Fiero Door Upholstery

MrMikes FIERO
Door Upholstery

Fiero door upholstery is divided into 2 parts; Upper and Lower.
   The Upper covers the top half of the door panel that is now vinyl.
    The Lower covers the bottom half that is now covered with carpet.

*The vinyl is NOT removed from the upper, the carpet should be removed.
* The 'dip' behind the door grip is bridged over, not glued down.
    * The Upper leather or Lower leather can be applied alone or together.
      * If both are used, the Upper must be applied first.

To apply the Upper leather door leather:

1. Remove the door panel from the car.

2. Trim the original vinyl back 3/8th along the top of the door panel. This edge fits into the black metal track at the bottom of the glass. Use a razor blade, cut through the vinyl but not the cardboard, peel this 3/8th of vinyl off. This will keep the thickness of the top edge the same once the new leather has been wrapped over the edge. This is necessary or the door panel will not fit back into the black metal track.

3. Trim off the original vinyl from the edges on the back of the door panel. This will give the leather a good surface to glue to. Trim 3/8th inch off the original vinyl where it lays under the carpet for the same reason. If you are not removing the carpet, run your finger under the top edge of the carpet, you will find it is not glued down.

4. Fill the 'groove' at the top of the door panel with silicone or Bondo so it is flush and smooth. The leather does not go down into the groove.

5. Spray glue 2 inches wide around the perimeter of the Upper door leather. Do not glue the center. Spray glue around the BACK edges of the door panel, and at the bottom edge where is meets the carpet.

6. Attach the perimeter of the leather to the door panel.
Start at the top: Place the leather on the top edge, (the back of the leather is marked with a line), stick it on. Smooth the leather down the face of the door panel and stick it to the bottom edge where it meets the carpet. Pull the front and rear edges around to the back and stick them on.

7. From the back side: Spray glue on the latch and door handle areas. Cut an "X" and pull the leather around to the back and stick it on.

To apply the Lower leather door leather:

1. Remove the door panel from the car.

2. Remove the old carpet by spraying it with starting fluid spray (the stuff that starts your car in the winter).
      Do this outdoors, wear a mask and gloves, the dissolved glue will be very sticky. The door panel will also
       remain sticky, don't lay it down on the grass.

3. Spray glue the cardboard of the door panel (even though it is sticky),
      and the back of the new lower leather panel.

4. Position the top edge of the leather panel to the bottom of the original vinyl top. Press on.

5. Lift up on the leather, lightly spray the foam with glue, smooth out the leather.

6. Turn the door panel over. Glue and wrap the edges. Trim around the slots for the door panel clips.

Tips:
* The map pockets are held on from the back of the door panel with 'reverse nuts'. These can be removed by using a pair of needle nose pliers spread open to start the nuts, and using regular pliers to grab the outer edge and twisting off as usual.

* Poke holes through the new Lower leather from the back side with a screwdriver to make holes to replace the map pockets.

* When the door panel is off, check to make sure the door panel clips are out of the car and on the door panel.

* Check to see if the small metal clip holders at the top of the door panel have not come off of the door panel. If they have; put them back onto the door panel with a strong glue like urethane. You will see marks where the factory stapled them on.