Door Skins - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Wreckless_71 · 11-29-2007, 01:30 AM

Hey guys I'm a little confused

; I bought a set of door skins for my 71 and the metal seems really light. Are these "skins" supposed to go on the outside of the existing panel or do I cut out the old panel first? My initial thought was that I cut out the old and replace with the new, just like the rockers but it just doesn't seem right? Please help! Anything!

Rokcrln · 11-29-2007, 06:49 AM

Yep they are thin but you still need to cut out the old and replace it with the thin I mean new

Kevin
LFD Inc.

gmc67swb · 11-29-2007, 06:55 AM

Been doin body work for around 30 years now... cut off the old skin drill any spot welds holding the skin in place...you can weld or use panel adhesive (made by 3-m) for the new skin....and as for as the new skin being thin you have to take in mind it's a reproduction one so you really don't have the metal like the old ones......hope this helps....

aboyer · 11-29-2007, 09:46 PM

I just did mine and I took an angle grinder to the edges. You don't need to grind too much and you will see the metal separate and start to peel. Then I took a chizel and pried the edges off. It will probably take you 10-15 mins at the most per door.

I also purchase some general 3M seam sealer, the part number was #8500. This worked quite well. There are other seam sealer that will also work from 3M

Wreckless_71 · 11-30-2007, 12:57 AM

Hey thanks a ton guys this really helps... yeah it's thin but I suppose it will stiffen up a little bit once they are on the doors.

NONHOG · 11-30-2007, 12:02 PM

Are they full skins ? or just bottoms ? where did you get them ?
thinking about skins myself just have yet to get past the thinking stage

Mordachai · 11-30-2007, 01:14 PM

I just got new skins , well outer bottoms, but they do seem like they will work great, I'm not concerned that they are a bit thinner than original.
I am more concerned with the replacement inner door bottoms being thinner metal though.
Guess I'll just have to wait and see how they come out.

While on topic, anyone have suggestions to do the inner door or the skins first. I was thinking I'd replace the inner door bottom first, then replace the skin. Is there some magic secret order that I should go about things?

Wreckless_71 · 12-05-2007, 12:34 AM

They are Full skins... window down to floor. I got them from a local guy named Dave, he has a truck shop specializing in 67-72 trucks. DC Truck Parts in Vancouver WA.

TravisH · 12-05-2007, 01:23 AM

The lower skins I bought were just as thick if not a little better than stock, but my inner pieces were flimsy

Mordachai the way I did it was to remove the rusted part of the outer skin first (I stayed below the body line) and then replace the inner part of the door. The outside flanges of the inner needed a little work to get the right contour but were pretty straightforward. After I welded the outer skin along the body line.

A tip for installing skins, use a grinder to take a _very_ small amount of metal away at the fold along the outside, it makes bending the skin over much easier. Also remember not to do it all in one spot, work your way around the door a few times before folding it flat

11-29-2007, 01:30 AM	#1
Wreckless_71 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kelso, WA Posts: 363	Door Skins Hey guys I'm a little confused; I bought a set of door skins for my 71 and the metal seems really light. Are these "skins" supposed to go on the outside of the existing panel or do I cut out the old panel first? My initial thought was that I cut out the old and replace with the new, just like the rockers but it just doesn't seem right? Please help! Anything! __________________ 1972 K10 4" lift, 35’s, 383 stroker, 700r4, current project. 1971 C10 3"/5" static drop, 355/350. "La Bamba.” The current daily driver.

11-29-2007, 06:49 AM	#2
Rokcrln Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Winters Ca. 95694 Posts: 4,843	Re: Door Skins Yep they are thin but you still need to cut out the old and replace it with the thin I mean new Kevin LFD Inc.

11-29-2007, 06:55 AM	#3
gmc67swb Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Mesquite, Tx Posts: 396	Re: Door Skins Been doin body work for around 30 years now... cut off the old skin drill any spot welds holding the skin in place...you can weld or use panel adhesive (made by 3-m) for the new skin....and as for as the new skin being thin you have to take in mind it's a reproduction one so you really don't have the metal like the old ones......hope this helps.... __________________ GM 330HP/350, Magnuson 122HH, Tremec TKO 5spd

11-29-2007, 09:46 PM	#4
aboyer Adam B Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Westfield Posts: 151	Re: Door Skins I just did mine and I took an angle grinder to the edges. You don't need to grind too much and you will see the metal separate and start to peel. Then I took a chizel and pried the edges off. It will probably take you 10-15 mins at the most per door. I also purchase some general 3M seam sealer, the part number was #8500. This worked quite well. There are other seam sealer that will also work from 3M

11-30-2007, 12:57 AM	#5
Wreckless_71 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kelso, WA Posts: 363	Re: Door Skins Hey thanks a ton guys this really helps... yeah it's thin but I suppose it will stiffen up a little bit once they are on the doors. __________________ 1972 K10 4" lift, 35’s, 383 stroker, 700r4, current project. 1971 C10 3"/5" static drop, 355/350. "La Bamba.” The current daily driver.

11-30-2007, 12:02 PM	#6
NONHOG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Marana, Arizona Posts: 3,459	Re: Door Skins Are they full skins ? or just bottoms ? where did you get them ? thinking about skins myself just have yet to get past the thinking stage __________________ "I feel the need for speed!"... as soon as I am done with my nap.

11-30-2007, 01:14 PM	#7
Mordachai Fat Fendered Fleetside Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: WPB, S. FL, USA, Earth Posts: 718	Re: Door Skins I just got new skins , well outer bottoms, but they do seem like they will work great, I'm not concerned that they are a bit thinner than original. I am more concerned with the replacement inner door bottoms being thinner metal though. Guess I'll just have to wait and see how they come out. While on topic, anyone have suggestions to do the inner door or the skins first. I was thinking I'd replace the inner door bottom first, then replace the skin. Is there some magic secret order that I should go about things? __________________ 71 GMC lwb 56 Big window swb 93 GMC Sonoma (dd) radiused fiberglass fender project for 67-72

12-05-2007, 12:34 AM	#8
Wreckless_71 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kelso, WA Posts: 363	Re: Door Skins They are Full skins... window down to floor. I got them from a local guy named Dave, he has a truck shop specializing in 67-72 trucks. DC Truck Parts in Vancouver WA. __________________ 1972 K10 4" lift, 35’s, 383 stroker, 700r4, current project. 1971 C10 3"/5" static drop, 355/350. "La Bamba.” The current daily driver.

12-05-2007, 01:23 AM	#9
TravisH Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Alberta Posts: 316	Re: Door Skins The lower skins I bought were just as thick if not a little better than stock, but my inner pieces were flimsy Mordachai the way I did it was to remove the rusted part of the outer skin first (I stayed below the body line) and then replace the inner part of the door. The outside flanges of the inner needed a little work to get the right contour but were pretty straightforward. After I welded the outer skin along the body line. A tip for installing skins, use a grinder to take a _very_ small amount of metal away at the fold along the outside, it makes bending the skin over much easier. Also remember not to do it all in one spot, work your way around the door a few times before folding it flat



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