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Has anyone had any luck repairing the torn area of the door panel cardboard where panel clips slide into. I am planning to change out the panels at a later date but want to do some type of temporary repair for now. My idea is to use contact cement to bridge the torn out areas. Also can someone recommend a supplier for new cardboard panels?

Many mail order auto upholstery places sell the water resistant door cardboard as does Restoration Specialties. Here is one of the upholstery suppliers. The problem with any mail order is freight will be a large expense because you will pay oversize rates. You might check with a local upholster and see if he can get some thru his wholesale supplier. Freight might be cheaper that way since the wholesaler will most likely order in bulk as part of his regular resupply.

To fix your existing board it kind of depends on how badly the holes are broken. If a small missing chunk or crack is causing the problem sometimes there is room to turn the clip in a different direction to undamaged material and still be able to insert the spring in the door metal.

If that is not an option then possibly some sheetmetal could be glued onto the accessible side and if needed a smaller piece as a backup worked into the fabric side to maintain thickness. If the existing is just cracked, one thickness might be enough but if there is a large hole then I doubt just a single piece could work because the clip would have nothing to tension against unless the thickness of the board is maintained.

In lieu of cardboard, while it is not water resistant, many have used 1/8" fiber board available from the hardware store as a suitable base material for the panels.

I used thin velcro to do the job, it will hold on the entire panel and without using the clips at all. This has worked for 2 years on my clipper wit no problems.

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Not a bad idea. File that one away for future reference.

One question I would have with velcro would be on the "cardboard". Some years used a material sort of like masonite while others used something more like a heavy tar paper. I would think that if the masonite like material was dirt and dust free and relatively smooth and unwarped, the velcro adhesive should stick but wonder if it would on the tar paper stuff. Did you need to seal the "cardboard" or have any mechanical fasteners in addition to adhesive?

I made new door panels and covered them. Used thin masonite and used headliner material for the covering. Can be purchased at Hancock fabrics or other material stores and on line.

Only way to fix existing door panels is with some resin and fiberglass mesh from the backside. The resin should soak in to fiberboard and the mesh should help mend any cracks. Just dont use too much resin as you dont want to soak through to the upholstery side. This also works well on those fiberboard heater pleniums.

Thank you everyone that has responded to door panel repair, good suggestions. Anyone have any luck cleaning the wool on door panels ?

Anyone have any luck cleaning the wool on door panels ?

Sure. Try an upholstery cleaner advertised as safe to use on wool, and test on a small section not particularly visible.

Thanks, I think I'll try Woolite to begin with