Thinking about making some half doors.

[Ddk2001]

After looking at some of the aftermarket half doors - and seeing the prices . . . I'm thinking about making my own. Anyone know if the stock 1/2 doors are 1/4" 6061? I decided to mock some up out of 1/4" ply just to see what the might look like.

I kind of like them - and want to get some hard door hinges and paddle latch handles for a final fit before I get them fabbed from aluminum. Anyone know where to source hard door hinges? I can't find them.

I'm thinking about cutting the doors as you see them - and riveting a c-channel at the top to make them look a bit more like factory doors.

-D

 

[ken]

Those look pretty good!

 

[ari]

After looking at some of the aftermarket half doors - and seeing the prices . . . I'm thinking about making my own. Anyone know if the stock 1/2 doors are 1/4" 6061? I decided to mock some up out of 1/4" ply just to see what the might look like.

I kind of like them - and want to get some hard door hinges and paddle latch handles for a final fit before I get them fabbed from aluminum. Anyone know where to source hard door hinges? I can't find them.

I'm thinking about cutting the doorsas you see them - and riveting a c-channel at the top to make them look a bit more like factory doors.

-D

Hard door hinge PN EC12339448-1 and EC12339448-2 Get em from macmotors. get ur latches here http://www.eberhard.com/products/paddle-latches/249-250-series/19683 beats prices of all the other outfits and Epay

 

[Bravojmc]

After looking at some of the aftermarket half doors - and seeing the prices . . . I'm thinking about making my own. Anyone know if the stock 1/2 doors are 1/4" 6061? I decided to mock some up out of 1/4" ply just to see what the might look like.

I kind of like them - and want to get some hard door hinges and paddle latch handles for a final fit before I get them fabbed from aluminum. Anyone know where to source hard door hinges? I can't find them.

I'm thinking about cutting the doors as you see them - and riveting a c-channel at the top to make them look a bit more like factory doors.

-D

Looks killer my friend!

 

[86humv]

I made some in the past to mostly match the factory rears.
There's thick shims, inside X door handles, arm rests, paddle handles and rods, and door latches....all X door parts,
except thick shims which are same as rear 1/2 doors use.
Arm rest is similar as rear 1/2 doors.
Rubber bulb seals are also added like rears.

 

[Ddk2001]

Found a set of hard door hinges and picked up some door handles and some trim lock seal - and fabbed it all up to fit. I'm going to pick up some 1/4" 6061 and get it cut and installed on all 4 doors. Game on.

 

[Action]

View attachment 692341

how do those latch on the inside?

 

[Ddk2001]

how do those latch on the inside?

The paddle latch handle has a dead latch that closes on the soft door latch. I'm thinking about fabricating an aluminum latch - but it closes really well as-is. We'll see once I cut and install the aluminum doors.

 

[ari]

The paddle latch handle has a dead latch that closes on the soft door latch. I'm thinking about fabricating an aluminum latch - but it closes really well as-is. We'll see once I cut and install the aluminum doors.

are you sure those will hold the door closed real good? i can see them popping open especially with repeated closings the wire striker may start to bend

 

[Ddk2001]

are you sure those will hold the door closed real good? i can see them popping open especially with repeated closings the wire striker may start to bend

Am I sure? No. The paddle latch is stout - it overlaps the wire striker plenty. Might the wire start to bend? Maybe - although the doors won't weigh a whole lot more than the soft doors. That's why I said I was thinking about fabricating a solid latch/striker for the dead latch to catch.

I'll see how it performs once I cut and install the doors.

 

[Action]

Since it is horizontal, is there a spring inside the latch to keep it in the locked position? to stop it from vibrating forward?

 

[Ddk2001]

Since it is horizontal, is there a spring inside the latch to keep it in the locked position? to stop it from vibrating forward?

Yes - the paddle latch is spring loaded. There is no movement whatsoever when it's closed.



Im' essentially reproducing what I've seen some aftermarket vendors do with 1/2 doors. Here . . .

 

[Ddk2001]

I made some in the past to mostly match the factory rears.
There's thick shims, inside X door handles, arm rests, paddle handles and rods, and door latches....all X door parts,
except thick shims which are same as rear 1/2 doors use.
Arm rest is similar as rear 1/2 doors.
Rubber bulb seals are also added like rears.

door looks great 86humv. What material did you use for the doors? 1/4" 6061?

 

[86humv]

door looks great 86humv. What material did you use for the doors? 1/4" 6061?

Yes, on plate....arm rest is thinner

 

[Ddk2001]

Well - I finally got around to picking up some 1/4" plate aluminum and hardware - and made the 1/2 doors. They work really well - just need to add some c-channel for an arm rest and repaint the camo pattern on that back door

 

[05blackduramax]

Looks great.

 

[NormB]

Awesome.

Now if you can get setup to crank out,say, a dozen sets, and price them reasonably (look at ePay, some folks are gouging, IMHO, but I honestly don't know how much time/labor/materials cost go into a set of these. Knew a guy once with a water jet metal cutter, something like that could cut out a half dozen doors at a time), you'll sell 'em as fast as you can make 'em.

Strong work.

 

[05blackduramax]

I would buy them.

 

[Ddk2001]

I finally got around to adding c-channel to the doors and getting them repainted. Real happy with how they came out.

 

[riderdan]

Those look sweet. It too cold here in the winter to run those, but a set would be great for summer. Nice work.