MTFCA Forum

Hi all,
I'm about to start installing my new panels on the 26 Touring to replace an old resto warped black cardboard with these new vinyl-covered ones. They came with spiral tacks to install. Question is do you recommend pre-drilling the panels or just line up and tap them in? Any tips on installing these?

Luckily, I have most of the old original spring clip cups for the doors.

Thanks in advance!
Mike

I drilled holes slightly undersized when I installed the door panels on my Runabout. I found it easiest to start at the top and do the bottom row of fasteners last.

The top of each door panel fits into a groove under a lip of metal at the top of the door. Be sure the panel is all the way up so that water doesn't get in or that the panel warps and pulls away from the door. Once you get the top in, fit the bottom so that the overlap of metal is equal on front edge and rear edge. Next drive in the tacks. I drove mine in, but it would be no problem if you drill a hole unless the drill bit snags the material and stretches it or rips it.There should be some snaps in the holes in the metal through which the tack fits and they are forgiving if you are a fraction of an inch off. But try to get in the center if you can.
Norm

Picture is worth 1,000 words.
Can you please post pictures?

I've got a question. What do you drive the tacks into? There is no wood in the door. Mine looks like there are fasteners in holes with no panel installed. Do the tacks get pushed into the holes of the metal frame?

If those are the original or repro's of the originals, they are spring loaded snap fasteners. There is a small hole in the center and the tack gets driven into that hole. I didn't take any pictures when I did mine, so I am sorry that I have none to post.
Norm

These are the ringed nails, with a large painted head. They drive into the sockets placed in the door metal panel holes that are there for the sockets. Repros come with plastic sockets, but they are thick and stand up a bit, you can sand them down. Or use the original metal sockets if in good condition.



Note where the sockets are, after you fit the door panel, you can use chalk marks on the panel and door edge if you can't remember where the sockets are



Professionals use a paper template and mark the socket holes and transfer the template to the face of the new panel.

You know, I could probably use my old cardboard panels as templates. I'll have to look at my tacks again, I remember them as more spiraled than ringed. Got my set in awhile back and haven't looked in a long time. Old cardboard ones installed with upholstery Phillips screws and washers.

Now I know. Thanks. that explains how they are attached.

This is the pack of tacks I received from Classtique. They look different than the ones shown. These spiral tacks will work, right? I also read somewhere that the Model A spring clips are a better way to go. Are these the ones that would work? https://www.mikes-afordable.com/product/A46126A.html Pretty pricey but if they work, might be worth it. Looks like the Model A spring clips would work like those on my 68 Cougar. Not sure the diameter of the holes in the doors are small enough to hold.

Thoughts?

This is the post where I read about using Model A spring clips. Will this work for 26 Touring doors?

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80 ... 1250616326

The spring clips are for door panels with fabric upholstery that covers and hides the fasteners, like modern cars of the day, and the old.

The T open cars only had cardboard panels, today the reproductions are cardboard with a thin vinyl covering, and these type of interior boards are held with exposed headed nails.

The 26-27 open car doors have holes around the perimeter of the inner door panel a strategic places. The sockets (metal original or plastic replacements) are pushed and driven into those holes and are retained by the design of the sockets.

Then the upholstery nail with large head is driven into the cardboard door panel, and into the socket, the rings on the nail shank retain the nail into the socket, and hold the door cardboard to the metal door.


Note the holes with sockets inserted, and some of the sockets still have the large headed nails, as the cardboard panel has weathered away.
The other cardboard pieces, like hip padded panels are held similar, and kick panels are too, held by either metal channels formed to secure the edge, or with same nails driven into the wood framing around the metal structure at certain pieces, to secure the cardboards.

Will the spiral nails in my prior post work? Heads seem pretty small diameter. It looks like Snyder's has the ringed nails. Do they work better than the spiral nails or do they both work about the same?

Mike

Those ring or spiral nails only need to grip the socket flanges. You should stick with plastic kit as they are matched to work. Haven’t seen that brand but should work

Do know the factory metal are thin and made for Ford holes. The Ford ringed dome head nail has .300” dia. head, the other brand in my photo is .280” dia. and are metal done like head , smooth finish nails, they also work in Ford original metal sockets. The Ford has a pebble pattern head as the original were pebble grain.

Have some extra pkg. of them.

Thanks for the info!
Mike