I recently accuired some Tan leather door panels of a 82 GSL model. My 85 Se has the brown leather door panels. For those of you who do not know the 81-85 doors are pretty much the same. They are setup to accept power or manual window regulators.

The only differences I have found between the 81-85 door panel mounting bolts in the doors are the following.

1). The 84-85 have a extra tang slot to accomodate the door pull cup supports. (pic attached)
2). The 84-85 have 2 extra attachments for the outside trim screws that go thru the door panels as extra attachment support places. (pic attached)
The 81-83 ones do not have these because they have 2 extra mounting locations thru the door panels for support. (pic attached)
Although the door pull handles are different styles if you use the 81-83 ones when installing the earlier 81-83 panels on the 84-85 doors they will bolt right in place.
The opposite is true if you wanted to use the 84-85 panels on your 81-83 model. The extra support for the door pull cup can either be modified by removing the tang that goes thru the door or making a provision for this.
As far as the outside trim screw attachments all you have to do is drill the required holes and use either self tapping sheet metal screws or put nylon inserts as they were on the 84-85 models.
As I have only confirmed this on the power window door panels I would believe that this would also be true for non-power window panels.

 

Tommorow I am going to see how well the 81-83 center console armrest will do in the 85. The big challenge is the power window switch difference as far as the mounting goes and if the joy
stick for the stock stereo can be fitted in there also.

 

Hi Doc,
Newbie here, just registered.
I've been trying to get my wife's 82 GSL restored and can't find what what you have, gold/tan interrior panels.
Actually since i've been purusing these archives I've found the solution to some of my problems.
You folks have talked about SEM plastic/vinyl paint , so now it doesn't matter what color interrior I find.
I just haven't been able to find anyone with the Pieces I need to complete my project.
Any suggestions?
I'm in So. Calif.
I've checked local wrecking yards & Ebay.
I need a headliner & the plastic that goes below the rear window hatch(from the speaker panels back) the most.
could use part of console also .
Thanks, 56tri5

 

56tri5, Welcome to the forum.

The headliner you should be able to find all kinds in the yards of different colors. It's too expensive to ship them.
The rear cargo hatch trim that goes the width of the car is difficult to find one in good shape.
Place a WTB ad in the 1st gen classified parts section with whatever you need. There are alot of members and someone is bound to come up with what you need.
On the color I'm working on. The best match for repaint I've found is the Sem Camel. I am updating one of my thread with a before and after from the Palomino I 1st tried.

 

Thank you Doc,
I'll try what you suggested
56tri5

 

If your headliner cardboard is in good shape, it can easily be recovered with new headliner material if you can find the color you want. If you aren't up to the task, check with your local automotive upholsterer. It' not hard to do, I have done a few myself with very good results.

Fwiw, if there is a seamstress/sewer in your life, that experience with fabrics/materials is usually enough to recover a headliner. The old liner needs to be removed and any leftover foam cleaned off. Use 3M 90 adhesive to glue the new liner to the headliner card.

 

hey doc when did you become a mod? havent been around really for a while.

congrats man!

 

I upconverted my 85SE from cloth to leather interior with seats and panels from various JYs. Actually, I have the cloth seats installed right now for the summer, and need to have some minor repairs done on the leather seats.

But the door panels I was able to get from JYs show serious fading from burgundy to brown on the surrounds, so I'm looking for either a way to color or replace them.

Had to drill a couple holes in the inside sheetmetal for the panelmountings. But my problem is that the driverside doorpull is too close to the steering wheel and traps my kneecap. On the 85GSL I solved he problem by installing a 330mm aftermarket steering wheel, but here I'm going to keep the steering wheel and solve the problem elsewise, either by fabbing a replacement handle that clears the knee or remove it entirely.