I have a problem with my under dash panals... The drivers side one is sagging, has mouse stink in the backing, and really doesnt look very good, so i want to make a new one.

To me, it feels almost like what pegboard is made out of (MDF?), but I really dont know... its been hitting my feet/knees if I sit how I normally sit (long legs, big feet), Its not really a problem, but It does bug me enough so I want to make a new one.
I'll be using the origional one as a template, so it wont look bad, and I will paint it glossy black, to match the rest of the dash.
Anybody know what kind of material should I be looking at, and how should I paint it(paint type)?

Thanks alot
~Nate

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

1984 300d Turbo
Go To **************.com
They Have A Lot Of Used Parts, Service Kits

didnt find anything on there... Good site for used parts though...

and even if i would find a panal in a junkyard, it would still be just as old, and just as saggy

I really think recreating it, and saving the origionals is the way to go for me

thanks alot
~Nate

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

Aluminum shaped to fit..glue some matching carpet to the bottom and some dynamat on top for sound deadening.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

fortunately I was able to use my donor cars units, however I did "glue" some foam backing on them to replace the old stuff. Prior to getting the donor I was stressing about their replacement and had come to the conclusion that I was going to use black heavy poster board and copy the pattern. i am not sure if it will work but the consitency is about right

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Ron
2015 Porsche Cayman - Elizabeth
2011 Porsche Cayman - Bond,James Bond
Sadly MERCEDESLESS - ALways LOOKING !
99 E320 THE Queen Mary - SOLD
62 220b - Dolly - Finally my Finny! Sadly SOLD
72 450SL, Pearl-SOLD
16 F350 6.7 Diesel -THOR
19 BMW X5 - Heaven on Wheels
14 38HP John Deere 3038E Tractor -Mean Green
84 300SD, Benjamin -SOLD
71 220 - W115-Libby ( my first love) -SOLD
73 280 - W114 "Organspende" Rest in Peace
81 380 SL - Rest in Peace

Aluminum rattles, and i dont know how to weld it (yet)...

I dont think carpet would look good, I might be wrong...
What is pegboard made out of anyways? To me, that looks like a subital material, if i can either plug every freekin hole, or find a sheet without any

Thanks alot
~Nate

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

Pegboard is generally a Masonite™ type material. It is available in unperforated, 1/8" thick sheets at any building supply or big-box home store.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

If you want to spend the $ for new ones try here.

http://www.worlduph.com/hubpageMERCEDES.htm

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Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

Look up automotive upholstery in the yellow pages.

I don't remember what the stuff is called but they use it for door panels and such. It's water resistant, the right thickness and if you're lucky, if may even have the right vinyl color already fused to it.

There is a great store in Tacoma that IIRC is somewhere near Park and 82nd but I could be way off.

Michael

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Usta haves '69 250/8, '76 280C, 1971 250C 114.023, 1976 450SEL 116.033
Current have, 1983 300SD 126.120

thats what the carpet takes care of and the dynamat...its far more formable than masonite is.....

I'll be honest and say I am not a W115 expert.....but a W123 and W116 underdash panel is not flat...

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

The original panels are some type of wax impregnated cardboard. It's somewhat flexible and has the forward edge molded or creased to fold down and screw to various places in the upper footwells. Masonite will work as long as you don't need to bend it much. For the folded-down edge that fastens in the footwell, you'll need to get creative with some sheet metal or some 'L' brackets, perhaps pop-rivetting it to the masonite and bending it down to line up with the screw holes, or alternately, fastening brackets in the footwells first then screwing them to the masonite.

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DrDKW

The original panels are some type of wax impregnated cardboard. It's somewhat flexible and has the forward edge molded or creased to fold down and screw to various places in the upper footwells. Masonite will work as long as you don't need to bend it much. For the folded-down edge that fastens in the footwell, you'll need to get creative with some sheet metal or some 'L' brackets, perhaps pop-rivetting it to the masonite and bending it down to line up with the screw holes, or alternately, fastening brackets in the footwells first then screwing them to the masonite.
Most of the original finish I've seen was an embossed leather-grain, finished with semi-gloss dark grey paint. For masonite, semi-gloss black or dark grey should look fine.

If most of your original panels are intact but sagged, it may be possible to use brackets or sheet metal to fix any disintegrated edges, then pop-rivet some metal strapping to the backside to straighten the sag.
Fiber carpet-padding, availible at places like Home-Depot, makes a good replacement for any rotted, rodent-scented original stuff.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW