How to Guide For step by step “How to” instructions ONLY!

Interior: How-to:Door Panel Inserts

Old Mar 14, 2007 | 01:44 AM
  #1  
Cobalt30's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: 07-17-05
Posts: 2,375
Likes: 0
From: Western Massachusetts
How-to:Door Panel Inserts

Tools required.

*screw driver
*flat head screw driver
*rag or door handle tool to take them off. Pushes the "U" clip out.
*Your hands
*12 pack of your favorite beer.
*Hot Glue Gun
*about 6-8 extra glue sticks for the hot glue gun.
*A spray on adhesive (This can be found at autozone for headliners and applying vinyles to cars, I used 3M General Trim Adhesive-Clear)
*and 1 yard of material that you choose.

If your painting the door panels too all you need is spray paint. I used

*Krylon Fusion for Plastic "the no-prep, suerbond paint" No sanding or priming necessary.

Costs.

3M Genearl Trim Adhesive $12.99
1 can of Krylon Fusion Paint $5.99
might need two cans depending on how much you plan to paint. I only said one cuz that is enough for both fron door panels like I did so far.
Nylon Material $25ish depending on the business

Step one.

Start out by taking the black plastic peice off by where you can adjust the mirror ( This is held on by clips, Just pull slowly and it will come out no problem. )

Then take a screw driver (flat head) and take the little plastic peices out from behind the door handles. (Where you pull to close the door, and the actully handle to open the door).

There will be 2 screws on the handle on the armrest one and one screw by the door handle)

Unblolt all of these screws.

Step 2.

Pull the plastic off. It will by held in place w/ aproximently 7-8 clips that are reusable. Once you start pulling it off our will notice that the door handle is still attached to do the door panel.

On this you will look carefully and notice this is a wire that you just have to pop up to get it out. I will take a pic of this asap. its held on with a little clip.





Step 3.

Now that the door panel is totally removed from the door turn it over and take off the cotton and the foam block that is attached to the cotton. This will make it easier to get to the armrest to replace that ugly color w/ some matching vynle.

Now with a screw driver which i used. Just start scrapping away at the back of the plastic rivets that are melted in place to keep the door panel insert in place. The way I did it was to take the flat head screw driver and try to screw threw the middle of each plast rivet. And then the popped out. There is 24 of these plastic things that must be scrapped off.

Step 4.

Once you have the armrest out where the new door insert will go. Make sure that you have already popped out the door handle itself.

Now apply the 3M General Trim Adhesive glue to the back of the vynle and to the door panel insert. Apply a genereouse coat so its all covered in glue. Wait about 3 minutes for the glue to be tacky.

Step 5. (the hard part. I learned a lot from the first armrest on this one)

Now that you have your vynle and your armrest both coated in sticky adhesive you must apply the vynle to the door insert.

Make sure that you cut the door insert big enought to have a few inches on each side for room or error, there is plenty of material so dont be bashful.

take the vynle and fold it like a "U" shape with the glue on the outside of the "U". Now place the "U" peice of vynle into the middle of the armrest where the "L" bend is. Get what Im saying?

Now tighter the "U" peice of vynle the better. This will make it so when you place the vynle on the door panel that you only have to work your way to the outside and edges of the door insert.

This will help greatly by reducing the percentages of having bumps in the door insert.

this way hear after you get it in the middle you just push the rest to the outside slowly.

dont push it all down at once. PUSH IT DOWN FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE "L" TO THE OUTSIDE.

(i followed somebody elses how-to and theres said to work from the bottom to the top. But that allows a lot of room for error since you have to be careful of where the vynle goes.

THIS GLUE IS TACKY LIKE A SOB. you dont want to have to deal with it anymore then you have to.

What I did was lay books on top of the vynle to ensure a good firm and wrinkly free door insert. I had them set over night, (both of them) with books and cans of spagettie sauce on them for weight)



Step 6

Now that you have the peice of vynle attached to the old armrest you can cut off the extra vinyle that is on it. I just cut along the outside of the oem armrest and used that as a guide.



now you have to start cutting out the 24 little circles with and exacto knife. Make sure the circles are just as big as the stock ones.



This is done because once you place the armrest with the new door panel insert back into place you have to have it stay somehow.

Line up your new and improved looking vinyler insert back into the door panel. The circles that are cut out now should line up with those plastic rivets that had to be scrapped off.

Step 7.

Before the next step. make sure that you look at the other side of the door. The part we will all see when its installed to make sure its lined up right and theres no gaps.



Now that your armrest with the new door insert is all lined up. Take the Hot glue gun and start applying it through the back of the circles that are lined up with the old plastic rivets.





this will ensure a nice fit back into the door panel.

