DIY RS America Style Door Panels?

echrisconnor · echrisconnor's Garage

I'm trying to create my own RS America style door panels. My old panels are trashed, and I thought I could easily re-cover them in black vinyl and get a simple strap handle and attach that to the door. The one part I'm missing or at a loss at how to locate is the openings for the pull straps that allow you to release the door latch.

Does anyone know how I could find these parts, or what could be used as a substitute?

Any advice would be appreciated.

rscupper · 01-31-2002, 08:10 AM

I've never looked closely at that part, but I'm guessing it's molded plastic. Unless you can come with a manufacturing idea of your own, you might want to call a company or store that sells the RS-style doors to see if you can purchase just those parts. I would think you could do that as molded plastic has a way of becoming brittle with time.

If you're still stymied, e-mail me and I'll check with a friend of mine who makes the door panel assys (I'm not sure if his are visually true to the original, though).

dad911 · 01-31-2002, 09:29 AM

I made my own door panels. Plastic part that strap goes thru is part # 964 555 761 00 01C (Rosette). Its a dealer-order part, only a couple bucks each.

echrisconnor · echrisconnor's Garage

That's great info. So if I just call my local dealer they can track that part down?

What did you do for handles? I was just going to use a farily generic black strap.

Kurt B · 01-31-2002, 11:35 AM

I've been meaning to do this myself Chris, and you're making me think about it again. Another guy did do this a while back, but I've forgotten his name now.
I think a strap would do fine for the handle.
Going to do black vinyl or try and match the paint?

echrisconnor · echrisconnor's Garage

I'm going to go with black vinyl. I'd rather not play with the paint and if I goof it up, it's cheap to do over.

Still not sure which pulls to use. I found I can get the RS style ones from the dealer for about $40 each. I might just find a more generic one though. I'm not too concerned about authenticity.

Kurt B · 01-31-2002, 01:38 PM

Can't you just fashion your own straps for both the handle and the pulls? The pull is just a pin that comes out of the door that is inserted into the plastic handle. If nothing else, you can clip that pin (to make is short), and bind another strap to that.

40 bucks a pop just plain pisses me off. I mean get real. Should be 20 bucks for both. Jesus.
80 bucks for the straps, I can't believe that.

Fishcop · Fishcop's Garage

I'm currently re-trimming my car at the moment, wife is still not happy with the amount of sewing machine needles I'm breaking on her machine at the moment

There are a couple of things I can't do (seats etc...) so I've given certain stuff to a professional trimmer to do.

My point being that a good trimmer should be able to make you up a couple of small things like straps in no time and money at all. So if you get stuck, don't be afraid/stingy to get a couple of things made up as you need them!

Good luck and please post photos of your finished panels.

Cheers

911pcars · 01-31-2002, 01:45 PM

Original Fit has the parts (complete sets as well). I bought just the handle from them a few years ago (about $35 ea.).

If you make the door panel backing out of thin plywood (same as O.F.), add a layer of clear polyurethane (or equiv.) to protect against moisture damage.

Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

island911 · 01-31-2002, 01:59 PM

check out this thread.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7204

Wow; this SEARCH function is useful. . . it must be new or something.

dad911 · 01-31-2002, 03:17 PM

Awww, searches are no fun, then us new guys couldn't put our .02 in.

Mine were made from very thin (1/8"?) plywood, wife supplied fabric and padding. I just used a 'loop' of pull material as a handle, not going for originality. Padding cut to size, fabric cut about 2 inches big, pulled around back and fastened with spray contact cement.

Jeroen · 03:43 PM

I've build these myself a couple of years ago
Got all the Porsche part numbers on my website:

http://members.rennlist.com/jeroen

You might wanna check the partprices first (don't know the recent prices) and compare to a complete set of panels (check Excellence mag).

Cheers,

Jeroen - the Netherlands

PS If I'd have to do it again, I'd make the panels out of carbon sheet. No hassles with upholstering and it would look great too!