Hi, new to the post and I am working on the interior of my Pathfinder Deluxe. The door panels are pretty chewed up and I am wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to make a template for new panels?

Thanks,

Derek

Try sms auto fabrics.They had the exact original seat/door panel fabric and vinyl for my 54 pathfinder.Great to deal with,sent me a sample pack with all the fabrics that were availible for mine so i knew i was getting the right stuff.

Thanks for the details. I will look them up. I am really trying to sew the vinyl myself, but the actual panel is all chewed up at the bottom part. So, just needed a panel template that I can then do on a laminated board or 1/4 plywood.

For the correct panel board try Restorations Specialties in Windber (?) PA. they sell clips, rubber, door/trunk boards, windlace, window fuzzies etc.

Welcome to the site! Post some pictures of your car!

Since the bottom of the door panel matches the bottom inside of the dorr, maybe you could take a long strip of butcher paper or possibly even newspaper, tape it to the bottom of the good portion of your existing door panel, then fold it over around the bottom door edge (so you have somewhat of a guide for the next step) then carefully cut along the bottom edge, so you end up with the paper + good portion of your existing door panel that will be the shape of a complete door panel. Then remove the door panel and use what you have now as the template. This will of course include the correctly-positioned holes for the window cranks, attaching clips, etc.

I have not done that (my door panels were redone before I bought my car - obviously by a custom shop, made of luan board) but I have used a similar approach when I needed to fabricate something to match an existing contour.

Good luck!

And post some pictures of your car!



Dave

P.S. I completely disassembled my dash and steering column and rebuilt them, so if you have questions about that part of redoing your interior, just ask. Also there are several other guys here who have 55-56 Canadian Pontiacs who can help too. Dave

Thanks for the advice - makes total sense! I will take some craft/wrapping paper from work and make the template as suggested. I'll post some pictures as well!