First Generation Door Panel Upgrade

[Blacksheep Josh]

Okay, so the title pretty much says it all, but here's a quick rundown.

In my never ending struggle to keep my Explorer going, I am in the process this Summer of finishing the interior. I'm transferring to Georgia Southern in the fall so I'd like to have everything done and in good condition so I don't have to worry about anything while I'm there. The first step is fixing/updating/upgrading the door panels.

Thanks to IZwack, I got a pair of front door panels from a second generation explorer. They were in great physical condition, only problem was they were dirty. But with a wire brush and laundry detergent and some good elbow grease, I was able to get them back to original gray color. Then I got started.

This is what I used to paint the door panels, and also the carpet around the pocket at the bottom of the panel. It was super easy to use, just like spray paint, take your time. I did it all at once instead of a bunch of light coats cause I'm not patient. But I did make sure not to cake it on. The only areas I got super close was when I "painted" the carpet on the door panel. I also have to say that it worked PERFECT on the carpet. It is all black, not just the top layer.

Before (I only remembered to take a picture of one, but you get the idea, this was after it was cleaned thoroughly):

After (both sides):

More pictures/updates will come through the Summer as I do more.

So what do you think?!

 

[redneck21]

Looks good as soon as i feel like taking my dash out im going to black out or dark greay ever thing i used the same stuff on my doors center and vets and i love it drys fast to. You going to paint the seats?

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

Looks good as soon as i feel like taking my dash out im going to black out or dark greay ever thing i used the same stuff on my doors center and vets and i love it drys fast to. You going to paint the seats?

For the seats I'm going to have them recovered at a upholstery shop.

I don't know what my accent color is going to be. The Explorer will eventually be a white exterior with black interior. So I'm not sure what my accent colors will be on the inside. Most likely a deep deep metallic blue. So I'll probably do black seats with deep blue roping and insets.

I'm just kinda doing it as I'm going along.

 

[redneck21]

Same as me going with a UGA them wight exterior black interior red accent and some led. the dash is the thing keeping me from doing it in a week end look like a PIA to take out might just tap it up with it in but im scared to, I think i just need to man up and do it tho lol.

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

Same as me going with a UGA them wight exterior black interior red accent and some led. the dash is the thing keeping me from doing it in a week end look like a PIA to take out might just tap it up with it in but im scared to, I think i just need to man up and do it tho lol.

ah, a uga fan. lol. KIND WORDS ARE DONE NOW!!! lol. j/k

If your'e talking about the '99, there's a great writeup somewhere on this site for taking it out. Do a little searching and it should come up.

 

[BWilliams]

Wow, those panels came out looking good, BSJ.

Is that spray that you used more of a paint, or does it sink into the fabrics like a dye would?

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

Wow, those panels came out looking good, BSJ.

Is that spray that you used more of a paint, or does it sink into the fabrics like a dye would?

Thanks!

It's kinda weird, I went ahead and used it on the entire panel, and some of the back to (like where you'd see it from the outside where the glass goes up and down). On the vinyl areas, or hard plastic areas, it acts as a high quality paint, but then on the carpeted area around the cubby hole I guess you'd call it, it acts as a dye. The carpet is now black, and it ain't going back.

I will say this though, to scratch off the paint (yes it's possible) off of the vinyl/hard plastic it does take some doing. So I think it'll hold up. I haven't installed them yet, but they haven't faded at all. Just make sure you clean it good is all I can say.

 

[turboranger91]

i've got a bit of experience with this product. when i first got going with my ranger, it had an all gray interior. i wanted black, but ford never made a black interior for a second gen ranger. so, i went and got that very same stuff.

i did my door panels... along with the carpeted and fabric parts. came out great. i used it on the dash. looks wonderful. i went through the entire cab of the truck and painted all of the random trim parts. then (here's where it gets interesting), i painted the whole carpet in the truck. i was broke as a joke back then and couldn't afford a new black carpet. it's just as you say... it's almost as if it acts like a dye on carpet. came out fantastic. you couldn't even tell that anything in the truck had ever been any color other than black.

fast forward to about 8 years later. it's time to redo the dash and the door panels... but the carpet (surprisingly) still looks great.

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

Good Deal man, I'm happy it turned out great for you. I've often thought about doing my entire carpet but the Explorer is a BIG vehicle, lol.

I think whenever I have time to, I'll do the interior, I just don't feel like taking out the seats so I can get under all of it.

 

[section525]

Pics of the panels installed?

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

I never installed them. I was to wary to mess with the door switches. I'm 100% confident in my ability to wire up any accessory, radio, or amp, but I have no confidence when it comes to messing with stock electronics. There was just so much to do wiring wire, and I didn't feel confident, but I also didn't have the time. So maybe this next Summer, I still have the panels at home in the garage, but for now I have some junkyard panels for a First Generation in there.

 

[mechjames]

josh,

i'm interested in doing this with my truck. Do the plastic snap pieces match up with our first gen doors? Or do we have to drill in new holes in the door to match?

i'm confident I can get the windows and locks working, I've wired up a lot of stuff before. I'd just have to get the wiring diagrams for both a first gen and a second gen, and i'm sure I could get it to work.

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

I'm not exactly sure, are you talking about the clips that you have to kinda pry out to remove the panel? If so I'd be fairly confident they'll match up... the only thing I know is different is the top near the mirror the door is on.. instead of a screw like the First Generations have, the Second Generations use a little clip, that's courtesy of CDW or CWD or w/e the handle name is lol. He did a 93/99 combination, so he knows a LOT about the differences. Just search 93/99 and he's certain to come up.

 

[YBCold]

Heres mine installed i also used the duplicolor

and heres a before pic

http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/cuagamailero/IMGP0813.jpg

 

[YBCold]

Heres mine installed i also used the duplicolor

and heres a before pic

http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo178/cuagamailero/IMGP0813.jpg

 

[mechjames]

that looks sweet i'm gonna have to do that soon. my stock grey is fading away, and looks boring

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

That looks good.

I think I'll probably just modify my stock door panels with the Duplicolor paint/dye, but for the fabric area I'll use a different color as an accent.

You might want to look into replacing the armpad and pull bar with wood or another like material, there's a forum on here somewhere about someone using oak or something to build a more solid armrest. I'm thinking of using something like that, with carbon fiber warpping on it to give it another look... Not sure though, I'm doing interior next year. Still trying to finish up my suspension/engine problems first.

Whichever week is St. Patrick's Day is my spring break, I'm redoing my entire exterior/interior. Like ripping out everything and either painting/dying it. Gonna be intense!

 

[lucksucks]

dont know bout yall but dont like payin close to five bucks for a can of paint...rubbing alcohol and cheap ol satan black does the same,and if you like your interior to shine use flat and armoral em later worked great for mine did mine in satin, did the dash in my ol dodge pickup bout four years ago and its holding up perfect

 

[93XLTfromOhio]

what colors dose that stuff come in?

my ex has the red interior, all i see you guys using is black, dose that paint come in any other colors, preferably a ruby red color?

 

[YBCold]

i think they might have duplicolor in other colors i just wanted black though. looking back now i kind of wish i used primer some of it chipped right away