Who has used original fit interiors??

[82SC]

Just got my RS door panels...

If I could do it again I would make them myself...although with their sale of 195...it is hard to beat...

But basically I got 2 flat panels and a bag full of hardware!!

did you get yours like this or was it assembled???

none of my cut outs were there...the wooden panel has holes for the window etc...but the vinyl is flat with no holes???

I guess it is a simple procedure to cut the vinyl and glue it back...

also the door pulls have 2 different plastic pieces...which piece goes on which side???

HMMM....anyone with experience with these panels...??

Thanks

I am going to fiddle around with it and see if I can figure out how to attach all the hardware...

[davis911s]

I have used them, but I just bought the hardware and made the door panels myself. Seems like there panels are exactly open and install.

As for the vinyl all I did was pull it tight and staple the excess to the rear. For the holes you cut it like a pie, and then pull the "pie pieces" to the rear and staple them too. Do not cut right to the edge or it will show through. Leave a little excess for when you pull it tight. (you'll see what I mean when you start)

I don't remember there being two different pieces for the door pulls, thats sounds funny to me. Call them and ask if this is right or if possibly you got a wrong piece

They look great once installed, email me if you have any questions

Shawn

[Kurt B]

Well, I found some leatherette which is exactly like our leather interior at a fabric store. I got 24 square feet of it for 33 bucks.

It's in the 4th room of the Fabric store on overland and pico in West LA. It is charcoal gray, but can easily be dyed; it has an exact leatherette pattern though and it flat, not glossy like vinyl. I got this to make my own. I just need to find something to make the hardware with. Use the old backing.

Still looking for a closeup of those doors...how is the hardware mounted anyway? Do they bolt in to the old places, cause it seems like the horizontal door handle wouldn't match up. the holes are vertically arranged for the big plastic original door handle, so I'm wondering if you had to drill.

[team5150]

82SC,

Here is a link to the interior project I did on my car. You will be able to see all of the things you are asking about there.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_interior_restoration/main2.htm

[82SC]

thanks guys...

I read team 5150's artiles...way back when.....when I first got my car and found this board...

My question wa more about the attachment of the hardware...which I figured out...and I was wondering if everyone else who ordered got theirs in pieces or if it cam assembled ready to go....

Well I wil have pics when I am done!!!

MJ

[bob tilton]

i ordered the older style rs panels. they arrived 2 months after promised date in sandwhich bags and no instructions.
bob
68 L

[JimNB]

Shawn,

Did you buy your hardware at Better Bodies or Original Fit ?

I was quoted $ 75 from BB and $ 95 from original fit ?

Does anyone have a good clear photo of what is included in the hardware kit ? Sounds like it could be a DIY if I have something to take to a harware supplier/machin shop......

[davis911s]

Jim your right I used Better Bodies. Great memory. My carpet was from Original.

The only part that could not be made is the little plastic piece that the pull strap comes through. But they can be bought at the dealer or possibly pelican. I would buy 6 of those 2 for pull straps and 4 for the ends of the handles. Other than that it could be a DIY easily.

Shawn

[82SC]

okay...well this is what I have...(numbers for 1 panel)


3 plastic "clips" looks like arrow heads
5 finishing screws...black with the washers that have a depression for the head of the screw to go into

the pull handle is a bent piece of metal with foam and vinyl...2 holes.
The plastic covers have no way to attach to the panel...instead there are clips to clip onto the attached handle....
there are 4 washers...2 for each attachment screw to keep the handle from sinking too far into the foam...or else the plastic clips on the can't attach to the metal handle.
they send wood screws but I plan to use nut and bolt...also maybe some washers or a backing plate between the 2 screws, because some passengers are used to modern cars and pull hard etc...don't want my panel coming off in their hands
there is a hole behind the handle...that may be to secure the middle of the panel to the door

The pull to open the door is a piece of plastic that looks like the plastic covers for the handle...except these attach to the panel with 2 screws each...I attached mine already
the pull is a simple piece of nylon with grommets...and a pin with a e-clip to secure...I may go with a black strap if the reds seem too loud...

These are the pics...I will be able to elaorate when I finally get my door panels on...since I will write a tech article...but if you have a spare weekend...this is a easy DIY project...But...with originals 195 price...I think the savings amount to about 60-90 dollars...so that is your call...

So if you want to DIY...the only pieces you couldn't get at a hardware store are the plasitc pieces...the plastic clips...and the metal handle can be made...but I would think it is a PIA

[bob tilton]

82sc,
i threw out the "arrowhead" screws as the pushed the panels too far out for the top of the door to go back on. you can pick up the exact same metal screws at your local pepboys although i opted to use the number supplied. i drilled all new holes after piercing the marked holes from the rear of the panel. i used a 7/64" bit. also, the supplied snap ring and receiving "cylinder" was useless. i used the old ones from the pull rods. good luck.

[Turbo]

Would someone please post URL or phone number of Original Fit Interiors? TIA

Jeff
89 930

[czwbkx]

Has anyone used their (Original Fit's) rear package shelf? I amy need to do so, and would like to hear a voice or two of experience with OFI.

R.

[widebody911]

(209) 852-9084 I bought my targa top stuff from them, and had good luck.

Originally posted by Turbo
Would someone please post URL or phone number of Original Fit Interiors? TIA

Jeff
89 930

[JimNB]

I just ordered all of the plastic parts for $ 30 US from the dealer.

