FJ55 reproduction door panels

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tucker74

tucker74

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So I've been working on a little project for my '79 FJ55, trying to get rid of the awesome carbon fiber and suede door panels the PO saw fit to install. I had picked up a set of stock '79 door panels in hopes of covering new boards with the stock stamped vinyl. Well, long story short the vinyl wasn't in good enough shape once I got them so they sat in a pile collecting dust for a year or so. A few weeks ago I saw a post in the 70 Series forum where a guy was converting his BJ74 from RHD to LHD, he had some custom panels made to switch the front door controls. I PM'd him and got the contact for SMS Headliners in Georga. We emailed back and forth and I ended up sending him my stock panels, he came up with a design pretty close to the stock pattern for me. I had my set made in medium grey to match my interior, he can also make these in the dark grey color:




Here are some pics of my stock panels:

Tucker

55_front.webp


55_rear.webp
 
As you can see these aren't an exact reproduction, but pretty close if you're looking for another option than making your own. He's hoping these will work on all year FJ55s, but we're going to have to try them on an early truck to be sure. SOR lists several different panels, but I believe that is to account for the different patterns. He's going to put a set up on eBay for $300, and will sell directly to anyone from here for $275 shipped including new fasteners. Here is his contact:

Steve Bennett
SMS Headliners, LLC
smsheadliners at windstream dot net

Here is a link to the 70-series panels he did:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/diesel-jdm-parts/758971-bj70-bj74-other-70-series-door-panels.html

His Mud handle is a1500ram

I'll post some more pics of my panels when I get them later this week, including the rear of the boards and clips. I'll also let you guys know how they fit on when I install them, they should be perfect coming from the stock templates. He said there is currently a 10-14 day lead time to make the panels on new orders.

:pig:

Tucker
 
Suspected a Mudder may have been involved when alerted to the listing.

I contacted him through eBay, inquiring about cargo panels and other corresponding interior components that should "match", and reply was along the lines of

"No templates for cargo panels, no time for anything else"..

Which is understandable, but would think the rear panels would be easy enough, at the very least, if enough interest were expressed.

I was interested in a headliner and when I delved further into seller's other ads, was hoping to find another possible source. Probably not enough business to warrant, in all reality, but never know.
 
Delancy said:
Suspected a Mudder may have been involved when alerted to the listing.

I contacted him through eBay, inquiring about cargo panels and other corresponding interior components that should "match", and reply was along the lines of

"No templates for cargo panels, no time for anything else"..

Which is understandable, but would think the rear panels would be easy enough, at the very least, if enough interest were expressed.

I was interested in a headliner and when I delved further into seller's other ads, was hoping to find another possible source. Probably not enough business to warrant, in all reality, but never know.
Click to expand...

I could make the cargo panels but I would need a set to use to make my templates. Would need to know how they are attached. Do they use similar retainers as the door panels? Do they have spring clips that are riveted to the panel...(common practice on other vehicles)

No time for anything else as far as hand forming prototyping headliners for this vehicle. I happen to be the only person that I know of that custom makes headliner panels for the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Jeep Comanche and I have a 3 month waiting list on those along with working a fulltime job with a 2.5 hour commute 4 days per week.

So with all of this said, if I can source rear cargo panels and if they are similar to the door panels as far as attachment points, I would not have a problem including these in a set also.

Steve ((a1500ram)(SMSheadliners))
 
A1500ram, thanks for the service your doing the Jeep and Toyota community, im sure you'll hear from a few people in the FJ55 crowd. I know you'll hear from me eventually if your still around by then. $300 for 4 door cards is definitely reasonable IMO.

Thanks again!
 
pighead found that between a 69 and 78, the holes were the same, but the ashtray hole in the 78 didn't fit with the 69 door. nice that there are no holes in new panels, so ashtray can be made whereever
 
a1500ram said:
So with all of this said, if I can source rear cargo panels and if they are similar to the door panels as far as attachment points, I would not have a problem including these in a set also.

Steve ((a1500ram)(SMSheadliners))
Click to expand...

iirc, the panels in the pickle are pretty dang good. i'll see if they match the other pigs to see about differences and if they are good and match hole wise, i can send them in as templates.
 
nuclearlemon said:
pighead found that between a 69 and 78, the holes were the same, but the ashtray hole in the 78 didn't fit with the 69 door. nice that there are no holes in new panels, so ashtray can be made whereever
Click to expand...

Thanks for checking this you two.
Good to know the holes line up, not sure how easy it will be to cut ash tray holes in a finished panel. The original panels pull the vinyl through the holes for ashtray in a "X" pattern and staple the vinyl to the back.
 
Guys,

We all know you can make door panels yourself for less money, that's not the point of this thread. I put up money to have these made for folks who want factory stamped panels that are a perfect fit. I think this vendor provides a great product for a very reasonable price (go look at what SOR charges for 45lv panels), and fills a void for something that wasn't available. Lets keep this thread on track for people who are interested in what these are ;-)

Tucker
 
tucker74 said:
Guys,

We all know you can make door panels yourself for less money, that's not the point of this thread.
Click to expand...

My apologies for the perception, but in all honesty, cheaper wasn't the intent considering the expense of the panel backing (??) I was thinking of utilizing these covers for.

I will delete, or feel free to delete after you read.

My intent isn't to muck up this thread, at all, and all references to this will be altered.

Some have already incurred the expense of the aluminum panels, yet lack a covering that's this kick ass in appearance.

That was my thinking, I'll let Bob speak for himself, but it wasn't to minimize yours, nor the producers investment, but only to see if there was an option to cover the aluminum panels that some already have.

Regardless, I'll wind up with one full set of these, including the cargo panels once fitted, and will still leave another set of other panels for the second Pig, that'll need some form of covering.

Chris
 
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