Club 80-90 Forums

Hi I am thinking about trying to fit a late sliding door to my early van. Has anyone tried this? I have looked through old posts and cannot find anything.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Richie

I've not done it, but it can be done I remember reading it, may have been on here.
Post your progress with lots of pics, I'm sure more people will want to do it with the price of early doors!

No not impossible. ...and yes there's a but.

the strikers/latch are completly different as is the closer, late 'C' pillar is angled to the plate
Billy 739 made one fit... he's the only one I know of to date

cheaper to buy the right door.

easy to do.

and cheaper and easier than finding an early door.

you do need the roller rail for the middle roller along the rear panel, few spot welds, and the part from the c pillar on a late van , they just added a bit on later vans!

b pillar mod depends on how critical you want to be.

Hi Billy, thanks that was the kind of helpful reply I was hoping to get. You wouldnt happen to be stripping a late van would you? Could do with the rail and rear catch if you would be willing to chop them out for me?

Cheers again Richie

not at the mo.

i do have the rear catch bit some where tho , too one off ready.

That would be a good start how much posted?

Richie

There is another way, which i've recently done

I cut the 2 lock sections and outer handle recess from my knackered early door, marked around them on my new late door, cut the sections from the late door and welded the old lock sections into the new door, et voila

Took some careful measuring, some temporary bracing of the new door, some VERY careful cutting, and lots of courage to hack into a perfectly good door, but when the late door only cost £50, it was worth it. Took probably about 20 hrs from start to finish

Dave

Not a bad idea Dave hadnt thought about doing that way but I need to do it a way that will allow me to get it done the same day.

Thanks for the replies

Richie