Tutorial: Door Skin Removal for Dummies.

[Reaper-Zed]

I have a feeling I might need to do this myself..... I'm glad you have posted this Lurch.
Has anyone bought a new door skin from rare spares??? I'm considering doing it for the drivers door seeming its got a fair few stress lines in the metal, might see how a hammer and dolly goes bit trial and error not exactly experienced in metal panel beating / shaping but really keen on learning if people have some good tips that be great

[Lightmaster240z]

 I Just got one from rare spares yesterday. It is going to DR Z{Lurch} work shop soon. I keep you informed as to how it go's
regrads
Bruce
PS are going to the BBQ    

[Scoota G]

Any updates on the Rare Spares item ... i just got a set myself.

[Lurch]

They fit - but make sure to take your time fitting them.
The welds at the tops of the doors need to be good 'n' strong too before you start knocking the lips over.
I also found that annealing the lips on the door made them much easier to knock over

[Zedsabbath]

So how did you anneal them Lurch, without spoiling the skins...I'll be re-skining mine some time in the future, got two Rare Spares skins here ready to go

Pete

A supplementary question : What to do with the old skins if they only have small rust holes ? toss em or hang on to them

[Lurch]

Firstly, I really shouldn't call it 'annealing them' - more softening them to make it more pliable when beaten over the door shell.
I take the lips back to bare metal, then lightly rub some liquid soap onto the lips then heat the area (with a Map Gas torch) till the soap goes black.
Then hammer away while they are still warm

Secondly, if they only have a few holes in the old skins, I'd just repair them.
I'd only replace the skins if they are well & truly stuffed.

Thirdly, Pete please change your user-name as it's gotten quite silly now!

[MaygZ]

Thirdly, Pete please change your user-name as it's gotten quite silly now!

From the papsmear himself??

Lurch,

My door skins look just like yours did before you replaced the skins.  Is that the best/only way to fix them or is it possible/feasible to cut and replace the bottom couple of inches?

MaygZ

[Zedsabbath]

Thanks for that tip Lurch...I guess the thing to avoid is overheating the metal so it doesn't distort the skin, I'll be very careful and sparing with the heat...I think annealing is a good idea, even standard practice too I think among professionals

Actually my old skins or at least one of them has had the treatment that MaygZ just talked about, replaced bottom 3 inches...but probably done without removing skin first, rego job most likely, heaps of bog to finish off

So to answer MaygZ's question, remove skin first for the best job....if you learn how to fuse weld with an oxy you'll save yourself a lot of heartache...and of course panel beating but yes it is very possible and feasible to replace that narrow bottom section, it's a dying art though, thankfully there's that show on TVS channel, forget what it's called now but lots of good tips on panel work

No worries there Lurch, you read my mind, gunna change my ID soon, already have one in mind, wait for it !........

[Bigfella]

thankfully there's that show on TVS channel, forget what it's called now but lots of good tips on panel work

http://mick-curson.blogspot.com/

I think these are the guys. Very interesting!

[Zedsabbath]

Gasolene that's the one

[Scoota G]

"Guzzoline, pumps runnin day and night Ka Juunk, KaJuunK, KaJuunk, thousands of gallons. I couldnt get in there, Nooooo, but a man with your ingenuity"

Gee are we off thread topic or what... i'm gonna start a new one.

[nizm0zed]

well, excellent writeup.

I just finished doing my drivers door skin.
Next time im out at the shops i'll grab some seam sealer and cavity wax and finish the job....

In case it wasnt answered before, Yes, the rare spares skins DO come with the reinforcing frame at the top of the panel.
They also appear to be heavier than the factory skins.
It wouldnt be much, but holding one in each hand you can feel the weight difference.

When i spoke to the bloke at rares, he made a bit of a deal about there being hardly any stock left.
It may just be an excuse as to why he took 2 weeks to order it thought....