My '86 Project

[2502]

you should be running your own shop bro...

[84chevysilverado]

i agree with everyone really sweet looking truck. I have always wondered how suicide doors worked  cant wait to c how

[VileZambonie]

Awesome job man! You do really good work and I'm impressed!

[808SS]

could you take some pic's of your reinforce door jam?

[dv8customs]

could you take some pic's of your reinforce door jam?

I haven't done that yet but what I plan to do is cut a piece of angle (1x1x1/8) that fits between the hinge pockets and against the door jamb. I will drill some holes in the jamb and then weld the angle to the hinge pockets and plug weld it to the jamb. That will make that area plenty strong.

[808SS]

could you take some pic's of your reinforce door jam?

I haven't done that yet but what I plan to do is cut a piece of angle (1x1x1/8) that fits between the hinge pockets and against the door jamb. I will drill some holes in the jamb and then weld the angle to the hinge pockets and plug weld it to the jamb. That will make that area plenty strong.

Just post some pic's as you go along PLEASE .

[dv8customs]

Not complete yet but here is a start

First I dissasembled the hinges and ran a piece of 3/8" rod through the hinges. I had determined the maximum spacing I could get in the door jamb was 11 1/4".


I cut a piece of 2x2 angle iron to 11 1/4 and welded it to the back side of the hinges.


Next I located the hinges in the jamb and clamped them in place so I could mark the holes.



My bottom hinge was low enough that it interfered with the step in front of the back wall so that had to be cut out as well. Not easy with the tools I have so it is ugly. You could mount your bottom hinge higher and avoid this but the further apart the hingers are the more stable they will be.


Once I cut out enough room inside I slid the whole assembly into place.



Make sure everything is square and trim off the excess hinge and tack it into place.


If you are confident everything is square you can go ahead and weld the hinge in at this point like I did or wait till you finish the door as well.

Tomorrow I plan to have the passenger door finished so look for more in a few days.

[dv8customs]

I put the door latch back to keep the door shut while I welded in the bottom hinge. The door latch is where the top hinge goes so I had to do the bottom and then remove the latch to do the top hinge.

The hinges sit deep in the door so I had to make some brackets.




Once I cut out the louvers there where some big holes in the end of the door that needed to be filled as well so I made another bracket.

[dv8customs]

The payoff  .....





I still have to add some more bracing to the door because it sags a little.

[1983stepside]

wow man does that look awsome!!!!! i wish i had the money to make a full out custom, i think that sucide doors would look a little weird with just a lowered 3/5 truck with some wheels but keep up the good work and again it looks awsome man

[oldwhity]

Hey Dv8, that awesome work. I've never seen it done before. It's really a measure a few times and cut once kinda deal huh? It's really comin along.

[dv8customs]

Hey Dv8, that awesome work. I've never seen it done before. It's really a measure a few times and cut once kinda deal huh? It's really comin along.

You definately have to pay attention to what you are doing, but the good thing about metal is that if you cut off too much you can always weld it back on.

[rockable]

DV8, you are a skilled fabricator and have a very creative imagination.  That is awesome work.  Keep showing us pics.  I can't wait to see the final product.

[dv8customs]

DV8, you are a skilled fabricator and have a very creative imagination.  That is awesome work.  Keep showing us pics.  I can't wait to see the final product.

Thanks, I am an engineer I can't help it.

[69byrd]

Looks good man You do have to brace it alot, I had a friend who done his doors and they sagged a little until he braced it some more. Keep up the great work.