I had bought the backing board for $ 4 (USD), the vinyl and foam $ 20 US) and now need to source the handle (Porsche wanted $ 100 for a leather one) and pull strap.

The cost of the screws is not even worth counting.

Right now I am thinking I will come in well under $ 75 US for two custom RS America door panels. Plus I don't have to fight exchange rates, duties and shipping.

Pretty good value for not much effort. Thanks for all your great ideas.

Jim

[82SC]

very nice work...make sure you take pics!!!....

let me know fi you have questions...although I think the quality of mine are not that great...bob T seems to have had trouble with holes lining up and such...

when I screwed on the pull strap covers the holes were not aligned....

I bet if I made mine myself they would have come out alot better....damnit...oh well...

[JimNB]

How long and wide is the pull strap you got with your kit, I want to make sure I buy the right grade of nylon. Also, what size are the grommets ?

Finally, what is the distance between the holes on the handle ? I am thinking 6-8 inches. Is this about right ?

Jim

[Kurt B]

Thanks a ton for that post 82sc!! Really appreciate!

[JimNB]

Here is where I got the Porsche part #'s. The dealer price for the pull strap and handle were just plain silly, but the plastic pieces were really inexpensive.

Check out the misc section on this site.

http://members.rennlist.com/jeroen/

Jim

[Tony911Z]

I took advantage of Original Fit's sale back in January and installed my RS door panels about a month ago. The installation was a little more involved than I had thought and I've been meaning to post about my experience.

The foam and vinal are atteched to a wooden backing and I decided to seal the exposed wood with urethane to prevent future warping.

As was previously noted the wood is cut for various applications (w/ or w/out speakers, power or manual windows) but the vinal is uncut. I sliced the vinal with an exacto knife in an X pattern for the power window rectangular openings. I then pulled the four triangular pieces through the openings to the back of the panel where I glued them with contact cement. For the larger door lock knob round opening I sliced in a pie shape and pulled and glued the eight or so wedge shaped pieces. NOTE: before you glue trial fit the window switches-the cutouts in my panel were not large enough and had to be filed a bit to enlage them.

In case you're still wondering-yes you do have to drill into your door to fit the new handle and for the upholstery screws along the bottom of the RS panel. This is where I found some short comings in the kit. The screws supplied for the handle had a tapered head and were not being installed into a tapered hole. Also the handle screws were pretty small and I didn't think they'd last too long. I bought some larger screws with the proper head. I also had to buy some washers to space the handle away from the door a bit so that the plastic end pieces would snap into place-otherwise they were too close to the panel when I tightened the mounting screws..

Unlike a previous post, I had no problems mounting the latch mechanism engaging strap with the shaft and small snap ring provided.

Overall I love the panels. On my car the door pockets were warped and small objects would fall through. The Original Fit panel's vinal is a nice tecture and has a nice leather like dull finish. An added bonus is the car seems a little bit roomier-I also removed my center console which helps as well.

So expect to do a little work installing the panels and also plan to purchase some urethane sealer, some screws and washers, a roll of half inch foam, and some contact cement.

Hope this helps-if anyone has any questions please email me while the job is still relatively fresh. I've found that as time goes by you forget all the little intricacies involved in a job and are more likely to describe it a "a breeze".

[82SC]

nylon strap is ~11inches long
24mm wide (hahaha sorry about the metric...that is all my caliper reads) converts to 1 inch
grommet inner diameter is 4.5mm ~0.2"

get the nice nylon with finished (woven) sides...I can imagine straight endge nylon to fray will all the pulling and such...plus melted edges looks bad...thankfully these are the finished type....then you can just cut and burn/melt the ends

handle is 8" long
but unbent length is 10 inches
the bends make it sit about 1.6-1.75" off the surface
the end tab (bends) are about 0.75" long with holes drilled in them
the hole distance is about 7" apart...

hahaha I doubt all my measurements add up...but you get the idea...


like tony said you need to elevate the handle with washers...

Better bodies uses a PVC plastic sheet as a backing which is probably much better

I do not know about the drilling yet since I have yet to take off my panels...but I will try to post pics and explainations to add to Tony's description...

Team 5150 has a great article about how to make panels...a good read thru will help

one tip is when you cut the pies ot triangles in the holes you DO NOT want to cut all the way to the edge of the backing material...you want to leave some uncut material so that when you pull it back to glu, that uncut material covers the edge of the opening...it is not that serious since the window switches, speakers, plastic pieces all have rims that would cover such a mistake...but if you are looking to make the best possible one that is a tip...

Also if you use 3M contact cement I think it is not as sticky so you can fix things if you make mistakes...Upholstry contact cement is more permanent

Also make sure there are no wrinkles...that is the enemy....I have heard LIGHTLY ironing the vinyl the night before helps...don't melt it...I think you can blow dry or heat gun some wrinkles after it is all put together...

you can even get fancy and have a place stitch in things like SCWDP or I think if you stitched a black porsche emblem on a black viynl that would look cool...or bikers do this...the get a sheet of viynl and a thinner under piece...then they cut foam into lets say the shape of a letter P...they put this between the viynl and the thin back sheet...then they have a seamstress stitch around the shaped foam...and voila you have the embossed look...hahaha now I am getting carried away....

good luck...keep us posted...

lucky bastards...I should have DIY too...I prob would have used a really dark grey vinyl...hmmm maybe I will sell these and just make my own........................