Dont forget to put the cotton stuff back on the backside of the door. This is done by applying some hot glue .



Step 8. FOR THOSE WHO PAINTED

Now while you had your door panel off you might of painted it.

If so, 1 can of paint is enough for both the driver and passenger door on a coupe. I applied 3-4 coats on each door panel.

If you are to paint it. The door handle pops right out and back into place too. Just apply some force to the back of it.

Just take your time and spray small coats so it does not run. Nobody wants runny paint for their interior now.

Make sure that you have all your plasic peices on the back of the door and ready to be pushed back onto the door. When I did this there were still 1 plastic peice on each door that did not come off and stay with the door panel but rather it stayed on the door itself.



Reattach the door handle by placing the wire back into the back of the door handle peice and clip the black thing back down so it will not move on you.




Any questions about this how-to please respond to this thread so it can help others who may have the same questions. Thanks

Ryan


Ill try to get some diagrams later on this week. this should be more then enough to help you guys out though.

Finished Product:




Last edited by TommyP; Oct 3, 2012 at 10:12 AM. Reason: added pictures
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2007 | 10:33 PM
  #2  
shortyhend2004's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 07-23-06
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
From: Waynesville, Ohio
does the black paint match the dash??
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2007 | 11:49 PM
  #3  
Cobalt30's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: 07-17-05
Posts: 2,375
Likes: 0
From: Western Massachusetts
Originally Posted by shortyhend2004
does the black paint match the dash??
its a lil darker and a bit shinier but in person it looks awsome. when taking pics the glare makes it a lot more noticable and not as good looking.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2007 | 11:56 PM
  #4  
shortyhend2004's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 07-23-06
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
From: Waynesville, Ohio
well i was thinking about this but didnt know how close it would be? The dash seems a lil grey almost as too black?
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2007 | 08:41 AM
  #5  
Cobalt30's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: 07-17-05
Posts: 2,375
Likes: 0
From: Western Massachusetts
Originally Posted by shortyhend2004
well i was thinking about this but didnt know how close it would be? The dash seems a lil grey almost as too black?
The paint is a little darker but off the shelf its probaly the closest color to it. In pics it looks darker and shinner due to the flash but in person it looks phenominal and just a bit darker. But i wouldnt change the color at all.
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2007 | 12:40 PM
  #6  
07cobaltowner's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 12-23-06
Posts: 1,500
Likes: 0
From: York, PA
when you paint the interior does it get sticky? also did you paint the rear panels to match?
i really like the way those black doors look!
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2007 | 12:51 PM
  #7  
djpatrick35's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 09-09-05
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 0
From: Grayslake, IL
How long did the process take from start to finish? I've been thinking about doing this for a while, but the Cobalt's my only car, so I can't spend too much time on it.
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2007 | 05:05 PM
  #8  
Xavipheus's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 04-17-06
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 0
From: USA
Took me 8 hours
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2007 | 06:01 PM
  #9  
smartmlp's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: 06-13-06
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: California
Will this paint scratch off? now thats its all back in your car, does it scratch easy?
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2007 | 06:33 PM
  #10  
Xavipheus's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 04-17-06
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 0
From: USA
yeah
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2007 | 06:57 PM
  #11  
spartancobalt's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: 09-30-06
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Youngstown, Ohio
so this paint in not durable?
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2007 | 08:44 PM
  #12  
Xavipheus's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 04-17-06
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 0
From: USA
Ehh i used dupli color vinyl paint so idk
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2007 | 12:53 AM
  #13  
spartancobalt's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: 09-30-06
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Youngstown, Ohio
what do u use to clean? just a wet rag?
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2007 | 05:59 PM
  #14  
exiged's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 01-26-07
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
i used krylon fusion and clearcoated the hell out of it, its a smooth finish, and easy to clean
Reply
Old May 3, 2007 | 11:06 PM
  #15  
djpatrick35's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 09-09-05
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 0
From: Grayslake, IL
Where were you able to find the vinyl? I went to a fabric store and found that same red that you've got, but I'm looking for yellow for my car and they didn't have it.
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2007 | 01:07 PM
  #16  
marerick007's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 06-30-06
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 0
From: Langley AFB, VA
Oh man, nice write up! Now if I can only find some Orange Vinyl!
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2007 | 11:21 PM
  #17  
thedub784's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 06-14-07
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 0
From: Kingwood, Texas
how hard is this to do, and how long does it take??
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 04:33 PM
  #18  
Ice Monkey's Avatar
New Member
 
