Replacing/redoing interior panels/door cards?

[Paulbeard]

I see ABS and plywood mentioned, with plywood being what I was thinking of, some 1/8th inch Baltic Birch, sealed against any moisture would probably work. Cheaper than marine plywood, I think, and could be left uncovered with a nice finish if you roll that way.

Has anyone tried Coroplast as an option? It's light, easily machined/cut, not brittle or prone to rot. It's somewhere between cardboard and the others in terms of rigidity/flexibility, probably durable as either of them. Might be useful for patterns/test fits, if nothing else.

Not in a position to buy any of the readymade solutions so DIY options are where I need to be.
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Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[danfromsyr]

we use 1/8" masonite (hardboard)
if you don't like the brown, it can be covered in formica, vinyl, textured paper, fabrics, or paint of your choice

my ASI has woodgrain formica

I have seen beadboard done quite nicely.
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[Merian]

masonite will degrade and fall apart when it gets wet

Sewfine uses masonite (duh)

there is a foam board product that is specifically designed for OEM door cards - a co. called appbiz has them for Pooscheys, and it's worth some effort to contact them

[danfromsyr]

our's has been leaked on plenty.. it does stain/discolor and will buckle if gets soaked.
the factory used masonite (hardboard)

but for $8/sheet it's cheap, workable and cheap..
maybe add $50/sheet for a nice formica


personally I DO NOT like the look of that product that gowesty does not make (black ABS panels fwiw)

here's a nice wood interior job I found in a quick search

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7547835&highlight=#7547835
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[Paulbeard]

Hmm, you could use all kinds of art boards/foamcore, I suppose. A trip to the art supply store is never a hardship.
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Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[Merian]

yup - I'm not clear on how different the purpose made foam core board is from regular art board - maybe art board has cardboard skins??

you just buy the right thickness, cut it and put some good vinyl over it

the '80s are over and better products can be had nowadays

[VWinVT]

I used luan. If my memory serves me it is 3/16 thick. I painted it white with exterior paint, 3 coats. I put white contact paper on the back to handle any condensation. I used press in barbed 'clips' to mount the panels, black. Brightens the interior quite nicely and it is washable.
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1981 Westfalia with a 2001 Cabrio ABA

Small wheel turns by the firing rod,
Big wheel turns by the grace of God.
Every time that wheel turns 'round,
You're bound to cover just a little more ground.

[Paulbeard]

[danfromsyr]

just don't get yourself entered into the thread of shame
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=432802

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[danfromsyr]

not been cared for well.

I have several 1980 models with just fine interior door cards..

the wall paper they put on the back panels.. well those have shrunk and crinkled almighty. there's a thread on here re how to remove the wall paper and then repaint (paint code/name) to an very near oem color match. pending your hardboard isn't compromised (as yours is).
I hear once you go black (ABS) you never go back.. but I don't find the look or feel flattering to the westy trim. (IMNSHO)

[Paulbeard]

[DenverB]

i've used 1/8 baltic birch in my baywindow with great success. Get the top grade you can get, though -- you don't want putty fillers.

you can stain it any color you want or keep it wood-grain and put a few coats of eurothane on it.

Edit*
Here's a shot I dug up of some stained 1/8 baltic birch in my baywindow. You can see the door panel and some of the headliner (and Spot):

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'77 Transporter/camper (Bussy - Reef Blue/Pastel White)
'67 bug (Santos - VW Blue)
'84 Vanagon Westfalia (Pink Flamingo - Pastel White/Pink)
'88 Vanagon GL Westfalia (Frankie Says - Wolfram Gray)
'02 Eurovan Weekender (Green Apple)
'95-'03 Eurovan full campers and weekenders (rental fleet)
'84 -'91 Vanagon full campers and weekenders (rental fleet)
'72 Porsche 914 (Greta - RIP)

www.RockyMountainCampervans.com

[the joker]

I just covered my slider with old AMC hiking maps

plan on doing the back deck with rock music mosaic pics from a hard cover

Hubble photo print poster for the headliner in the near future

[Paulbeard]

Some of these need pictures to go with them. Hiking maps shellacked or sealed on a nice wood backing sounds like a great idea. But a nice stain to match the gray appeals as well, like weathered clapboards on cape cod.

I'm leaning toward coroplast for simplicity but I like the idea of 1/8 birch plywood. That was my first thought.
_________________
Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[Paulbeard]

Just located some foam core and as I was talking to the guy, it occurred to me that Velcro would probably be ok for some, if not all, of these panels. I was thinking about those snaps and if there was a threaded socket that might work for these so you could remove and replace them. But Velcro might be good for ones you need to open and get behind. I'll try it on that back one and see how it works, if it stands off too much or not.

This is what's being replaced:

If that was held on with Velcro or something reusable, those cracks wouldn't have happened.

Edit: I think Velcro is gonna work, for this panel anyway. As you can see it's pretty beat but I shot some glue into all those cracks and laid it under some weight overnight and that seems to have helped with rigidity and stability. Just test fitted some Velcro and it seems to hold it. I think I'll add a grab loop to save prying the edge up and b0rking it all up again until I decide if/when/how to replace it. Much depends on sourcing replacement vinyl or choosing another look.
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Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[Paulbeard]

[insyncro]

[RaraBlacksheep]

I made a full set of panels from the cheapest hardboard Home Depot had; I just took the old ones off, laid them on top, ran a sharpie outline and cut with a jigsaw. Went to the craft shop, got some material, padding and adhesive and had at it. It was really, really simple - lessons learned was that if you use padding, the texture will show through the top fabric exactly, don't skimp on the glue (headliner now sagging after trying to get 4 cans of work out of 3), and the corners take practice to wrap. Still perfectly fine a year later, but my rig is pretty well sealed.

Velcro is a great idea; however standard stuff will loosen up over time. I started with the 'industrial' Velcro-brand but it didn't last a week in the mildish Northwest summer and it started to hold less and less tight to the surface after just a couple on-off maneuvers. 3M Dual-Lock is worth its weight in gold, holds like nobody's business (be sure to use small pieces) and the adhesive is tenacious yet removable from paint with a little heat. I'm never buying standard Velcro again. I am thinking about using this stuff to mount flex solar panels to my roof - it's that strong..

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Dual-Lock-Reclosable-Fast...1437691556
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'82 Westy - Shark Weak

[Paulbeard]

I stapled the Velcro that was on the panel because I used the old holes as guides and there are divots in the substrate.

Wondering if my jigsaw-fu is up to this. Worth a try at least. I would prefer some screw in fasteners, something that can be opened and closed. I'll want to source those first.
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Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[RaraBlacksheep]

Yeah I also stapled them to the hardboard - but it wouldn't stick to the hatch very well and would fall off after a bit (cleaned with IPA, et al). Perhaps the stuff you have is better suited..
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'82 Westy - Shark Weak