Conversion To Ambulance Doors

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budharris

budharris

Joined
Apr 5, 2010
Threads
9
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68
Location
Box Elder, SD
anyone done the conversion from liftgate with split lower doors to full ambulance doors. I know most people like to keep it original but I like the idea of Ambulance doors for quick loading of my kids and dogs. I know I would need a new header support and the doors but wondering if anyone has done this and took pics or videos?
 
The bottom of the tub has a notch on ambulance door models. If your tub doesn't have the notch for so the bottom of the doors fit flush like the top it's going to be a lot of work to modify the tub. Have seen so do so the door fit outside the tub but look like a hack job.
 
How about conversion of Ambulance doors to barn doors on tub with lift hatch top?
 
Bud- you would not "need" a different header to go from hatch to ambi doors. Folks going from ambi doors to hatch would need a different header with pockets for the hatch hinges. My 76 was missing the rear header so I used the header of a 71. I works just fine.
 
I did my 66 years ago and had to notch the lower body to make them fit right
 
White Stripe said:
You would have to replace the lower sill in the tub. Probably easier to just buy a 40 with ambulance doors and sell yours.
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That is kind of what I did except kept my 68 with the hatch and bought a 79. Also picked up a FST in between. This was when it wasn't hard to find a decent cruiser for a couple grand.
Finding the different headers is probably the easiest part of the conversion. More work dealing fixed nuts in the hard top side. Nuts for the struts are floating for adjustment. Switching to ambulance door the hinges are floating. This is a boxed section on the sides and would require cutting it open to do it right. The hard top sides are notched and fit either side perfect. Even 79+ have square corners at the top. That is another issue if using 79+ ambulance doors, dealing rounded corners on the bottom.
 
White Stripe said:
You would have to replace the lower sill in the tub. Probably easier to just buy a 40 with ambulance doors and sell yours.
Click to expand...
I have actually been wrestling with the idea of selling my 40 but after my wife made me sell my first one I just keep telling myself i wont do it again. but being in the military im scared to tear mine down as i feel as soon i do ill get relocated. I just cant bring myself to list it for sale.
 
White Stripe said:
www.lcnation.com

1975 FJ40 | Land Cruiser Nation | FJ40 FJ60 FJ62 Sales | North America

1975 FJ40 For Sale. Rebuilt 76 2F engine, Mechanically sorted.
www.lcnation.com www.lcnation.com
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Nice looking cruiser. While numbers matching really doesn't mean much on a FJ40 past the mid sixties when the engine serial # was dropped from the VIN plaque under the hood. Stating it has a different engine and front axle I wouldn't make that claim. Changing the front axle and rebuilding the engine (vehicle has 71K miles how many on the engine and axle?) is nice but avoiding the rust is a bigger deal. Mechanical is easy just changing parts. Bad engine throw in a rebuilt one problem solved. Rust is always a unknown. Could be like a iceberg where most of it is hidden. I always like the claim "came from AZ". But when did it leave. I have a 10/75 Dune Beige FJ40 from AZ. But it's still in AZ and it doesn't have a rusted out sill. Personally think will ath the rust repair needed it is over priced.
 
Living in the Past said:
Nice looking cruiser. While numbers matching really doesn't mean much on a FJ40 past the mid sixties when the engine serial # was dropped from the VIN plaque under the hood. Stating it has a different engine and front axle I wouldn't make that claim. Changing the front axle and rebuilding the engine (vehicle has 71K miles how many on the engine and axle?) is nice but avoiding the rust is a bigger deal. Mechanical is easy just changing parts. Bad engine throw in a rebuilt one problem solved. Rust is always a unknown. Could be like a iceberg where most of it is hidden. I always like the claim "came from AZ". But when did it leave. I have a 10/75 Dune Beige FJ40 from AZ. But it's still in AZ and it doesn't have a rusted out sill. Personally think will ath the rust repair needed it is over priced.
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I wasnt looking at buying this particular one, I would just consider selling mine and buying one that has the factory ambulance doors. Another option I would like that my current 40 don't have is a 4 speed transmission. Who knows if id even be able to sell mine for a decent price?
 
Why not sell your current hardtop with the barns doors and hatch, and buy a hartop with ambulance doors?
Notching the rear sill is challenging but I have done it and I’m sure others have done it as well.
 
Living in the Past said:
Nice looking cruiser. While numbers matching really doesn't mean much on a FJ40 past the mid sixties when the engine serial # was dropped from the VIN plaque under the hood. Stating it has a different engine and front axle I wouldn't make that claim. Changing the front axle and rebuilding the engine (vehicle has 71K miles how many on the engine and axle?) is nice but avoiding the rust is a bigger deal. Mechanical is easy just changing parts. Bad engine throw in a rebuilt one problem solved. Rust is always a unknown. Could be like a iceberg where most of it is hidden. I always like the claim "came from AZ". But when did it leave. I have a 10/75 Dune Beige FJ40 from AZ. But it's still in AZ and it doesn't have a rusted out sill. Personally think will ath the rust repair needed it is over priced.
Click to expand...
Yeah been salting the roads here in Prescott for the past few years. The day of the AZ vehicle is coming to an end. Doesnt matter what people want, gov will force it upon us just like Obamacare.
 
tjhaga said:
Why not sell your current hardtop with the barns doors and hatch, and buy a hartop with ambulance doors?
Notching the rear sill is challenging but I have done it and I’m sure others have done it as well.
Click to expand...
I have been scouring the webs looking for a good shape hardtop with ambulance doors for the past couple of days. that would def be a route to take. I gotta just keep my eyes open i reckon and see what comes up. and then again if i can find a hardtop with ambulance doors i may just sell my top but keep barn doors for the summer when i take top off
 
budharris said:
I have been scouring the webs looking for a good shape hardtop with ambulance doors for the past couple of days. that would def be a route to take. I gotta just keep my eyes open i reckon and see what comes up. and then again if i can find a hardtop with ambulance doors i may just sell my top but keep barn doors for the summer when i take top off
Click to expand...


I would suggest you take a look at a cruiser with ambulance doors. Have your cruiser there and take a bunch of measurements. Notch your tub and the barn doors will not fit the same. Those are made to fit against the tub not flush. Also consider your barn doors open the opposite way as ambulance doors so spare will either need to be moved to the other side or spare will have to be open to open the ambulance door. Switch the spare and have the same issue with barn doors when the top is off. While I doubt will take the top off a cruiser with ambulance doors have been thinking of a solution to running barn doors.
 
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