I've seen a couple of user's here post pictures of the xB done up as a panel van. This idea intrigues me because I have an idea for a paint job that would require the entire side panels of the car. How much body work is involved in creating this effect and is it possible to do without completely sealing off the rear doors? Or is there maybe a way to paint the windows?

I don't know much about this kind of stuff so any help is appreciated!

 

Check out the Mail truck on this post:

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...ight=open+deck

I would think you could do some vinyl wrap and not destroy the functionality of the rear doors.

 

sealing off the back doors and windows is an unspeakable amount of work and $$$$. it would also make the car alot less safe.

 

it would be just about as safe. in fact it will have more structural integrity.

 

cars are bult a way for a reaso. they are not all just looks. Alot of cars that have rear quarter glass have it for a structural reason, not just for looks and to have another winow.

 

The vinyl wrap might be a good idea. I know body work is expensive and I really don't want to do that anyways. The postal xB looks pretty sweet.

 

umm ok. but stell frame doors that are welded together will make for a very stiff body. maybe too stiff but yes stiff and more structurally sound

 

To do it right but still have the rear doors function. You could have the glass removed and have plates welded over the window channels. Then have the rear side window hole filled in with another panel. This way you could still use the doors for access but have a more iniform area to paint.
Wrap is fine if looks are not an issue. You could have the paint color matched with the wrap then paint your design on the wrap material.

 

May I ask what you do for a living or what school of engineering you went to?

Quarter glass is there for one main reason.......to avoid blindspots. It has no structural integrity and actually adds an engineering problem to solve that is how to add the structural integrity lost to them back into the car.

Could not leave this comment alone sorry....

 

A good bodyshop could make a metal wrap to cover the rear door window frame, and vinyl wrap used on the rear quarter window- then prep and paint. The seams and the door handles would still be there, and everything would still work...

You could even put different scenes on the inside of the rear windows and door wrap panels- beach vs mountains, or nuns vs naked babes...