73/74 interior panels , metal or aluminum ?

Metal or aluminum

  • Metal 16 gauge

    Votes: 2 28.6%

  • Aluminum 14 gauge

    Votes: 4 57.1%

  • Metal thicker then 16 gauge

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Aluminum thicker then 14 gauge

    Votes: 1 14.3%
  • Total voters
    7

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

joekatana

joekatana

GOLD Star
10 Year 15 Year
Joined
May 30, 2008
Threads
563
Messages
5,927
Location
Texas
So I finally ran out of used 73/74 rear interior panels and need to have some made . In the past I have made some myself out of ABS but I am not a fan of those so I am going to enlist a buddy who runs a fab shop to plasma cut some . Scanning these is the biggest job so I am planning on making several sets . My choice was 16 gauge metal but my buddy who makes a lot of interior sheet metal for drag cars prefers aluminum .

What is the preference for most 73/74 owners metal or aluminum ?

For now we will do these for the 1990 and newer , the earlier models have a different right rear side panel as the wheel well is different .
 
not sure if you intend painting them? But Aluminium can be left raw and will still look fine if scratched. Impact strength would be similar in the confines of the vehicle unless someone takes a run up or you’re opening the door for a bike rider 😉.
 
Plan is to sell the extra kits just cut not finished so everyone can do their own thing . I will probably leave them blank in my cruisers for the aluminum ones , for metal versions they would get painted color matched or truck bed coating.
 
Good morning sir,
I just installed ABS aftermarket panels in my 70 over the weekend and the fit/finish was absolutely spot on.

Having just done this task, would your design retain the use of the factory retainers? If so, aluminum would probably be the better choice because steel thick enough to work with the retainers would be too heavy. Or are you envisioning installation of nutserts into the body so screws can be used? Also would the design have the sidepanel features (pockets, ashtrays, ...) transfer over to the metal panels? Or just eliminate them?

Sorry to be asking questions about your 73/74 design when I only have multiple 70s. I always have hope that my commander will approve a purchase request for 73/74 ... someday so my hope prompts my questions. Thanks for your tolerance.
 
LDowney said:
Good morning sir,
I just installed ABS aftermarket panels in my 70 over the weekend and the fit/finish was absolutely spot on.

Having just done this task, would your design retain the use of the factory retainers? If so, aluminum would probably be the better choice because steel thick enough to work with the retainers would be too heavy. Or are you envisioning installation of nutserts into the body so screws can be used? Also would the design have the sidepanel features (pockets, ashtrays, ...) transfer over to the metal panels? Or just eliminate them?

Sorry to be asking questions about your 73/74 design when I only have multiple 70s. I always have hope that my commander will approve a purchase request for 73/74 ... someday so my hope prompts my questions. Thanks for your tolerance.
Click to expand...
Hi Larry , I would have the mounting holes made in them so these can be installed with the push trough buttons as used in the newer 70 series with the plain cardboard panels . I might do a batch with a speaker cut out but not planning on cutting for ashtrays , cubby holes and pockets as there are to many variables for that . If anyone wants to retain those features they can easily just cut those out using there old panel as a template .

Same reason I am not trying to make anything for the front doors as there are a dozen variations . Let's keep it simple ;-)
 
Just FYI , when this project has finished and it's not something sitting on the shelves for ever I might do a batch for the swb 70 as dozens are coming in from the Middle East now . But first my favorite the 73/74 ;-)
 
Hulsty said:
I've had Aluminum for 15 years, fine for a bush car but kinda difficult to clean and keep nice, it gets surface oxidation etc. You would literally need to metal polish and wax it to keep nice.
Click to expand...
Or just paint it
 
FWIW the previous owners of the PZJ75 I sourced through Joe had the interior panels all replaced with very well engineered 14g aluminum and they have been robust and hassle free. Easy to modify as needed and strong enough to mount whatever you see fit. I painted it all a gray that is a good match for the early dash and touch it up. Seems to rattle less than a an HZJ75 I've driven with nice steel panels.
 
joekatana said:
I would have the mounting holes made in them so these can be installed with the push trough buttons as used in the newer 70 series with the plain cardboard panels .
Click to expand...

Securing thinner panels with the push-in clips will make them rattle unless you can find alternative pins other than the factory ones as factory pins are designed to clamp approximately 3-4mm and flare out behind matching mount holes to keep pressure on them.
Will either need nutserts or you may be able to stick a 2mm rubber seal (the ones with 3M peel off tape) to inside of panels to pack it out.
I know you’re not doing front panels but I had to do this to my ABS front panels for this reason and it also closed the gap between the window winder and face of panel.
 
Billyfj7312ht said:
Securing thinner panels with the push-in clips will make them rattle unless you can find alternative pins other than the factory ones as factory pins are designed to clamp approximately 3-4mm and flare out behind matching mount holes to keep pressure on them.
Will either need nutserts or you may be able to stick a 2mm rubber seal (the ones with 3M peel off tape) to inside of panels to pack it out.
I know you’re not doing front panels but I had to do this to my ABS front panels for this reason and it also closed the gap between the window winder and face of panel.
Click to expand...
Did you use the push buttons from the latest grneration ? I have used those before either the abs panrls snd no rattle at all .
 
Hello,

Regarding pins and rattle, OEM panels have this recess that fits a pin's head in such a way that it is flush.

Is it possible to replicate this feature in aluminum panels?

Just curious.





Juan
 
JuanJ said:
Hello,

Regarding pins and rattle, OEM panels have this recess that fits a pin's head in such a way that it is flush.

Is it possible to replicate this feature in aluminum panels?

Just curious.





Juan
Click to expand...
All the new troopies I have seen have plain flat cardboard panels with the push trough buttons . Those are the ones I use , no recess necessary with these
 
joekatana said:
All the new troopies I have seen have plain flat cardboard panels with the push trough buttons . Those are the ones I use , no recess necessary with these
Click to expand...

Hello,

It is good to know.

Thank you for the explanation.





Juan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom