My latest money pit

[hologramed]

Can anyone tell me:

Is changing a sliding drivers door to a normal opening type straightforward. On a Mk2 that is.

[madmark]

i think this can be done no problems but you end up with part of the sill showing that the door slides on and also you will have holes in the roof i think! i am shure somebody can tell you on this site!

[FredTransit]

I would think that the holes the hinges are bolted through and the pillar bolt holes should be there, as I am sure Fords wouldn't make a whole new body shell just for sliding doors ! If you can compare two vans each with one of the doors, that's a good start.

Welcome to the forum, how about some pictures?

[Luke]

Welcome to the forum Hologramed!!

Why do you want to get rid of a sliding door? I think there ace you just dont see them anymore!!!

I think transitgeoff is after the sill part you are wanting to cut out!!

[FredTransit]

Welcome to the forum Hologramed!!

Why do you want to get rid of a sliding door? I think there ace you just dont see them anymore!!!

I think transitgeoff is after the sill part you are wanting to cut out!!

Swap you Luke, I've never liked em! I get the feeling I am going to fall out when going around a corner. No? Just me then........

[Luke]

Ive never owned a tranny with one i think its just seeing them when i was younger all the white arrow delivery vans had them, i think it was the law at the time allowing delivery drivers to not wear their seatbelts if there vehicle was specialy modified, but the law has changed since so we dont get them now!!!
Anyway fred your orange mk1 van has a sliding door

[FredTransit]

That's what I meant Luke, swap you (er, the door, not the van!). Oh did you mean your pickup (cos that won't work) or your van?

[Luke]

If you can compare two vans each with one of the doors, that's a good start.

you can answer this question you have one of each!!!

I dont think i'd swap!! im haveing enough problems getting time to get mine done without a door swap aswell

ps fred theres a mk1 phase2 front grill on ebay nos!! unless that one can be repaired

[FredTransit]

Thanks Luke, but I do already have the grille. i think you would have to be Paul Daniels to repair ours!

[madmark]

luke you dont know what your missing they are great ! drive along with door open in the summer vantastic bit of kit ,i would have one on my van anyday! i had a mk2 ex rac transit 130 kombi that had side loader ,tailgate and a slideing drivers door! it was brill ,also had a ex aa van with slideing drivers door! and many many more with slideing drivers doors ,never had any problems with them ,mind you we are going back a few years before the tim worm got in!

[Luke]

i would have one on my van anyday!

fred will swap you!!

[FredTransit]

LMAO! You beat me to it!!

[transitgeoff]

Hi its easy to change and i have all the stuff you need and i will swap with you if you are interested and you are not in Scotland,let me know if you are interested.

[FredTransit]

Geoff did you mean me? As ever, I am struggleing with the old personal choice/convenience and keeping things original

[hologramed]

Thanks for the replies; got me thinking more:

Fred: Yes i have compared both briefly. I stripped a 130 bus out a few months ago for parts and it was identical to my Mk2 except for the drivers door. I think the hinge location and striker plate areas are going to be no problem, why would they be. Only if say the captive threads were missing from down in the hinge locations. I'll take one of the blanking plates of mine when the suns out soon and have a look. p.s. no its not just you pps pics on way.

Mark: Yes you have touched on the areas i thought might be problems the sill edge and the runner areas. One of my main problems with it is my upper runner hood thing is rotten and i cant see a satis way of fixing it. Cutting it off seems like a solution! You are absolutely right though - on the 2 or 3 days its really hot in the summer sliding doors are the best form of air conditioning you can get but i feel sure i,m not supposed to have it open a bit at 50mph on the A10!! Still, I haven't seen any traffic police for a few years now!!!!!!!!!

Luke: Because whenever i go on the motorway(lord forbid a bumpy one) the rattly, noisy, draughty, banging, clattering, wobbling, vibrating, clanging, windy excuse for a door really annoys me and i lack the experience to know how to fix this kind of door. If i could only make it a tight fit and the runners had nice modern close tolerances and the striker pin/hook wasnt getting worn and i could get parts for the sliding window which i also dont care for since i gave up smoking!!!!!!

Geoff: Yep if you meant me i'll get back to you this summer when i've got everything out in the yard and start cutting the wings off.