half doors

[donkeychomp]

Anyone ever made or seen some Vitara half doors? I'd like to make up a pair, get rid of the lever thing that stops the door from swinging right out and replace that with a strap as on an SJ.

Any ideas? Any pics?

Cheers, Alex

[dan_2k_uk]

http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content/topic,57606.0.html

[donkeychomp]

Nice one Dan!

[Jordi]

Don't have a vit but some of hose look tidyyyyyy!

Might chopy current doors into half doors for the Samurai when i swap everything round.

[Rhinoman]

It may not be quite so simple. There are two different types of pins on the Vitara, some have pins with circlips, even when you get the clip off the pin is a bit of a bitch to get out as they are painted after assembly and the pin is knurled. Its possible to drift them out after you've cleaned the paint off but ideally you need to take the hinges off first as they bend very easily. The more difficult type have riveted ends which need to be cut off before you can knock them out. There is an issue with the bottom pin but I forget what it is.
I did make some once but I didn't like the way that I cut them and when I moved out of my previous house I had to dump a load of stuff as I had to move into temporary accommodation. I need to find another pair of doors and have another go. Once you've dumped the top of the door, the glass and the winder mechanism the doors are an awful lot lighter but you can still retain the side impact protection.

[Rhinoman]

I don't recall the lever being a problem, can't remember what I did - it was 8 or 9 years ago.

[donkeychomp]

Thanks for the tips...hunting down a pair of doors now, when I start the job I'll post it up.

[r-nottz]

Thanks for the tips...hunting down a pair of doors now, when I start the job I'll post it up.

Bumping a old post here!!

Did you ever do anything about this idea? I'm thinking of cutting my spare doors up into some half doors.

I'm not going to have them set up for lift on lift off, just bolt on bolt off for summer and normal doors for winter.

The only thing that's making me wonder what to do is the opening of them but I guess I can modify the rod that opens the door behind the interior handle?

[donkeychomp]

Nope, not done it yet! Way too much other stuff to do first, but one day....one day