Joined: 09-14-06
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Alberta
Unhappy gah

Arg, I did this and it worked out HORRIBLY!! (sorry about the spelling)

Anyway, I cleared the rivets off and put the new fabric on, easy enough, but I couldn't put the panels back in!! Hot glue worked for a bit, but then the car got too warm and the panels came apart. So now there's a big gap btw the two pieces. Needless to say, it's completely wrecked and looks like total ass... Nothing would stick it together. Superglue, hot glue, automotive adhesive, I even tried the tape you use to stick body panels on the exterior, it just pulled away so now they're pretty much written off, and I'm trying to scavenge some from somewhere without buying a whole new wrecked one :S. btw, Does anyone know if you could order just the whole panel through GM? I'm pretty sure that's my only option at the moment :'(

Thanks.

Last edited by Ice Monkey; Jul 12, 2007 at 04:34 PM. Reason: I can't type
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 05:41 PM
  #19  
thedub784's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 06-14-07
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 0
From: Kingwood, Texas
Originally Posted by Cobalt30
Tools required.

*screw driver
*flat head screw driver
*rag or door handle tool to take them off. Pushes the "U" clip out.
*Your hands
*12 pack of your favorite beer.
*Hot Glue Gun
*about 6-8 extra glue sticks for the hot glue gun.
*A spray on adhesive (This can be found at autozone for headliners and applying vinyles to cars, I used 3M General Trim Adhesive-Clear)
*and 1 yard of material that you choose.

If your painting the door panels too all you need is spray paint. I used

*Krylon Fusion for Plastic "the no-prep, suerbond paint" No sanding or priming necessary.

Costs.

3M Genearl Trim Adhesive $12.99
1 can of Krylon Fusion Paint $5.99
might need two cans depending on how much you plan to paint. I only said one cuz that is enough for both fron door panels like I did so far.
Nylon Material $25ish depending on the business

Step one.

Start out by taking the black plastic peice off by where you can adjust the mirror ( This is held on by clips, Just pull slowly and it will come out no problem. )

Then take a screw driver (flat head) and take the little plastic peices out from behind the door handles. (Where you pull to close the door, and the actully handle to open the door).

There will be 2 screws on the handle on the armrest one and one screw by the door handle)

Unblolt all of these screws.

Step 2.

Pull the plastic off. It will by held in place w/ aproximently 7-8 clips that are reusable. Once you start pulling it off our will notice that the door handle is still attached to do the door panel.

On this you will look carefully and notice this is a wire that you just have to pop up to get it out. I will take a pic of this asap. its held on with a little clip.





Step 3.

Now that the door panel is totally removed from the door turn it over and take off the cotton and the foam block that is attached to the cotton. This will make it easier to get to the armrest to replace that ugly color w/ some matching vynle.

Now with a screw driver which i used. Just start scrapping away at the back of the plastic rivets that are melted in place to keep the door panel insert in place. The way I did it was to take the flat head screw driver and try to screw threw the middle of each plast rivet. And then the popped out. There is 24 of these plastic things that must be scrapped off.

Step 4.

Once you have the armrest out where the new door insert will go. Make sure that you have already popped out the door handle itself.

Now apply the 3M General Trim Adhesive glue to the back of the vynle and to the door panel insert. Apply a genereouse coat so its all covered in glue. Wait about 3 minutes for the glue to be tacky.

Step 5. (the hard part. I learned a lot from the first armrest on this one)

Now that you have your vynle and your armrest both coated in sticky adhesive you must apply the vynle to the door insert.

Make sure that you cut the door insert big enought to have a few inches on each side for room or error, there is plenty of material so dont be bashful.

take the vynle and fold it like a "U" shape with the glue on the outside of the "U". Now place the "U" peice of vynle into the middle of the armrest where the "L" bend is. Get what Im saying?

Now tighter the "U" peice of vynle the better. This will make it so when you place the vynle on the door panel that you only have to work your way to the outside and edges of the door insert.

This will help greatly by reducing the percentages of having bumps in the door insert.

this way hear after you get it in the middle you just push the rest to the outside slowly.

dont push it all down at once. PUSH IT DOWN FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE "L" TO THE OUTSIDE.

(i followed somebody elses how-to and theres said to work from the bottom to the top. But that allows a lot of room for error since you have to be careful of where the vynle goes.

THIS GLUE IS TACKY LIKE A SOB. you dont want to have to deal with it anymore then you have to.

