Cheap rear panel fix

[chichiflys]

My rear panels on my 60 were toast. Broken, ripped vinyl, stripped hangers, etc. I ripped them out and then used it as a pattern on some 1/4" fiberboard.

I removed the plastic inserts that were inserted in the body of the truck - the female mounting plugs on the frame for the panels. Replaced those with some "C" clips (#10 I think), then drilled some holes in the new panels where those old clips used to be. Then used some #8 or 10 sheet metal screws with a built in washer to hold the new panels in place. I painted them with that textured spray paint you get at Home Depot - about $8 a can - I used two cans total for both rear panels. Looks OK - the brown textured paint is alright with the brown interior. They also make grey textured paint.

Cheap - but better looking than my destroyed panels...

 

[cabron]

nice option man

 

[CaliCruiser]

thats next on the list for me

 

[geoffk]

Stupid question: what are the "C" clips? I might follow your lead here.

 

[Elbert]

that looks nice.... good idea

what does the other side look like? where the jack & rear windshield washer resivor are located? I was thinking that the rear panels on my truck looked like crap too!

Did you come up with a good soloution for access to the rear winshield washer resivor or did you just run a solid panel on the drivers side too?

"c" clips are clips shaped like the letter C or the letter U, where on the edge of a metal plate you have a hole and you intstall the clip so tha a screw will thred through the clip and you can tighen the two toegther. Mostly found in cars... I think even Lowes even carries some selections.

what did you cut the fiberboard with? to get the smooth edges?

 

[chichiflys]

Geoffk - Elbert is correct, they are shaped like a "U" and go in place of the plastic female plug that is installed in the holes on the frame for the panels. You have to take off the panel and remove those plastic things...it'll make sense when you see it.

Elbert - The other side looks the same except I was able to cut a hole and two nothces, just the like the stock panel, for the washer fluid access. It is not that difficult. Don't go any thicker than 1/4" on the board because of the access port ring.

I just used my cheapo jig saw to cut the board. It is that really fine fiberboard - smooth on both sides. Not masonite - that's the darker colored pressboard, but it's light tan and smooth on both sides. It may also be called hardboard. Cuts very easily, but makes a lot of dust. About $5.00 for a 2'X4' pieces - I used to of these of course.

 

[Elbert]

Ok...

I belive I'll attempt some carpentery work this winter some time, as I want to replace the crappy radio gear the PO had riggged up, and also to replace those panels like you did. Would be nice to have some larger speaker "holes" too...something like 6*9 speakers would be better than the current ones I have.

I'll look around to see what type fasteners might be good to use as far as makeing a door on the drivers side. I've not really looked at my closely (truck is new to me ) but I did notice the crappy appearnece of the stock panels.

when you say don't go thicker than 1/4 on the board thickness what's the reference to the access port ring referring to?

I've got a jig saw somewhere around "here".... that looks to be a fairly easy job.

Is your panel on the dirvers side one piece too?

 

[serenity]

i've done the same thing to my cruiser plus i removed all the plastic panels and put 3 ply on the floor and tailgate it looks realy good its posted up in the cheap mods section
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=22956&page=6&highlight=cheap+mods
post #164

the texture on yours is cool, i wish i had thought of that. nice work.

 

[chichiflys]

Serenity - Thanks

Elbert - Yes the 1/4" max was due to the washer access port "ring". If you take off the access cover you will see a "ring" that is crimped to the stock panel. Just take screwdriver and pry it off and remove it - very easy once you look at it. Then simply crimp that ring into place on your newly cut access hole . Driver's side panel is also one piece.

 

[Mud Shark Rosey]

Looks good, mine need done in a big way. I like the paint idea. I wasn't sure how I was going to finish mine, now I know.

 

[brokenparts]

Looks great! Good idea!

 

[brokenparts]

Looks great! Good idea!

 

[fowldarr]

Any body else done anything similar, if chichi doesn't mind the hijack I'd like to see pictures of what other people have done for comparison, by the ways chichi nice work, I like the paint, and I am looking at stealing your idea.

 

[Dynosoar]

I did mine this past summer I'll try to post some pic tomorrow.

Dynosoar

 

[LCPilot]

The PO had problems with the back panels and had made new ones out of 4 way tread plate, Steel in fact. They took a beating, but were way too heavy. I ripped them out , used them for skid plates and then went the painted fiberboard route.

 

[beaufort-fj60]

looks good