Anybody have a set of White Cuda convertible rear interior panels made by Palco/Dash Top ? I have two sets on order since August 2021....still not in yet :pullinghair:
There are sellers on eBay selling them, but they don't have them either.... :foul:
Well sort of....The two sets I ordered 10 months ago just showed up today.... :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:
Look for some detail photos side by side with the Metro door panels....
I promised
@Jay Bee (https://forum.e-bodies.org/mlist/jay-bee_351) I would post some :takepicture:
Okay John, here you go....These are new right out of the box, Metro Door Panels (Roseville Moparts) next to Palco/Dashtop rear panels (Classic Industries)
Okay, obviously the colour white is different between the two panels....but here's some interesting facts:
Did you know that BOTH companies paint these panels their own idea of white ? I didn't suspect the Metro panels were painted, but a quick look at the inside vs the outside, it's pretty obvious :rubeyes:
So here's my plan.....Check out this wonderful colour match that I'm getting with SEM 15103 Super White.....I think it's likely what Palco/Dashtop uses and more importantly it almost matches the material used by Cipher when making my seats...I'm going to paint the front interior panels and arm rest pads :)
Look closely in the circles for a test spray square I did using SEM's paint on both the rear interior panel and seat. Up first the interior panel, then the seat and spray test...
Only major down fall is the riveted on window fuzzy (last picture)
I think with factory white interior, like the purple convertible I'm doing, I will consider painting the rear panels to match the Metro fronts :thinking:
Good to know, eventually I will need rear panels and rear upper seat frame if I even finish first project.
Does SEM sailcloth white match the original interior, legendary covers? this is just for my education for down the road.
Do you think the texture will look even more similar once both panels are color matched ?
Glad its coming together for you :twothumbsup:
Herb's puts out a white that is a better match for factory interiors :alan2cents:
Thanks, I'll be sure to post more pictures, once painted and installed... :takepicture: :wave:
The metro panels have texture that looks close to factory.
It's disturbing how poor the rear panel texture is and how rounded the edges are.
Why oh why doesn't metro make convertible panels?
And what did those back panels cost?
Metro really drop the ball when it came to convertible panels :headbang: ....I guess they figured the market wasn't large enough ? :dunno:
The difference in details you pointed out are the result of two different types of plastics and two completely different manufacturing techniques. Vacuum formed vs injected molded.
The rear convertible panels are $759.99 pair, at Classic Industries. :bigmoney:
Quote from: anlauto on May 27, 2022, 11:05:26 AM
Okay John, here you go....These are new right out of the box, Metro Door Panels (Roseville Moparts) next to Palco/Dashtop rear panels (Classic Industries)
Thanks very much Alan. That is a huge color difference, wasn't expecting it to be so drastic. I was aware of the grain and detail being off. Nice job on the color match, I had to get my 3.25 glasses out to see the square.
:thinking: this might be a good thread to :deadhorse: ...from ten years ago.
Jeff Bobst and his colleague had made a run of 'Cuda rear convertible panels as a winter project many years ago.
They had nailed the texture and look, though I recall there may have been a seam on the part that wraps around the pinchweld in the door jamb. Wonder if they still have the tooling?
Also, with the Palco panels at almost $800, does going with Just Dashes or similar make more sense? Or rehabbing originals with the method in the other post?
Quote from: YYZ on May 27, 2022, 01:29:36 PM
Also, with the Palco panels at almost $800, does going with Just Dashes or similar make more sense? Or rehabbing originals with the method in the other post?
In my opinion, I'd rather look at painted plastic panels that don't match perfectly, then to have them wrapped in vinyl by Just Dashes....that's just
MY opinion :alan2cents:
Quote from: YYZ on May 27, 2022, 01:29:36 PM
Jeff Bobst and his colleague had made a run of 'Cuda rear convertible panels as a winter project many years ago.
They had nailed the texture and look, though I recall there may have been a seam on the part that wraps around the pinchweld in the door jamb. Wonder if they still have the tooling?
Any more details on this prior reproduction attempt/success? First I have ever heard of it and the name is not familiar to me.
Isn't he the host of SURVIVOR ? :haha: :haha: :haha:
Tried a google search for Jeff Bobst and repro panels and only found an earlier similar thread on this board.
https://forum.e-bodies.org/interior/6/convertible-rear-panel/1190/
Ah. James' name had escaped me at the time of the post.
Jeff Bobst is well known in Mopar circles and is at 2111 E Bremer in Waverly, Iowa.
Not sure if his current phone number, however, it's likely that another member has it on hand and can PM it to you.
James Franken....guy was a genius at fabricating .
He did reproduction Cuda trim rings in zinc like originals, with numbers long before Mike at BEA and they were hard to tell from OEM.
He did shaker doors better than the current offerings...almost undistinguishable from OEM.
They did a better than on the market now, E-body 4 speed top plates, plus a host of other items.
James used to be with Jeff at most of the shows...and then one day.....
James decided to go back farming, where he is today.
Jeff would know if the tooling still exists
James Franken converted my flat hood to a shaker hood around 15 years ago. He used to stamp the gills into 70 fenders (one gill at at a time) to convert to 71 fenders - I still have a pair of fenders he did for me.
Jeff had some of those convertible panels in his shop about 5 years ago or so. That was around the time that James sold most of his e-body stuff (some NOS Fenders and other items). Last I heard, James still has a Challenger Convertible. Not sure if the tooling is still around.
Okay...So here's some photos taken minutes ago with the now painted Metro panels next to the painted Dash Top/Palco panels. All four painted with SEM Super White, which I mentioned matches the aftermarket seats really well. ;)
These are completely installed in their final resting place....OF COURSE I know the grain is not a perfect match, but I think overall, everything else lines up nice, they fit good and did require a little finesse to get them mounted, but name a reproduction part that doesn't :dunno:
Pictures are for you John
@Jay Bee (https://forum.e-bodies.org/mlist/jay-bee_351)
Now that actually looks very good, nice job. I imagine one would have to be careful so as not to chip the paint. On '70's when the fronts retract the metal buckle is prone to hitting the door panel.
Nice thing is that they are both molded in white plastic and that SEM paint touches up really easy too, but I hear ya :bigthumb: