73-87 Door Shell Differences and Door component info/swapability

[Captkaos]

GM doors from 73-76 were not available with power windows and they have short door panels and the window cranks are shorter.  Starting in 1977 power windows and locks were available and the inner door skin was change to accomplish this.  Below are the differences in the door panels

This is a 73-76


This is a 77-91

[Captkaos]

This is the Technical topic on the door shell differences: http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=3147.0
1973-76 – No provision for power windows, short door panels covering only the upper portion, requires short stalk regulators.
1977-91 – Power window provisions, extra holes for mounting power regulator, full door panels with lower carpeting, long stalk regulators.


Door Panels  http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,25957
The 73-76 door panels can only be used on 73-76 doors unless you don't mind drilling new holes and filling in all the old holes.
The biggest being the large 2 at the bottom where the power motor bolts down (see above link)
77-80 and 81-87(91) panels “can” be used on any doors, but require the correct regulator (77-87(91)) the correct specific door handle (77-80 or 81-91)and new holes would need to be drilled.


Regulators:  http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,23598.msg196819.html#msg196819
Manual:
The early 1973 doors won't accept the 77-up regulator rollers.
The 1973 regulator has a much smaller roller on them and is specific to that year, you would have to change out the roller to use them on anything else, and the lower door track is the culprit.  Note: some early 1974’s had these smaller rollers, check to be sure.
The 74-76 regulators which are manual ONLY have a shorter window stalk crank and therefore cannot be used with the 77-87(91) door panels
The 77-87(91) regulators come in manual or power, and the manual window stalk crank is much longer than the 73-76 version.  Although they can be used with the 74-76 doors, they will have a large gap after the door panel stops.
Power:
1977-80 power regulators use the larger more powerful window motor  These can be used on any 1977-1991 door, but if you want to put them on the 1974-1976 door plan to make some new holes and modifications to make them work.
1981-1991 power regulators use the smaller window motor. These can be used on any 1977-1991 door, but if you want to put them on the 1974-1976 door plan to make some new holes and modifications to make them work.


Vent window: http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=27075.0
There are three styles of vent windows, all of them will interchange, BUT the later model ones won’t have the extra mounting hole like the early ones.
1973-1980 – Non locking glass handle, 2 bolts on the vertical surface of the door
1981-1985 – Locking glass handle, 1 bolt on the vertical surface of the door, 2 piece Seal
1985-1991 – Locking glass handle, 1 bolt on the vertical surface of the door. 1 piece seal.


Door Handles:  http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,25956
1973-76 – thin with a curved tip, centered in the mount.  Will only work with related door panels
1977-80 – Thick(wide) with a curved tip, centered in the mount.  Will only work with related door panels
1981-1991 – Thin and straight, offset to the bottom.   Will only work with related door panels


Glass thickness:  http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,23600.0.html
There are 2  different set/thickness of glass used.
1973-1980 was the thicker version
1981-1991 was the thinner version


Complete door assemblies removing from the hinges will swap to any year truck regardless of year.  So you can put 1973 doors on a 1991 truck and vice versa, 1977 on a 1973 and vice versa.  Suburban FRONT doors and Blazer doors from 1976-1991 will swap to pickups (there is no difference) in their entirety also.