut

Anyways what have you guys done for replacements?

What color is the interior?

 

[bigbadchev84]

What color is the interior?

grey

 

[meanboyjr]

Replaced the panels on a buddy's K5 with plywood - 3/16" luann, IIRC. Made some templates from cardboard, transferred the outline to the plywood, cut with a jigsaw, sanded the edges, sealed them completely with a few coats of varnish. Installed them using the original hardware. Later on we went back and covered them with camo cloth, using a lot of 3M Hi Strength 90 and patience. You could do the same thing with hardboard if you didn't want to use plywood.

I'm currently running without side panels in the back. Since I haul a lot of stuff, I like the extra room, even a few extra inches on each side helps. If I ever decided to go back to panels, I'll definitely use the plywood trick, unless I have the $$$ to throw at making some from diamond plate.

Pro tip: mark or punch the screw holes on the templates and transfer them to the finished panel. Makes installation a LOT easier and cleaner.

 

[chulisohombre]

lmc truck makes replacement,but cost around 500 bucks last time i looked.it would be easier and cheaper to make your own out of wood and cover with material that is the color of your interior.

 

[Chief Brody]

lmc truck makes replacement,but cost around 500 bucks last time i looked.it would be easier and cheaper to make your own out of wood and cover with material that is the color of your interior.

I got a set of NOS ones that I bought that I still haven't got around to tracing yet...I am only going to use them as a pattern, then I will be willing to sell them....I wanted to get them scanned so I could get them as accurate as possible....I haven't found anyone yet who can do that.

 

[ryoken]

indestructible composite fiberglass...

 

[JBerno]

Here are some that I built, 3/4" MDF, Fiberglass/Bondo and sweat. I thnk they turned out pretty good. I have them installed and get some better pic's if you want

 

[Gunny65]

I made these from MDF and thin outdoor carpet from Home Depot. They didn't have tan so I used Grey. I just used a router to round the edges. Used spray glue to hold the carpet to the board and used staple gun in back. I also found that the MDF was to thick for the tail gate to go up so I routered out a bit in back and reglued/stapled the carpet down. I also used most of the original screw holes. Some I had to drill. I then used nice screws with finishing bevels.

 

[Gunny65]

I also made matching door bottom panels. Same principle at the rear panels.

 

[NorCal69]

indestructible composite fiberglass...

I can't wait to bring this up in the latest series of "Ryoken, how in the fOck do I do this?"..... instructional tutoring...