Doors...Don't Work!!

[xumFJ40]

This may end up in the stupid question file, but here goes.....

I have a '75 FJ40

I picked up some old hard doors that I intend on converting into hard-half doors.

The problem is that after switching out the stoppers (door side, and tub side), and adjusting the doors in every possible position, I am still OFF!

I have adjusted the hinges and the stoppers in every way possible.

Regardless of door/hinge adjustment (vertical /lateral /horizontal), I still end up with the latch being 1/8 in. short of "latching.”

I have tried pushing the "latches" as close to the door as I can, and I am using all factory parts.....

I thought that it was a simple matter of swapping out the strikers to change doors...but obviously, I am mistaken.

Thanks

 

[JasonH]

What year are the doors from?

 

[70LCruiser]

Do you know if your truck was ever in an accident, because if it was and your full doors were on at the time they wouldve bent with the rest of the body. or maybe the truck that had the new doors was hit and the doors just got tweaked.

But im not sure, I could be wrong.

 

[Shawn Russell]

Doors

When I put newer doors on my older cruiser, I had to move the newer style bracket in. I ended up making new ones. So it sounds right.... You need to make the holes in the older catch longer so you can "adjust" it correctly.

 

[hammerhead]

I made my half doors from an old set of '69 doors. They fit my '74 just fine. What year are the doors you are trying to use?

 

[65swb45]

I have seen this problem before. Custom door strikers are the best long-term solution.

What I did was get a piece of 1.5" angle iron, drill two slotted holes for the striker screws and cut the side that sticks out into the doorway down to 1/2". Rotate the latch mechanism to retract the latch and bring the door in behind the angle iron to determine the depth setting to anchor the striker. While it's closed, also mark the angle iron where the latch is resting. Then open the door, remove the angle iron and start welding directly in front of the point where the latch will rest to make a ramp up the angle iron for the latch to travel over.

Oh, and don't forget to round off all the edges on the angle iron real good! Ouch.

Mark

 

[Paul_A]

This seems a bit bizaar: I have a 1975 soft top and my older style doors are mounted pefectly. Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't the 1975 hard top version the first to have the new one piece doors? If the 1975 bodies are the same, which they should be, the only difference I can foresee is the strikers, no?

 

[65swb45]

No, because as you stated, the soft top is still set up for the earlier strikers. Also, you have a tailgate opening instead of a notched sill for the amby doors.

Also the 40 hardtop model would have had the plate type tire carrier moved to the driver's side. The soft top model remained on the passenger side, no?

There's a few more things.

Mark

 

[xumFJ40]

Thanks, for the input guys....

The doors are '71/'72 ish no way to tell for sure. My truck has never been in a wreck, but I can't say if the doors were or not.

Talked to a couple guys in the club and they seem to think it is becasue I am using new strikers. They figure that most are using old ones, that have been "broken in" and are worn the 16th or so that I am off.... not sure about that or not.

 

[Landpimp]

early doors were used on OEM soft top Cruisers in other markets(Germany, France ect) up thru at least 78

Below, french 77 and german 78 OEM soft top fj40, with early doors. Same markets got hard tops with latter one peice doors(like US) actaully I take that back, the french hard top 40 in the same pic has early doors as well...........extra odd!

 

[Paul_A]

Great pictures! Thanks.

 

[Kief]

Pimp, you're killin' me... nice pics.