Door card vinyl (smooth) advice needed

LarryE9E10

LarryE9E10

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Hi all!

My driver's door has a large rip in the (black) vinyl on the lower section to the left of the pocket. (My guess is the PO closed the door with the seat belt fork at an axe-like right angle.) A very poor repair was done. My timmer says he can replace just the lower panel (up to the chrome beltline so the seam will be hidden by the chrome strip) if I can find matching vinyl.

Does World Upholstery sell vinyl by the yard or just the finished door panels? And can anyone testify as to how close their vinyl is (or is not) to the original? Anywhere else I can get what I need, or do I have to start trolling for a door card from a parts car?

Any advice or help would be appreciated. Thanks
 
Go to a local auto Upholsterey shop, they will have books from World and GAHH, and take your sample to compare. It's black so it should be easier to match.
 
Larry, let us know what you find. Let us know what the part number from the suplier is and which supplier. This is a VERY common problem with those clunky seatbelts hitting the door.
Thanks
Scott

LarryE9E10 said:
Hi all!

My driver's door has a large rip in the (black) vinyl on the lower section to the left of the pocket. (My guess is the PO closed the door with the seat belt fork at an axe-like right angle.) A very poor repair was done. My timmer says he can replace just the lower panel (up to the chrome beltline so the seam will be hidden by the chrome strip) if I can find matching vinyl.

Does World Upholstery sell vinyl by the yard or just the finished door panels? And can anyone testify as to how close their vinyl is (or is not) to the original? Anywhere else I can get what I need, or do I have to start trolling for a door card from a parts car?

Any advice or help would be appreciated. Thanks
Click to expand...
 
Hi Larry

I have done the same repair before. You will not find the same color and grain anymore. Only slightly close if you're lucky. I use an undamaged piece of vinyl that I salvage from a period BMW at a junk yard. You didn't say what color yours is, but if you're in the L.A. area you could bring the car to me and have me do it. I still work on these cars at my shop.

Regards, Tom Colitt
ClassicAutosLA
 
Tom,
Thanks for the information and the offer of assistance. Unfortunately, I'm on the right coast (Philadelphia). I guess I'm off to look for a parts car with black door panels.
 
It shouldn't be that hard to do. I just remembered where I likely got the needed piece of vinyl. It wasn't quite the full length that you need, but you can make a very nice splice behind the aluminum trim strip, as you mentioned and the only portion that would be visible is a small piece just below the door pocket which is very hard to spot with the door panel installed. I think I used a piece from a spare front seat that I had. As you know, the seat back is a separate piece and covered with vinyl (or leather :-( Maybe you can find an e3 or even an e24 which are showing up frequently in the wrecking yards...
 
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