Door issue, looking for some help

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DomSmith said:
Oh and by the way...

You might as well post up some pics of those uber-supreme rebuilt and freshly painted doors you can't use for us to drool over.

:flipoff2:
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I will. Next time I go North I will take some new pics - thats the problem with not having your own place, having to travel 45 minutes each way to work on your rig, then not having it next to you to take pics, measurements, look at, etc in times like these :bang:

and I have so much into those doors I couldn't get half back :doh:

but do we already concede that I can't use them? I mean if I could work out a trade for earlier early style doors than I still have to go through body work and rebuild again - thats time and money I don't look forward to.

at this point I'm leaning towards cutting the front 3/8" off and rolling another 3/8". Just want to get a hold of some measurements and pics before I try - I don't want to ruin anything.

hoping somebody jumps in and says I can't do that because or yeah it should work....
 
I am now almost 100% sure this 45 had bug catchers with no top trim. Question is has anyone ever done this mod to these type of doors.

As Aaron stated- we have too much door and not enough opening. If we trim some of the front leading edge- it looks like we can gain the amount needed to clear the striker. The other concern is the bulge at the inside front edge where the door frame pieces fit. It looks like we may have a clearance issue with the dash.

Another telling issue was the 7/8" difference in the upper door jamb pieces- the pieces that connect the cab too the windshield. Aaron got some from Mark that were from an FJ40 and they will also have to be shortend up to fit. that is not a big deal and it will be more good mig welding experience for Aaron:D.


I have to tell all of you that this was a major bummer- we had planned to take advantage of the warm temps to shoot the last final finish coat of paint. Instead- we ended up removing the top for the second time and dicked around with the doors for 2/3 of the day. But it was a problem that was better to find now- verses later.

I also think we will overcome this problem like all of the other issues that have come up - it will just take a little creative thinking and some more time.

Stay tuned - :cheers:

Tim:steer:
 
TemeculaTim said:
I am now almost 100% sure this 45 had bug catchers with no top trim. Question is has anyone ever done this mod to these type of doors.
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I'll let Mark speak for himself when he gets home and decides to chime in but I don't think it's an easy switchout. Anything can be done with enough cutting, shaving, fabing I'm just not sure it's worth it (especially with the dash interference) but that's up to you guys.

I can always bring my 65 doors up and the uppers in the picture (no upper lip) for you guys to check out if you like. Not sure what it would take to get my doors to come off to be honest...:confused:

Dom
 
DomSmith said:
I'll let Mark speak for himself when he gets home and decides to chime in but I don't think it's an easy switchout. Anything can be done with enough cutting, shaving, fabing I'm just not sure it's worth it (especially with the dash interference) but that's up to you guys.

I can always bring my 65 doors up and the uppers in the picture (no upper lip) for you guys to check out if you like. Not sure what it would take to get my doors to come off to be honest...:confused:

Dom
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Dont worry Dom- we are not going to rush into this blindly- it has taken almost two years to get this far and a few more weeks won't kill us. Nothing worth doing right ever comes easy.

After having a couple of beers and thinking it over some more. I think our next step will more than likely be to create a full size template out of some thin material - giving us a chance to determine what the correct door width's and clearances should be- and then see if we can transfer it over to what we have. Then if we can not make it work right and look clean- there will be some nice doors up for sale:D.

Also, the dash clearance issue may just need a little extra length added to the hinges where they penetrate the cowl - maybe slotting the mounting bolt holes will get us what we need.

I keep reminding myself these vehicles were not made by robots - they were hand made so there will always be little fit and finish issues that will crop when reassembling them so you just have to take them for what they are- great old vehicles that keep us occupied and out of trouble:cheers:

Thanks for all of the replies,

Tim:steer:

-
 
Yup...too many people say bug catchers, when actually they are not......bug catchers are like the ones in Dom's pict above.

But...before getting any crazier, have you tried getting pictures of what your doors/rig should look like? You have a 64 FJ45 SWB, correct? So my first guess (I don't have an early 45, but hope to have either a '63 or '64 SWB one day) anyways, my guess is that you would need the same doors as Dallas and Dom have. Take a look that the pictures on their threads;

https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj45-owners-club/248628-just-had-treat-myself-halloween-65-swb.html

https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj45-owners-club/246134-1963-fj45l-found-restoration-info-thread.html

Dallas's rig is a '63. and you'll notice that it is indeed a bug catcher, with a short lip. I am also pretty certain that this would fit yours like a glove, so start by asking for some measurements. I would also contact Mark, as I would not be surprised if he had some in stock, or very early 40 doors ('65 or earlier). Again, I am always learning as others are, but this is where I would start.

I would think that Toyota tried to keep these doors to a standard for both the 40 and 45...I could be wrong, but my guess is that a '64 door from a 40 should fit a 45...please let me know if I am wrong.
 
cruiserbrett said:
It seems like it would be easier to buy the early bug catchers jonathan has on ebay? just have him measure against what you door jamb measurement is...
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My wife said no FJ! said:
Finally took a minute to find these doors on ebay, and they look right. Drop him a line with your measurement.
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I totally agree with both of you guys- but it's Abeckers call on the route to take. FWIW -He is pretty deep into the cash he has spent on the existing doors and if he can get all or most back it would be worth it.

Got to also add he just bought his first house - so he has a full plate and limited funds. I am just trying to help him get it to the point to where he can sit in his own garage and drool over it:D.


rockcod said:
Tim,

I have a set "bug catcher" doors I removed from my 63 FJ40. If Jonathan does not reply back to you, I will take measurements on Sunday when I get home from work.
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That would be great - if possible shot a couple of pictures of the insides as well.


Thanks again guys-

Tim:steer:
 
I am not shure about the early doors, but we fitted f/g doors to our ´79 cab and that was a major hassle. Started measuring doors and found a wide variety with differences up to 1.5 cm, even left and right and all stock doors.

With the later doors the bug catcher windows or 40, 42, 45 body doesn´t make the difference

so maybe you can change with someone to smaller doors or just make it fit :wrench::hillbilly:
 
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TemeculaTim said:
I totally agree with both of you guys- but it's Abeckers call on the route to take. FWIW -He is pretty deep into the cash he has spent on the existing doors and if he can get all or most back it would be worth it.
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Totally understand. Maybe he can work out a deal and swap his doors, (possibly with a few bucks), with one of the guys mentioned above...never hurts to ask.
 
Tim, Aaron,

Here are the pics of my doors from a 63 FJ40 "bug catchers". They measure 34" wide and are missing the lip at the top of the door. My 45 cab is a 66 LWB removeable top. See pics, if you need more or better pics let me know.

Have you taken measurements at the top and bottom of the door opening?, Just a thought maybe it is pushed forward (bent).
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now the question is whether the bug catchers with the upper lip above the window are the same width??? I dont have a set, maybe Dom can post up a measurement?

Sidenote: Abecker: post a pic of the door hinges in the A-pillar. wondering if somehow they are switched and facing aft instead of fwd?

-Brett
 
Thanks

Thanks everyone for continuing this. Sorry to have gone AWOL - don't have internet at my new place yet and had to paint some walls, lay down a hardwood floor, install some appliances, etc, etc...

So, at this point - we have all determined there were different doors pre-'67. I understand as far as fit I should obtain these....but I have close to $800 in purchasing and rebuilding/painting these doors and am leaning toward trying to make these work. Not to mention the time to rebuild/prep/paint any trades I might b able to get.

Thank you again everyone,

Aaron
 
rockcod said:
Tim, Aaron,

Here are the pics of my doors from a 63 FJ40 "bug catchers". They measure 34" wide and are missing the lip at the top of the door. My 45 cab is a 66 LWB removeable top. See pics, if you need more or better pics let me know.

Have you taken measurements at the top and bottom of the door opening?, Just a thought maybe it is pushed forward (bent).
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Tony,

we measured 33.5 from the center of the top hinge to the rear door jamb. we also measured the top and bottom of the door opening (i forgot the #s) and found that it does bow inward a little as you go up. When we measure the '67-'74 doors we also got 34". As you have 34" on the pre '67s maybe you're correct - the rear of the cab got pushed in and ....(see below).

cruiserbrett said:
now the question is whether the bug catchers with the upper lip above the window are the same width??? I dont have a set, maybe Dom can post up a measurement?

Sidenote: Abecker: post a pic of the door hinges in the A-pillar. wondering if somehow they are switched and facing aft instead of fwd?

-Brett
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....sorry don't have a pic right now. But we stared at the hinges for a while. They do flare forward but once the hinges are installed it seems that they seat in too close - i.e, the pin hits the forward vertical drip rail instead of clearing it and coming around the rail towards the front of the vehicle (I underestand it shouldn't be in front of the drip rail but I believe it should turn the corner a little, correct?).
 
Pics please

If anyone has time could they please post pics of the INSIDE of the pre-'67 doors and of the hinges looking at the side of the vehicle and vertically downward so i can see where the pin locates in relation to the drip rail.

Much appreciated,

Aaron
 
The first 2 photos are from my 63 FJ40, showing the orientation of the hinges, the doors came from this vehicle, I guess the color would have given that away. The last photo shows how much shorter these doors are without the lip. Let me know if you need better pics, I was lazy and did not want to pull the doors off.

Good luck.
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cruiserbrett said:
now the question is whether the bug catchers with the upper lip above the window are the same width??? I dont have a set, maybe Dom can post up a measurement?

Sidenote: Abecker: post a pic of the door hinges in the A-pillar. wondering if somehow they are switched and facing aft instead of fwd?

-Brett
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Brett,

We tried that- and they do not fit too well facing forward- They would rub into the cowl drip rail. Also, the hinge to door plate has a raised surface in the middle that would not allow a flat fit if reversed. We seem to match the orientation of the hinges shown in Tony's 63 photo


rockcod said:
The first 2 photos are from my 63 FJ40, showing the orientation of the hinges, the doors came from this vehicle, I guess the color would have given that away. The last photo shows how much shorter these doors are without the lip. Let me know if you need better pics, I was lazy and did not want to pull the doors off.

Good luck.
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So those bug catchers appear to have the same 34" width as the doors we have but is misssing the upper lip we have- which is not a big deal to remove. The inside shots also reveal a match as far as construction.

Just need to figure out where we lost almost an inch in the side to side width. :hhmm:

Mark A. - Got anything suggesstions or ideas?

:popcorn:
 
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