your opinion

[ben]

ok here is what i wanna do.. i want to get rid of the windows in the barn doors.. but i have 2 options.

i could just weld it flat.. may as well take a mould off it in case anyone wants a fibrglass barn doors.

or i could use the panel in the lwb instead on the back barn doors (same size)


and it would have a matching recess like the side of the van.. would probably do it in fibreglass.



who thinks what??

cheers
ben

[Rogue Trooper]

In my humble opinion I've always thought that the window recesses on the windowless panels actually break it up and make it look more interesting. Flat panels look very plain and boring although if you are going to paint a mural on it then the flat panels are a better way to go.

I'm assuming you're not going to finish up with a mural so I vote for the recess.

[BusyKiwi]

I'd say recess as well

If I did my custom van again I'd do recess

[ben]

sounds like the go.. now i have to pull one off a van and put it back the way i found it after that cause i want dont wanna distroy a van just for the panel.. anyone ever removed side panels? just spot welds i asume.. sounds like a very fun job!

cheers
ben

[Warren]

Ben

Instead of using panels out of a van why not try making the panels from scratch.

Make a plug the shape and depth required out of MDF, radius the edge of the plug, then form the sheet metal over the top of it, if you leave enough over hang then you can flatten out the edges.

Alternatively make a form out of steel and use that.

Saves cutting up a Beddy.

Warren

[BusyKiwi]

When I added a side door in my standard van I used the recess from the panel for the side door, had to shorten it a little.

Panels are just spot welded, and braces glued (if it has the brace) but I'd go with Warrens idea

Back in the old days, before the fancy shrinking hammers and stuff they used wooden tools to shrink, stretch and mold  panels, using two types of wood (a soft and hard) they work together. Is a dead art I think, I was shown a bit of it some years back but not knowing my woods made it had to find the right stuff.

[ben]

nah i think ill take a mould off the side of the van without removing the panel.. then just form the edge later.

cheers for the good ideas thou
ben

[stumpy1972uk1]

ive done mine out of steel, cut a panel of steel 1/2" wider all round then the opening then formed it over a 1/2" bar to get the profile, flattened the edges before welding it in. i will post a pic of it when its been fillered and primed. quite easy really

[stumpy1972uk1]

[stumpy1972uk1]

ben ,  one thing to remember is that the window opening is smaller than the recess area on the side panels, i chose to leave mine as is to replicate a factory style door that hadnt had the windows fitted. if you intend to fill the window in you will need to cut a 1/2" off the window edge all the way round if you want it to be just like the side panels. ade .