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71-76 Eldorado lower door panels

Started by Jeff Wilk, April 19, 2014, 04:01:47 AM

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Jeff Wilk

Anybody with experience using the ABS molded replacement door panels on the early to mid '70s Eldorado?  I know the armrests are not padded and they only come black, but short of going to "Just  Dashes " for a true restoration for hundreds more what has everyone else done?

Thers always white duct tape.   :(
"Impossible Only Describes The Degree Of Difficulty" 

Southern New Jersey

1959 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special
1975 Eldorado Convertible (#12 made)
1933 Phaeton Chevrolet - "Baby Cadillac"
1933 Master Sedan Chevrolet - "Baby Cadillac"

SOLD
1976 Cadillac Mirage (factory authorized Pick-Up)
1958 Cadillac Sixty-Special
1958 Cadillac Sixty-Special
1958 Cadillac Sedan
1958 Cadillac Coupe Deville

76eldo

Jeff,

I have a nice set of lowers from a 74.

Email me about them.

Brian
Brian Rachlin
Huntingdon Valley, Pa
I prefer email's not PM's rachlin@comcast.net

1960 62 Series Conv with Factory Tri Power
1970 DeVille Conv
1970 Eldo
1970 Caribu (?) "The Cadmino"
1973 Eldorado Conv Pace Car
1976 Eldorado Conv
1980 Eldorado H & E Conv
1993 Allante with Hardtop (X2)
2008 DTS
2012 CTS Coupe
2017 XT
1956 Thunderbird
1966 Olds Toronado

TJ Hopland

I just bought one from another member that he decided not to use it because he found a shop that could repair his existing one.  I have not really looked that close at it or tried to install it.  All I can say so far is I'm glad I didn't have to pay full price for it.   You just wonder why when someone apparently goes through a fair amount of effort to reproduce a part why they can't get a little closer to correct.  If your car is just a decent driver and your existing one is totally shot it looks like it would work.

If your car is not black I also wonder how well paint will hold up.   Seems like it would scratch fairly easily.  I even wonder about how it will hold up on the armrest from just normal 'arm resting'.   Thinking things like the metal seat belt end could scratch if it does not happen to hit the carpet area.     
StPaul/Mpls, MN USA

73 Eldo convert w/FiTech EFI
80 Eldo Diesel
90 CDV
And other assorted stuff I keep buying for some reason

Thule

i've bin thinking about purchasing the abs plastic ones from  opgi, but i always assumed that they would need to be upholstered.
Ivar Markusson.  icelandic cadillac club (part of CLC)
73 Eldorado coupe.

76eldo

The repro ones are rigid ABS just like the bumper fillers and meant to be used as is after being painted to match your interior.

SEM interior spray paint holds up extremely well.
I have used it on vinyl and plastic with great results.

Brian
Brian Rachlin
Huntingdon Valley, Pa
I prefer email's not PM's rachlin@comcast.net

1960 62 Series Conv with Factory Tri Power
1970 DeVille Conv
1970 Eldo
1970 Caribu (?) "The Cadmino"
1973 Eldorado Conv Pace Car
1976 Eldorado Conv
1980 Eldorado H & E Conv
1993 Allante with Hardtop (X2)
2008 DTS
2012 CTS Coupe
2017 XT
1956 Thunderbird
1966 Olds Toronado

TJ Hopland

Ya it apparently comes as just a black hunk of plastic.   You have to paint it, add the carpet, and all the misc clips and other hardware.  That is where I bet it gets even more expensive for something that is not quite right.   

Mine is still in the box it came in and the car is still in storage, guessing that wont change for a couple more months.
StPaul/Mpls, MN USA

73 Eldo convert w/FiTech EFI
80 Eldo Diesel
90 CDV
And other assorted stuff I keep buying for some reason

Thule

somehow i cant imagine having the lower panels from plastic,  must look way cheaper than the upholstered originals

i guess i will try to fix the originals
Ivar Markusson.  icelandic cadillac club (part of CLC)
73 Eldorado coupe.

Bob Hoffmann CLC#96

Quote from: Thule on April 19, 2014, 08:53:07 PM
somehow i cant imagine having the lower panels from plastic,  must look way cheaper than the upholstered originals

i guess i will try to fix the originals
Thule,
I assume you received the email & pics of the one I have?? This was awhile ago. I never got an answer from you. Please advise.
Thanks,Bob
1968 Eldorado slick top ,white/red interior
2015 Holden Ute HSV Maloo red/black interior.
             
Too much fun is more than you can have.

Jeff Moffo

Is there any maintenance we could do to keep our originals from cracking?!
Jeff M
North Jersey
Best of all, it's a Cadillac....
'76 Coupe DeVille - Claret (Sold)
'73 Series 60 Fleetwood (Sold)
'76 Coupe DeVille-Dunbarton Green

joecaristo

Don't rest your arm on them, and keep them out of the sun and extreme weather.
Joe
Joe Caristo

Jeff Moffo

That I know...but any conditioners, or creams, or protectants?!
Mine has a small...SMALL tear that I don't want to get worse....
Any suggestions for a small repair as such?
Jeff M
North Jersey
Best of all, it's a Cadillac....
'76 Coupe DeVille - Claret (Sold)
'73 Series 60 Fleetwood (Sold)
'76 Coupe DeVille-Dunbarton Green

76eldo

Crazy glue it closed for starters.

Brian
Brian Rachlin
Huntingdon Valley, Pa
I prefer email's not PM's rachlin@comcast.net

1960 62 Series Conv with Factory Tri Power
1970 DeVille Conv
1970 Eldo
1970 Caribu (?) "The Cadmino"
1973 Eldorado Conv Pace Car
1976 Eldorado Conv
1980 Eldorado H & E Conv
1993 Allante with Hardtop (X2)
2008 DTS
2012 CTS Coupe
2017 XT
1956 Thunderbird
1966 Olds Toronado

mgbeda

The best thing for preserving survivor interior plastic is Lemon Pledge.  The furniture polish.  Apparently the oils in it actually soak into the plastic and replace some of the evaporated original oils (that's what makes the plastics shrink and crack).  I can't vouch for the chemical process, but I use it on my 40,000 mile LeSabre convertible and all the interior plastic still looks good.

-mB
-Mike Beda
CLC #24610
1976 Sedan DeVille (Bessie)

Jeff Moffo

The tear is open a bit.  I am afraid to touch it too much.  I was hoping to put something behind it in order to glue it closed...but it is a delicate operation! A small tear looks a lot better than a large rip!
Pledge....?  That scares me.  I would think in today's market, a company who manufactures car care products would have something far superior than Pledge.
Jeff M
North Jersey
Best of all, it's a Cadillac....
'76 Coupe DeVille - Claret (Sold)
'73 Series 60 Fleetwood (Sold)
'76 Coupe DeVille-Dunbarton Green

Thule

does anyone know about a picture of a door panel with the plastic lower end?
Ivar Markusson.  icelandic cadillac club (part of CLC)
73 Eldorado coupe.