[992drjimmy]

Recently leather seat Swapped my truck. Got some pleather material to match for the doors. I’m going to take the panels off and remove the cloth material and recover then with thin foam and the pleather that marches the seats. Been a while since door panels were off. im thinking the window strip in the door panel is stapled on? Would think I’d need to remove thst. How do you guys re attach that strip. Just a paper stapler?

 

[Blu1stgen]

I use pop rivets but you can use screws.

 

[992drjimmy]

what size rivets do you use.

 

[emmettchampion]

On the 1st generation door panel I just remove the screws in the rest and release all the clips that hold the panel to the door and lift the panel straight up and the rubber strip comes with the panel. Looking at the pictures it appears that the 2nd generation panels work the same.

 

[manbearpig]

2nd gen door panels are mostly plastic welded together. The window strip is stapled, but it's going to take more than a paper stapler to reattach it.

 

[aitch]

2nd gen door panels are mostly plastic welded together. The window strip is stapled, but it's going to take more than a paper stapler to reattach it.

A HD stapler would probably handle the job - they come in various sizes, w/ typically a 160 sheet capacity, & use some serious sized staples. Throat depth would also be a consideration. I've got one for document binding.

 

[hit_4_show]

I suspect construction is similar to 4th Gen F-bodies. Replacing all, or some specific staples in the inner window sweep (felt) is a strongly recommended PM task for those door panels. IIRC, I used diagonal pliers to cut the existing staples. IIRC, I replaced them with 4-40 machine screws, flat washer, and nylon locking nut. On that vehicle, the nuts do not get overly tightened to allow for some temperature expansion/contraction.

 

[bk2life]

the seat foam in the original seats look better than the leather seats.
if you took both pairs of seats and door panels to your local upholster, they can swap the seat foams to make your new leather seats near perfect again, and do the work needed to your door panels. Yes itll probably be about $300 worth of work, but, its done right, you didn't break anything, and that's it, its done. simple.

 

[992drjimmy]

You couldn’t be more wrong in the foam condition. These leather ones are near mint all way round. 3 local shops quoted triple your suggestion of $300

 

[992drjimmy]

Thank you to those that helped. From life reading it looks like people screw the strip back on or use rivets. Weather breaks from below zero next week probably bring the panels inside and look at recovering the material portion. I have the new material and foam and all needed supplies. This isn’t my first time working with material. Or seeing it done many times. So I’m sure it’ll turn out fine.t only real question was reattaching the inner window strip. These leather seats are near mint. Foam is perfect. Not sure how the pics made it look like the leather seat foam was broke down. Could be that some just like to tear down others projects. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[BTE]

I'm in a similar boat as you. I found small (maybe 1/8" dia) rivets to hold them back together, without interfering. A good tip: drill the holes for the rivets before you cut the staples out. This way when you reassemble them, the strip goes back exactly in the same position.

I am still trying to decide how to reattach the panel after breaking the plastic rivets. I tried plastic welding, but it wasn't strong enough. I think either epoxying the panels back to the door, or creating some kind of studded features to screw them back together where the plastic rivets once were.

 

[992drjimmy]

Thanks for the tips.

 

[Blu1stgen]

1/8 rivets, the longer ones. Yes, pre drill holes. Screws work also. If it wasn't -17 out I'd get some pics. 🥶🥶