What I did was lay books on top of the vynle to ensure a good firm and wrinkly free door insert. I had them set over night, (both of them) with books and cans of spagettie sauce on them for weight)



Step 6

Now that you have the peice of vynle attached to the old armrest you can cut off the extra vinyle that is on it. I just cut along the outside of the oem armrest and used that as a guide.



now you have to start cutting out the 24 little circles with and exacto knife. Make sure the circles are just as big as the stock ones.



This is done because once you place the armrest with the new door panel insert back into place you have to have it stay somehow.

Line up your new and improved looking vinyler insert back into the door panel. The circles that are cut out now should line up with those plastic rivets that had to be scrapped off.

Step 7.

Before the next step. make sure that you look at the other side of the door. The part we will all see when its installed to make sure its lined up right and theres no gaps.



Now that your armrest with the new door insert is all lined up. Take the Hot glue gun and start applying it through the back of the circles that are lined up with the old plastic rivets.





this will ensure a nice fit back into the door panel.

Dont forget to put the cotton stuff back on the backside of the door. This is done by applying some hot glue .



Step 8. FOR THOSE WHO PAINTED

Now while you had your door panel off you might of painted it.

If so, 1 can of paint is enough for both the driver and passenger door on a coupe. I applied 3-4 coats on each door panel.

If you are to paint it. The door handle pops right out and back into place too. Just apply some force to the back of it.

Just take your time and spray small coats so it does not run. Nobody wants runny paint for their interior now.

Make sure that you have all your plasic peices on the back of the door and ready to be pushed back onto the door. When I did this there were still 1 plastic peice on each door that did not come off and stay with the door panel but rather it stayed on the door itself.



Reattach the door handle by placing the wire back into the back of the door handle peice and clip the black thing back down so it will not move on you.




Any questions about this how-to please respond to this thread so it can help others who may have the same questions. Thanks

Ryan


Ill try to get some diagrams later on this week. this should be more then enough to help you guys out though.

Finished Product:



Did your cobalt originally have beige interior??? Cause i like the black doors and console, thats what i want! How did you do that?? The beige doesn't look too bad with the black!
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2007 | 02:27 PM
  #20  
cobaltin's Avatar
New Member
 
Joined: 04-01-06
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Mass
Can you use anything other than hot glue to glue the panel back in place?
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2007 | 09:30 PM
  #21  
rockstarbass1's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 06-08-06
Posts: 736
Likes: 1
From: ohio
yes i wanna know also how your stuff is still holding up as i did my passanger door and i also cant get the 2 pieces hed back together right i used hot glue super glue and even that epoxy for plastic (plastic weld) and it doesnt line up or look that good. i deff need to re-do it. please someone help as my car was looking really good for the interior untill i took on the door pannels!!!!!!!!! help
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2007 | 09:34 PM
  #22  
xCobalt05x's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 07-15-06
Posts: 3,765
Likes: 0
From: Pocomoke City, MD
thanks for making a better how to then the one i made over a year ago, lol

Originally Posted by rockstarbass1
yes i wanna know also how your stuff is still holding up as i did my passanger door and i also cant get the 2 pieces hed back together right i used hot glue super glue and even that epoxy for plastic (plastic weld) and it doesnt line up or look that good. i deff need to re-do it. please someone help as my car was looking really good for the interior untill i took on the door pannels!!!!!!!!! help

i hope you left the plastic rivits in there, all you were supose to do was scrape off the backing not break off the entire stud, lol. you press fit it back on and you need 2 people one to hold/press fit while you super glue and then hot glue the tips of the rivits/studs to the insert

Last edited by xCobalt05x; Aug 16, 2007 at 09:35 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2007 | 09:35 PM
  #23  
xspyder85x's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 06-08-06
Posts: 4,282
Likes: 0
From: Greenwood, SC
ok i had this problem, i fixed it:

go to lowes and buy some short screws and a bunch of washers the washers will allow the screw to tighten onto the insert without going through the door panel. be very careful with this because it is very easy to go through the panel. it holds very well to the hollow tubes that they are screwed into. just keep adding washers to the screw if it is too long.
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2007 | 09:37 PM
  #24  
xCobalt05x's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 07-15-06
Posts: 3,765
Likes: 0
From: Pocomoke City, MD
here is some more info, dont know if he covered everything i did, i know it looks like he went more in detail then i did. my post i from 2006 for this

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/how-guide-43/how-recover-door-inserts-w-new-materials-26097/
Reply
Old Aug 17, 2007 | 10:56 PM
  #25  
rockstarbass1's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 06-08-06
Posts: 736
Likes: 1
From: ohio
F*ck my anus batman!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes i accidently got rid of the whole stud! god darn it! im screwed! anyone have any advise now??? please help!
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:25 AM.