Old Style Door Inners (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter TomV
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brian
SILVER Star
Yeah, put them on
- Thread starter
- #3
Wait, they bolt right up? I had been told there were differences but not what the differences were, which is why I am asking. Are you saying they will fit without any modifications?
One difference is the door latch mechanism. I’m not sure what it would take to change it out.
pb4ugo
SILVER Star
I think you need to change the striker plate on the B pillar.
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
Not sure how the late model door limit opener will work on the thinner doors. The early style limit had to open the round opening in the A pillar since the doors are thicker. I changed to later style doors because they are one piece and do not rattle as bad. Any doors you buy check the lower door skin where back post for vent window is for cracks.
pb4ugo
SILVER Star
Not really. You could search door cards or something like that. Some vendors sell aftermarket ones. You could easily make up a set.
My dad did this to his 1978 Fj40. So weird, he was talking to me about this just a few days ago when I visited him. Essentially, he has an original 1978 that he's converted to look like a 1973. He kept all the 4-speed and 2f drive train from the 1978.
So his style doors were the ones with that metal u-shaped latch and also with the inner door card/cover. I'm assuming just like yours.
He cut the "b pillars" at the lock mechanism/latch. It left a rectangular opening from what he cut out. He then got doner "b-pillars" from a parts vehicle 1973 Fj40 and cut those out. He then welded that into his 1978 Fj40.
He was telling me that "maybe" he could have figured out a way to make the early style doors fit by making some sort of bracket, but he wanted to have the sure fit and strength of a welded-on pillar at the door. He's been running like that since the early 1990s with zero issue.
So, definitely doable, but you may need to make the cuts. When I go visit him sometime this coming weekend, I'll take some pictures if I can remember. If I don't post back, just remind me :]
I
So his style doors were the ones with that metal u-shaped latch and also with the inner door card/cover. I'm assuming just like yours.
He cut the "b pillars" at the lock mechanism/latch. It left a rectangular opening from what he cut out. He then got doner "b-pillars" from a parts vehicle 1973 Fj40 and cut those out. He then welded that into his 1978 Fj40.
He was telling me that "maybe" he could have figured out a way to make the early style doors fit by making some sort of bracket, but he wanted to have the sure fit and strength of a welded-on pillar at the door. He's been running like that since the early 1990s with zero issue.
So, definitely doable, but you may need to make the cuts. When I go visit him sometime this coming weekend, I'll take some pictures if I can remember. If I don't post back, just remind me :]
I
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The PO of my 72FST put on a 76 hardtop and doors. There was stuff done to make it fit, but I have no clue. I really like the ambi doors because I don't hit my head on them. The front recessed door handles don't rip off going threw the overgrowth on old logging trails.
+1 for make it yours
+1 for make it yours
MOTOV8R
SILVER Star
One difference not mentioned is that early doors are straight on the upper portion (where the window is) newer doors tilt slightly inwards. This can affect your hard top fit.
If it's more about the inners, I'd be tempted to just get a bead roller and/or find a metalwork shop and just have some metal cards rolled, design of your choice. Less fiddly, and you'd keep the more modern hardware/latches.
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
A vantage of the later doors is it's possible to add speakers without cutting the metal skin. My 73 FST came with 72 hard top and doors installed. Door skins were cut in the lower front for 6 1/2" speakers. FJ40 are noisy enough without removing the vinyl door cards and replacing them with metal. 2019 someone posted free cards for the ambulance doors just wanted pictures of the installation and instslled. Have a set of ambulance doors off a wrecked 84 troopy. Doors will never be perfect so didn't mind drilling holes for metal clips.
Save these pictures years ago. These door cards have a built speakers.
This picture shows where there is a hollow space for a speaker in the ambulance doors.
Doors never going to be perfect wouldn't mind cutting the inner skin to install speakers. Sound deadening in the hard top cap. Some type of sound deadening for floors, wheel wells and firewall. Will never sound like the Mark Levinson in a Lexus but I can dream.
Save these pictures years ago. These door cards have a built speakers.
This picture shows where there is a hollow space for a speaker in the ambulance doors.
Doors never going to be perfect wouldn't mind cutting the inner skin to install speakers. Sound deadening in the hard top cap. Some type of sound deadening for floors, wheel wells and firewall. Will never sound like the Mark Levinson in a Lexus but I can dream.
TEakins
Ted
When the early doors were installed on my late model aluminum tub, we changed the late model door limiter by welding the limiter as shown in this photo. The B pillar was good just by bolting on the striker.
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
Guess that answers the door limit needing to be modified. Been forty years since I added 79 doors onto my 68. Wasn't positive I needed to widen the opening. I've also run FST doors on my 68 which are even thinner than the early two piece hard doors thirty years ago. The striker on the B pillar has different spacing for the bolts. It also needs to mount closer to the outside with the early doors. Going later door on a earlier tub I had make a small adapter out metal to get the door to fit tight.
