bottom of ambulance doors for tailgate, pics if any

[cjgoode]

I have been searching and found old posts where people discussed making a tailgate out of the bottom of ambulance doors. But they are all real old and I guess the pictures have been removed. Any pictures, and how they mounted them, built them etc. Making them swing open, or welding them together for a drop down tailgate. I will rarely run a hardtop and want to close the rear with the bottom of a set of ambulance doors. I have an extra set and will cut up the most pathetic ones.

Pics, tips and advise would be very welcome.

 

[dgangle]

with as many years as these have been around I'm sure it's been done but I have never seen it. Some opt for the generic flat steel panel, Aqualu diamondplate, Paki tailgate..even some creative stuff in wood and plexiglass but never one from the bottom of 2 ambulance doors.

What look you going after, $8K paint job and wanting something clean/orig/IE-looking or something on the other end of the spectrum just to kepp your junk form blowing out??

There was someone just offeringa fold-down OE-style gate for something like $300 IIRC and it was rough.

 

[cjgoode]

I am looking for a clean orig equipment look, like the older ones. I would love to see if I can use the tops on the hardtop and have the bottoms on the keep like the older ones did. I loved my 70 that had the hatch on the hard top and the swing out doors on the body. I figure that would push my skills so I have a set of full doors for the hardtop and another set I plan to cut in half.

 

[car-car]

I've thought of doing a similar thing with an extra set of amby doors. Leave a set for running it with the hardtop, and then cutting down the extra set so that it would look like the earlier model series with the lower swing out doors (barn style) when I run it without the hardtop. I am currently using a panel (like what CCOT sells), but long-term I would really like to go with the older model barn-style lower doors.

If you were going to cut down the amby doors, you would have to drill another set of holes in the rear quarter panels for another set of hinges (unless you are going the tailgate route). Also, if you are keeping the lower section as opening doors, you would have to address the latch mechanism.

Good luck, and post up pics when you start working on it.

 

[dgangle]

D'animal's got a set of the twin lower doors for sale. https://forum.ih8mud.com/sale-parts/285745-land-cruiser-parts-virtual-garage-sale-central-ca.html

an advanced search for "tail gate" in the parts for sale section hit many

 

[CruiserStuff]

Check this one out. Paul Decker did it...this pic is from his website (www.deckersonline.com):

I love this look and will, hopefully, do the same one day when funds are high and debts are low (yeah, right).

 

[dgangle]

nice, great craftsmanship. love than 621 rustic green.

anything can be done with enough time, talent, tools and/or money.

 

[cjgoode]

that picture is my goal, but cannot decide if I want a drop down like that one, or the barn doors. No way I can do one that nice, but I can have fun trying.

Anyone else have pics, especially of actually doing it. I have two sets of ambulance doors to play with.

 

[spotcruiser]

Not from ambulance doors, but built from an old pair of barn doors. It was a lot of work, but probably less work than if using ambulance doors. Made the hinges using flat bar and 3/8 x 3/4 tubing. Made the stationary latches and one of the chain mounts using angle iron.

 

[cjgoode]

Can you post some better pics of the latches, that looks real good.

 

[spotcruiser]

Just 2x2 angle. Borrowed the idea from someone else here on Mud.