Door Skins

[WCB4]

Can anybody explain the diffrences between an OEM and a aftermarket door skin. Is there really $300.00 diffrence in quality? Is the OEM pannel much easier to work with or what? Just wondering before I put the money down. Thanx in advance.
Regards Bill

[Gearbox]

Can't speak regarding door skins per se, but just finished a 71S resto and all the reproduction panels from Dansk, which I am told was the OEM vendor to Porsche, didn't fit and required hammering, cutting, and reshaping to make it work. On the other hand, any real OEM or NOS panels that I was able to get, fitted perfectly. At the end of the day, both panels will look good in the hands of a competent bodyman, but the extra work on the repros may not justify the cost savings if you are paying someone else to do the job. But before you reskin the door, have you thought about getting a good used door? I see them going for $100 on e-bay, but even twice that amount would be a no brainer. Hope this helps Allan

[Paul Schooley]

I've been fighting with that very question...and believe a good used door is the better way to go unless you truly are a qualified bodyman or someone with the rest of your life devoted to making it fit just right. That's another thing on my shopping list for the trip to Cal coming up.

[WCB4]

Just went the used door route! A set of early doors(no side intrusion bar) rust free only needs lite paint work off a 69. The left door arrived first. Cool I thought as I removed it from the box. As advertized! OH wait a second, no extra packing a 35 pound door in a oversized box. Looks like it came form the east cost riding on the handle end. The end of the door next to the handle mushroomed along the radius. S***. The next day the right door arrives. An oversixed box agin. No door ends sticking out the end of the box. That's a plus. Open the box go to lift it out of the box. OHHHH. my back! Right side door is about ten pounds hevier, you guessed it not a early door at all. It looks like one of the apes at DHL gave it a boot too. Iam thinking that the skin will have to be replaced on the left door to get the gap right on that upper rear radius. The right door is going to need at least four hours to repair, might as well reskin it and remove the intrusion bar at the same time. Well for a total of $500.00(that did include the shipping). I did get a set of rust free door frames and a set of window regulators that work great. It looks like my aprentiship at the body shop just lenghtend.
And they want to know how my week is going!
Bill

[Paul Schooley]

Geez. When I get out to Cal. I'm gonna find a nice set myself, packem up myself and ship them to myself.