69 vapor barrier panels

[Frank & Paula Lowery]

Does anyone know of a supplier for the plastic door panel vapor barriers? We've checked the usual sources, Paragon & Corvette Central, but did not see them. Thanks in advance for any help. Frank & Paula Lowery. #28485

[Kent K.]

Re: 69 vapor barrier panels

Frank & Paula,
Make your own using the originals for patterns to cut new ones out of 10 mil polyethelene. If your originals are missing, the pattern may be approximated by laying the poly over the door and cutting slightly smaller. Then slice exes where door hardware penetrates them. The 6 mil material sold at Home Depot or Lowes will suffice but it seems less durable ... it is not judged to my knowledge.
Good luck. Kent #6201

[Dave F.]

Sorry, I don't have the answer, but...

I have thought of the same need for my '68 resto, and thought about constructing my own from sheet plastic, such as visqueen, and t******* as required. After all, this is something that is hidden, and could be easily done.

[Chas Henderson #28127]

Re: 69 vapor barrier panels

If you have the old ones, or not, go to ace hardware store and buy a 10 mil thick or thicker drop cloth and cut out new ones. Just tape it to the door, use a marker, trace around the door and the necessary holes you need and cut. Use rope caulk and put them on. A lot cheaper than buying them.--If you can find them.

Chasman

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 vapor barrier panels

Frank and Paula-----

There is no reproduction source for the vapor barriers used for 1969+. These barriers were a MOLDED polyethylene. You can make more-or-less functional replacements from stock material. However, to get them to fit right, they really need to be molded. Obviously, no one can see them once installed but you may or may not have difficulty in getting the door panels to seat properly if the vapor barriers are made from stock, unmolded material.

[Kent K.]

Joe is right - I'm stuck on older Corvettes

Joe is obviously correct about the molded inner vapor barrier panels. It used to be that they were simply pieces of polyethelene (visqueen) and adhered with rope sealant.
Kent #6201

[Jack H.]

Re: 69 vapor barrier panels

Others have told the truth....

(1) There is NO reproduction source for this factory original component.

(2) You can 'make' a set, kinda/sorta, but originals were heat-stretch to fit appropriately and cutting out of flat, stock, clear plastic, won't fully emulate the original geometry of the vapor barriers.

(3) Perhaps the reason there is no reproduction source for these parts is there's really NO NEED for them.... It's virtually impossible to find anyone making correct/original door panels from vacuum molded cardboard with foam backed vinyl interior overlay. What's offered today is an 'improved' door panel with vacuum molded plastic backing that doesn't need the modest moisture barrier protection.

But, I disagree with what others have posted in terms of "Once installed, you can't see them". I've yet to see a factory original, cardboard backed, door panel that wouldn't budge a fraction of an inch to allow me to look behind with flashlight and inspector's mirror to detect the presense/absense of the factory original clear plastic moisture barrier.

Perhaps those who've stated they're impossible to detect ought to provide their judging credentials....

[Terry M.]

Re: 69 vapor barrier panels

On my 1970 you need neither a mirror nor flashlight. Either the door panels, the vapor barrier, or both, are so poorly installed that the white plastic barrier is visible at the edges of the panel. Of course that is just one data point.

[Dick W.]

Re: 69 vapor barrier panels

Jack, Al Knoch will/would make you a set of vacuum molded cardboard backed door panels. I installed several sets on cars that we restored.

[Chuck R.]

Re: 69 vapor barrier panels

Hi Joe,

Were the vapor barrier materials a clear opaque or a solid color?

I was pondering the idea of gleening some heat shrink material from my local boat dealer and shrinking it taunt after it was mounted on the doors. Of course the draw back is that the material is while.

Chuck

[Reba Whittington]

Re: 69 vapor barrier panels

As an interior judge, I agree with Terry and Jack. I have yet to see a panel that did not have an opening somewhere that allowed me to see backing material.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 69 vapor barrier panels

They're obvious on my 72, as well as my 1970 Cutlass.

Patrick

[Terry M.]

Re: 69 vapor barrier panels

Chuck,
My 1970 has white vapor barrier material. I think the boat shrink wrap, from the standpoint of color anyway, would work well. I'm not sure about the colors of other years barrier, and I don't know the force exerted when the boat material shrinks. I would guess the boat places have a lot of that stuff laying around, and if one could find the right place the amount necessary for a few sets of door panels would be in their scrap pile.

[Chuck R.]

Re: At least you HAVE vapor barriers Terry

I figure on installing the materials semi tight and then waving the heat gun over the material just long enough to take out the wrinkles.

Now see what I've done, everyone with white vapor barriers is running like scalded dogs to their local boat yards.

Chuck

[Harmon C.]

Re: 69 vapor barrier panels

I have a pair of NOS vapor barriers bought in 93 and they are molded and each came in a box 5X5X36 and it looked like it was empty. They are clear and you only see the outer part so they shoud be easy to make if one chooses. As Joe says thease paets are not for sale. Lyle