Sliding doors, early and late

[Tony Tone]

Hi all, can anyone tell me what, if any, is the difference between early and late sliding doors. Is it just the handle on the outside ?, can you fit early or late to any van ?

[Plasticman]

unless your handy with welding and such and have a donor then early stays on an early van and late on a late, picky of the lock striker would confirm what you have
mm

[James.rigby]

My old early van has a late sliding door. Fits like a glove

[Wookster]

I'm interested too cos at some point going to have to replace mine.
If I can find a later door in vgc what do I need to change over, if I use the old door as a donor.

[Plasticman]

My old early van has a late sliding door. Fits like a glove

then I fear you better post a picky of the b and c post ond the respective parts of the slider as they are not interchangable as stands
mm

[Wookster]

That doesn't sound good at all mm.
If you had to fit a later door, how long would you estimate or would you turn the job down.

[Plasticman]

Well the b post has a different latch arangemeent to th early ones, and the c post is completely different, as is the centre runner.
I as no doubt other on here when breakingh a van keep the variouse bits to graft into an earlier van , which is why i have a complete and mint set of factory window surrounds and the relevant bits to convert a door also to later type, its a bit of work to do it so you cannot tell it from factory fit but that is part of the fun and attraction.
same way as if you look at my engine bay it is pure diesel, but it has metal rear vents as in Aircooled there is no problem doing it and other mods just take the time to make it look like vw did it and you wont go far wrong
mm