Are my rear doors a unicorn?

[Paul McKenzie]

I never gave any thought (or forgot!) that my Nov. '74 FJ wasn't a 100% '74 until Gary @Mudrak pointed out that my roof was not original.
He pointed out that the pop-out side vents didn't show up until later (08/76 I believe). Also the upper two doors should be a single lift door.
So I figured I must have a late '76 or later roof on my '74 chassis with two lower doors and two custom upper doors (4 doors, 8 hinges).
I recently found and contacted the PO who I bought it from in NY, '99. He texted me back with the explanation of how my rear doors came to be. I dug out the receipts of work he had done in the mid 90's by Up & Over Innovations in PA, and I see "used steel hard top without doors", and "price out rear upper 1/2 doors'.
Makes you wonder what happened to the original roof? Roll over?!
I'd be curious if anyone else has a similar configuration?

 

[brian]

Nope home made.
Pretty common mod.

 

[charliemeyer007]

I have a 72 that was a rag top but came to me with a 76 hardtop (I like the doors, all 4 of them). The PO had the back of the tub modified to make it work, is what he told me back in 82 when I bought it. I think yours looks fine - I hated the swing up rear top door - good for short people that don't hit their head.

 

[Paul McKenzie]

I have a 72 that was a rag top but came to me with a 76 hardtop (I like the doors, all 4 of them). The PO had the back of the tub modified to make it work, is what he told me back in 82 when I bought it. I think yours looks fine - I hated the swing up rear top door - good for short people that don't hit their head.

Thanks, I like the 4 door arrangement when on flat ground, but door and spare tire management can be a problem on a sloped surface!

 

[jim land]

Decker's style

 

[Living in the Past]

Few things on this picture would be different if it was originally an option from the factory.

Where the doors meet at the bottom it's been trimmed where the over lap lip on the left door is. With the spare on the right it would be impossible to open the upper right door first without opening the spare first. On the bottom the left door opens first which is standard on LHD barn doors with the spare on the right. To have a way of opening any door with the spare on the right the doors would need to open the opposite way. To do it right the easiest way to flip barns door and switch the latch to the tub and between doors. Then move the spare to the left side.

 

[Firemedic831]

I never gave any thought (or forgot!) that my Nov. '74 FJ wasn't a 100% '74 until Gary @Mudrak pointed out that my roof was not original.
He pointed out that the pop-out side vents didn't show up until later (08/76 I believe). Also the upper two doors should be a single lift door.
So I figured I must have a late '76 or later roof on my '74 chassis with two lower doors and two custom upper doors (4 doors, 8 hinges).
I recently found and contacted the PO who I bought it from in NY, '99. He texted me back with the explanation of how my rear doors came to be. I dug out the receipts of work he had done in the mid 90's by Up & Over Innovations in PA, and I see "used steel hard top without doors", and "price out rear upper 1/2 doors'.
Makes you wonder what happened to the original roof? Roll over?!
I'd be curious if anyone else has a similar configuration?

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View attachment 3605365

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You would not happen to have a picture of your front door inner handles would you ?

 

[65swb45]

I have posted elsewhere on the forum that a customer with a ‘64 bought a 1980 hardtop and paid me to graft a lift up door to it, as well as modify the spreaders over the front doors and the windshield to make it fit.

The most unique combo I ever personally saw was a homemade single-piece, full-length lift up hatch with a power window in it. Gary Bjork may have done a feature on the truck back in the ‘90s. Retired railroad engineer by the name of Daryl Butler. Mike Bennet or Toploader might remember him.

 

[Paul McKenzie]

You would not happen to have a picture of your front door inner handles would you ?

 

[Paul McKenzie]

You would not happen to have a picture of your front door inner handles would you ?

 

[Paul McKenzie]

Decker's style

View attachment 3605523

Niiice!

 

[Paul McKenzie]

Few things on this picture would be different if it was originally an option from the factory.
View attachment 3605534
Where the doors meet at the bottom it's been trimmed where the over lap lip on the left door is. With the spare on the right it would be impossible to open the upper right door first without opening the spare first. On the bottom the left door opens first which is standard on LHD barn doors with the spare on the right. To have a way of opening any door with the spare on the right the doors would need to open the opposite way. To do it right the easiest way to flip barns door and switch the latch to the tub and between doors. Then move the spare to the left side.

Food for thought, thanks.

Here's the process to open all four doors, you get good at it!:
1. Swing the spare out.
2. Pull down the lever, open the top right.
3. Reach in, pull up the lever, open the upper left.
4. Unhook and swing out the lower left.
5. Reach in, lift the little barrel bolt and swing open the lower right.

 

[Firemedic831]

Food for thought, thanks.

Here's the process to open all four doors, you get good at it!:
1. Swing the spare out.
2. Pull down the lever, open the top right.
3. Reach in, pull up the lever, open the upper left.
4. Unhook and swing out the lower left.
5. Reach in, lift the little barrel bolt and swing open the lower right.

i guess i should have said the pull handles

 

[Firemedic831]

Is it a small chrome handle or a strap type ?

 

[65swb45]

Is it a small chrome handle or a strap type ?

It's a'74; it should have the straps.

 

[Firemedic831]

It's a'74; it should have the straps.

Thank you Mark . Somehow i got a set of 74 doors i honestly had no idea what year they were from i just knew they were early model . and i just went to put early handles on and I learned something

 

[Paul McKenzie]

Is it a small chrome handle or a strap type ?

Oops sorry, yes it's a strap type.

 

[Pitter Patter]

More hinges, more horsepower! Pretty cool mod.

 

[bikersmurf]

1) I swapped on an ‘81 hardtop to have the rear kickout windows. I find them very beneficial.

2) with four rear doors rather than just ambulance doors, you don’t get the ease of climbing in after opening a single door. At that point I’d rather the less obstructed view through a hatch and only 3 doors to open.

 

[voyager:01]

HEY! Mine’s also an 11/‘74…. Turning 50 this year!!