Doors off?

[stuck in GA]

Just curious because I some day might want to do this but has anyone ever made the doors removable on an 80 series? Is their a way to mount the rear view mirrors on the body and make the doors easily removable or because of the wiring would this be too difficult? Also any chopped top 80 series out there?

 

[macneill]

Wow, when you think you just might start working on my own rig, you really mean it.

 

[mooker82]

Doors are easy to remove....just hard to put back on and align them...might want to try doing something like this...ive done this on my old bronco and it works welll....land cruiser doors might be too heavy to lift on and off easily though..heres the link:

http://classicbroncos.com/doorhinges.shtml

 

[mooker82]

Here you go...forgot to add the pic

 

[LX_TREME]

Holly s#%^& oh no, oh nodont tell me you gonna make something similar to these... hell no...

 

[stuck in GA]

No lxtreme i would never make anything similar to that. If I did I hope someone would slap me. Oh and thanks mooker for the advice. I want to try it this summer.

 

[G-Cat]

Also any chopped top 80 series out there?

Check the "Ultimate 80" section of Hanna's site.

 

[914Runners Son]

Also any chopped top 80 series out there?

I have seen quite a few of pick up conversions on the web, but they are mainly in AU.

 

[Doc]

Ok, in a unibody vehicle that was designed to have the doors in full time- be aware that any serious flexing of the frame might make re-installation of the doors very difficult or impossiable.

When closed, the door acts as a stiffener to the entire body. You'll loose that if you loose the doors.

 

[RavenTai]

Ok, in a unibody vehicle

80 is not unibody, but your statemant may still apply

 

[lx450landcruiser]

if i were serious about removing the doors on my 80 which i dont really see any benifit in other then maybe a bit more visability? i would weld up some bar doors using stock 80 latches that way u achive ur visability andkeep the body ridgid

mike

 

[Doc]

80 is not unibody, but your statemant may still apply

Doh- you're right of course. But I think the same priciples are still here.

 

[cruiserdan]

Bottom line is the body was designed to have doors in it when the structural loads were calculated. Soooo, removing the doors can't help but alter the stress loads on the remaining structure. Not to mention making it easier to fall out of the truck, which may not be an issue in some cases.

 

[reffug]

Not to mention making it easier to fall out of the truck, which may not be an issue in some cases.

Might be a good thing in some cases me thinks.

 

[wob]

No lxtreme i would never make anything similar to that. If I did I hope someone would slap me. Oh and thanks mooker for the advice. I want to try it this summer.

Don't forget about the wires in the doors. Locks, windows, speaker. Those would all have to be disconnected. I think it would too much of a PITA to do it if you ever want to put them back on . I guess you could make some quick disconnects for them, but still. I would also bet that after a good wheeling session, they wouldn't line up right. Finally, I think your folks would probably kill you if they came home and saw that you had removed your doors. ;p


I wouldn't even consider it for a DD.


If you do, let us know how it works out.

 

[NorCalDoug]

It's been discussed in the past. Most have wisely chosen to NOT go doorless for reasons already provided.

You'll also have a to fab up some sort of release mechanism for the window and lock wiring.

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

I can't begin to count how many doors on/off debates I've read over the years of being involved with unibody cherokees, but the sheer number of people running around with out doors is testament to the fact that they are not necessary for the structure of the body. Do they protect you in a collision, of course, but I don't think they contribute to the overall strength of the vehicle when under normal circumstances. I have run doorless on my old Jeep and it's a very cool feeling.

One problem with the 80 that will get you a ticket in a hurry, is that there is no lip at the doors to prevent objects from falling out. At least here in VA a 4" lip is required.

Would I run the 80 doorless? Doubtful since it's my DD and not my trail rig. If it were my trail rig I believe I'd make a set of half doors out of a set of junkyard doors. This gives you the added visibility/air flow without sacrificing the safety aspect.

As for a chopped top 80, Stuck, you can't figure out where an ABS sensor is, how in the he!! are you going to use a sawzall, welder, and countless other metal working tools? Also, what do you think your parents would say about that? Didn't they take away your discovery 'cause you got it stuck? I think they might have objections to your cutting the roof off of your daily driver. Unless of course they're going to buy you an M3 so you can drive around and have the 80 for your "trail rig"

Ary

 

[reffug]

Unless of course they're going to buy you an M3 so you can drive around and have the 80 for your "trail rig"

Ary

He would just try and hook up with a chop shop and get the insurance money. So his Bentley would be stylin.......hahahahahaha

 

[turbocruiser]

I can't begin to count how many doors on/off debates I've read over the years of being involved with unibody cherokees, but the sheer number of people running around with out doors is testament to the fact that they are not necessary for the structure of the body.
Ary

Ary, I'm gonna havta respectfully disagree with you here man. Anyone who has worked with auto-body and auto-restoration can testify to the fact that the total structure of most ordinary vehicles is important to the total structure of most ordinary vehicles. All components work with, work against and affect one another. Now, does the little gas lid matter much, well no of course not, but, even the hood and trunk matter some and things like the windshield and rear windshield matter alot in some vehicles. The doors matter alot with any unibody i know of (agreed that the 80 is not unibody) and they even matter alot with some body on frame designs as well. Sure lots and lots of heeps run without doors and lots of 40's run without doors but for one those are much shorter wheelbase, much lighter weight vehicles when compared to an 80, and for another i would imagine that people running heeps and 40's without doors are really aggressive wheelers who wont care if the doors fit perfectly if and or when they ever re-instal them. To answer stucks question, which was a good question i think, if you really wanna wheel an 80 without doors, at least fabricate half doors or tube frame doors to maintain the geometry and stiffness and strength of the vehicle. Again, just a respectful disagreement, not an argument and I have no emperical data to prove my point, but in this case for the structural integrity issue as well as the safety issue, I would not encourage anyone to go without something serving as doors in an 80. JMHO

 

[OZCAL]

I have seen quite a few of pick up conversions on the web, but they are mainly in AU.

Yep - see them around from time to time, some good some bad.