Door skins

[72_C10_Chevy]

Anyone ever installed door skins? If so how hard are they to do?

[67mater]

not necessarily hard, but fold the lip overwhile keeping the front straight takes patience and finesse and you'll likely find the new skins aren't perfect off the press. good luck and take your time!

[MDPotter]

I used them and they came out pretty good. Don't touch the inner skin before getting the outer skin done though because you want that inner skin to be factory in order to match the contour to the cab. Here's the process I did:
1-Grind the edges until the metal separates and you can pull the skin off
2-Have the shell sandblasted and epoxy primed
3-Lay the new skin on the shell, test fit. Will most likely have to modify the little leg in the window sill where it welds to the shell.
4-Use a dolly on the outside and a hammer on the edge of the skin and slowly tap it down. I hammered down a little on each side to get it situated and then made several passes on each edge. Don't hammer it down all at once on any edge. You'll end up with damage all around the edges - I ground the EDP off and bondo'd around the edge to take care of this.
5-Weld the skin to the shell in a few spots - maybe 4 or 5 on each edge.
6-Drill holes for mirrors

You can spend more money for a complete repop door and save a lot of time in repairs but take a gamble on fitment of the repop door. It was a trade off for me and I'm happy with how my skins came out.

[jgr]

MDPOTTER is spot on, I would add if you don't have a welder use 3M panel bond, Get it right the first time because with panel bond it will never come off again.

[hugger6933]

The hardest part for most is folding the flap over and crimping them down I don't have that cause I have a shark and that makes install a 30 minute thing or less but unless you have a ton to do I would say that it is too cost prohibitive. When I bought mine I had like 7 skins to do at one time. Look at Auto Body Toolmart and see if they have a cheaper skin tool. Jim

[Richard]

Just removed a passenger side reproduction door skin from my 72 to install the nos one I have. I had cut the top edge off the old door skin and added to the replacement as the pillar and vent window contour was not right. Should have replaced the entire top as the upper body line was way off. GMC Paul's claims to sell an "exact' copy skin. I would try one of his if I did not have original. Skins are pretty easy on these doors. Follow MDPotter's tips working it down a bit at a time evenly around the edge.

[REDROCKER652002]

Question. For someone with little or no metal working experience is it better to just buy a repo full door? My son's 69 will probably need some work and I was thinking of just going with full doors, get all the guts and redo all of it at one time. Then install the door on to the truck once I am done with all the inside stuff. Good idea? Thanks guys.

[MDPotter]

If you don't mind spending the extra money, it's probably the best route for you. That or find an original door that's in good shape, but that will require some level of work still.