Changing door inserts

[Moto]

Anyone with experience of changing the door inserts. I've never particularly liked the carpet look and would like to redo them in leather or something similar.

[TVR Beaver]

Yes.. I had grey all over the inside of mine and it was too much... but didn't want carpet... so got some Alcantara (swade type stuff)... the inserts are screwde onto the door top's but you have to remove the frame bit to get them out (obviously).. this is done by gaining access thru the speaker hole and removing the 4 nut's / washers holding it on and the reflector bit at the back... Not the best job in the work (you have to have very flexable hands).. but quite straight forward...
Don't make the mistake I made on re-fitting... If you over do the nut's they pull up againt the window glass... I was doing this with a ratchet spanner (the type you have to take off and reverse to go the other way)... and got it to a point where I could not remove the spanner!!!! (thick or what)
I'll try upload a pic.... Cheers...

[Ballistic Banana]

i was thinking of changing mine to carbon fibre, should be quite easy to do.

BB

[TVR Beaver]

Carbon fibre and black suround would look good... what colours your trim?... you can get carbon fibre material type to stick on... or would you replace the panel with actual CF????

[Ballistic Banana]

with actual carbon fibre wouldnt need much. Have black leather at the moment with black carpet insert.

BB

[TVR Beaver]

Just the job!!!.. will look top's.. Then a CF dash??

[griffdude]

Power's bodyshop do a quilted leather insert that looks the dog's danglies....

[jeboa]

BB - What sort of CF sheet were you thinking of using to cover?

I like the idea of this to match the dash.

When the carpet is removed - how uneven is the surface? You can get the flexible type CF sheet (not the fake printed stuff).

I guess the surface would have to be 'baby bottom' smooth not to show imperfections?

[Englishman]

I've just removed the vinyl and replaced with carpet - looks far better IMHO

[jeboa]

Englishman - A Griffith 500 AND a Sagaris - that's just greedy

Not jealous at all!!

[wargriff]

would you have to have the carbon fibre shaped and sculpted to fit the present backing, or would a rectangular ish shape fit in ok ?

[Chimjunkie]

Did mine over a year ago and think it is a great mod.

[jeboa]

Chimjunkie - the door cards look very neat - what material did you use - and how much prep was involved?

Are they Elise seats you have in there?

[Chimjunkie]

jeboa said:

Chimjunkie - the door cards look very neat - what material did you use - and how much prep was involved?

I used a sheet comprising a single layer of carbon backed by 2 layers of woven glass cloth. This gave it a thickness of over 1mm. Had to take door card off, remove carpet then glue on the carbon sheet. The carbon was shaped similarly to the carpet. Is worth using a thin rubber sound deadedning material between the door and carbon IMO. 1mm + Carbon is available in sheet form from a few suppliers. Just google/ebay.

jeboa said:

Are they Elise seats you have in there?

Exige/Elise Probax

Transformed the car. Dont know of anyone else who has fitted these.

[Chimjunkie]

Ballistic Banana said:

i was thinking of changing mine to carbon fibre, should be quite easy to do.

BB

Simon, Come along to the Next Herts and Beds meet!! Not sure i have seen you there? Can show you my door panels . Drag that Mr Plasticman along too and join in with the run-in.

[Moto]

Sounds like a 'must do' job. That carbon fibre looks great with the matching dash. I wonder whether ally door panels will work with an ally dash.... bit too bling maybe. Best stick to alcantara me thinks!

[Englishman]

jeboa said:

Englishman - A Griffith 500 AND a Sagaris - that's just greedy

Not jealous at all!!

Glad to hear it.

Edited by Englishman on Sunday 31st May 15:47

[LordGrover]

Englishman said:

Ah. Saw that puppy at Castle Combe last weekend.
Didn't see the driver though.

[Englishman]

Yep, was a good day even if no TVR's on track (and only a few parked around the circuit). Those days of the TVR Tuscan's racing and the numbers of road cars that drew in were magic. Nothing else comes close.