What were the original door panels made of? I saw panels that were injected molded ABS and Vacuum formed panels. The vacuum formed panels are about $500 more. Aren't the vacuum formed panels thinner and more rigid? Also, was the original trunk lock shield (mine is missing) ABS or metal? Thanks
Door Panel Material
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pschlosser
Well-Known Member
the door panels MAY BE ABS plastic, but I don't think so. Polypropylene is a better fit. They resist melting (to weld) and gluing (by most adhesives) and of course, repelling moisture and hand acids and oils from handling.
Xcudame
Well-Known Member
The original truck lock shield was metal from the factory.
@pschlosser is probably right about the factory interior panels being polypropylene. Nothing seems to melt them (like glues or plastic welders) very well!
@pschlosser is probably right about the factory interior panels being polypropylene. Nothing seems to melt them (like glues or plastic welders) very well!
Is polypropylene called something else? The reason I ask, the description in the catalogues say vacuum formed or injected molded ABS. The vacuum formed are more expensive. I remember a few years ago I bought the vacuum formed panels and they were not very good. They were thin and brittle. Thanks
pschlosser
Well-Known Member
"vacuum-formed" may to refer the process to make the panel Whereas PP, ABS, HDPE, etc, are types of material injected into said vacuum formation.
The OEM panels defy repair, similar to non-painted plastics from other cars, motorcycles, boats, etc.
Thin and brittle seems like material, more than process.
PP is pretty much called PP, Polypropylene.
think take-out food containers, straws, medicine bottles, and other difficult-to-recycle plastics...
by design. PP is very resistant to some types of wear other plastics are plagued by. But that resistance has a cost. Difficult to repair and recover (recycle)
Among those poorly suited to resisted to UV light, are PP and LDPE. So, most white OEM interior panels are crumbling due to UV exposure. A sad truth in a busy changing world.
The OEM panels defy repair, similar to non-painted plastics from other cars, motorcycles, boats, etc.
Thin and brittle seems like material, more than process.
PP is pretty much called PP, Polypropylene.
think take-out food containers, straws, medicine bottles, and other difficult-to-recycle plastics...
by design. PP is very resistant to some types of wear other plastics are plagued by. But that resistance has a cost. Difficult to repair and recover (recycle)
Among those poorly suited to resisted to UV light, are PP and LDPE. So, most white OEM interior panels are crumbling due to UV exposure. A sad truth in a busy changing world.
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Thanks for the info, very helpful.
larry4406
Well-Known Member
Scott Smith of Harms Auto used to post quite a bit over on Moparts. He was very into plastics and would post various techniques for various plastics. I recall the door panels being a plastic that was not conducive to repair.
Way back (mid 1990's), there was a magazine (Mopar Action, Mopar Power?) that had a plastic list of the Mopar interiors by part with the plastic type designated. I hope I still have that magazine down in the basement somewhere. Perhaps others remember it and can scan and post it.
Way back (mid 1990's), there was a magazine (Mopar Action, Mopar Power?) that had a plastic list of the Mopar interiors by part with the plastic type designated. I hope I still have that magazine down in the basement somewhere. Perhaps others remember it and can scan and post it.
Instead of focusing on what the material is, I think the focus should be which of the panels are more accurate in design and grain texture. It's been years since I bought mine, so I don't remember the exact details, but I believe it was the Metro panels were the good ones to buy. When the owner sold to a bigger company, he did a big discount sale on eBay for remaining inventory and I got super lucky getting front and rear blue throughout panels for about 600 bucks. Now they don't make the colored panels anymore, only black and white
The reason I was looking at the material of these panels, I don't want to buy the panels and find I need to return them. I bought some panels online several years ago (from a reputable store). They were new but were very rigid/brittle and difficult to install. I couldn't return them since I broke the lip of the panel during installation. I recall later seeing several posts about this company. Many people complained about the quality. These panels were not cheap. I'll see if I can find the post. Thanks
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