[Spridgets] Interior Panel straightening

[Dean Hedin]

I just finished making my set of interior panels.  Feel free to contact me for more info.
Here the short version...

I bought a 4x8 sheet of masonite.  I laid the old parts down and traced them out.
I then cut them using an assortment of different tools.  Heavy tin snips, jig saw, razor.

The vinyl is cut about 1 inch oversize.  You then coat the vinyl and the boards with contact cement.
The vinyl wants to curl once coated with cement so you have to place some small weights around the perimeter 
to keep this from happening.  Let is set up for about 10 minutes and then place them together.  

As you wrap the extra around the back (where you also put some cement)
you will have to cut notches out of the vinyl around the corners.   Any cement that gets on the good side comes off OK.

It sounds complicated but it was pretty easy.  I did it in two or three evenings after work.  I think i did a better job that the 
original factory worker did. 

I believe the properly textured vinyl (as original) is available from McGregor's in Canada.
I opted to use traditional black marine grade vinyl from the local fabric store, I figure this is something I will do again at 
some future point in time.  

Good hardware stores carry the chrome oval head phillips and dished washers used to secure the panels.
J C Whitney also has a trim screw kit with washers. 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Haynes" <haynes386 at netzero.net>
To: <spritenut at comcast.net>
Cc: <spridgets at autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 12:19 PM
Subject: [Spridgets] Interior Panel straightening


> Hey Bugeye guys,
> I remember that someone (possibly Frank?) at one time had all of the patterns
> for the interior panels(or do I misremember?) of a BE. I have the original
> panels for my '58, but the weather and water have made them sag. For example,
> the door sill panels (under the doors) slid down onto the floor
> and then took the curved shape as they rested on the floor and the sill. The
> adhesive for the panel covering is toast, but the covering is relatively OK,
> so my question is this, can the fiberboard be resoaked in water and pressed
> flat again, or should I just do this and try to use them as patterns for
> masonite replacement?