Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

one word: WOW

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

This whole project is amazing. Each modification taken separately is very cool, but putting it all together in one project is indescribable.

One question, did you plan on modifying the front doors with the same hinges so you could open both sides wide? Add a couple ramps on either side and perform stunts by driving your little clown car through it.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Now THAT'S funny!

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Thanks C10addict and wagonhoe.

hgs: You just made my to-do list a little longer ;)

Just playing with paint, I'm not sure that I really like this look (rear handle placement). I might have to see if it grows on me or just leave it in the stock location and put a pull on the front of the B-Pillar:

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

What about a door latch in the jamb like the oe 4dr extra cabs have?? You could get rid of the handle all together that way, but I'm not sure that is what you are after.

I like the looks of the handles together.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

That's exactly what I'm thinking. But I actually like the look of the rear handle where it is factory. The continental placement might win in the end though. More decisions...

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

I like the door handle placement in this pic.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

I say put it in the stock location. You'll trip people out trying to open those rear doors. I think this is a cool mod, but what made you decide to do this? Function or the "cool factor"?

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Try some pt cruiser handles placed like a lincoln.....the pt's have a factory look but are slicker and i really dig the look of the 2 handles meeting up plus it shows you have suicide doors even in pics or goin down road with them closed......but in the end its your baby and no matter what its SIC bro

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Bad Ace

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Handles next to each other IMO

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Not to Hijack, but a 4dr Porsche would be awesome :burnout:

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

I LIKE it!

I don't think that would work well, you'd have a difficult time opening the rear door from the outside.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Mike I like the look of the opposing handles as well. Use the stock handles for that "Concept Vehicle" look you have already got going. Clean functional with a touch of stock is always a winning combination. Using different vehicle handles or shaving them off will Date the build in a way but stock UN-stock will always be timeless! Going with the Lincoln look will make people say "I have seen that some were before" and confuse them even more:devil:

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

I vote for the stock handles as pictured.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

I agree with the consensus that the stock handles shown opposed as you have them are a nice subtle approach to your awesome modifications. Which seems to be the overall theme for the entire build.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Your call but that pic. looks great ! Lincoln style is cool ! Kinda has that overseas look to it like it came from "down under" or something ?

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

I think it looks perfect just like that!

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

I Agree with Kevin on this...........

Rick

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

'My 2 cents' alert...

So long as you're keeping the roof rack, the door handles have to stay on the doors... so no shaving. If you're sticking with the stock look completely, then you should only have a stock-type handle on the passenger rear door, but you CAN'T leave the handles at the rear of the door. That just looks (and operates) goofy for a suicide door. So... assuming my original assertion, one visible handle on the driver's side door, and the passenger doors get "Lincoln'd."

/that is all.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Maybe this has been brought up before, but have you thought about chopping it? Just a little. I think it looks really cool like it is, But maybe an inch or two to proportion it a little. I would love to build one of these for a family rig. Looks awesome:metal::metal:

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Yes I'm keeping the trim, rack, and stock handles (I like the PT Cruiser handles, but not for this build). I'll most likely go with Lincoln style placement of stock handles on both sides which was my initial instinct. Thanks for all the suggestions/comments guys.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

More pics:

Rolled it forward enough to open the front door fully
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1225537393

Rust repair will be done in conjunction with this mod...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1225537393

A little out of focus... It took a lot to get the door on straight. In fact I had to replace the front cab mounts to get the three floor braces back in line. Here the B-Pillar is actually bolted back down in the factory holes to allow me to line up the door and hinge box.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1225537393

You can see that the panels are just tacked in place enough to get them lined up for locating the hinge
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1225537393

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1225537393

Hinge box tacked in
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1225537393

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1225537393

No swingin door yet. The thing still won't clear for the 180 swing. So I'll have to do that exercise over again and move the hinge box closer to the outer skin to try to get it to clear...

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Looks great Mike! I agree with you on needing to move the pivot point of the hinge out as far as you possible can go. All typical hinge pivot's are normally out just in side the door skin so as far out as you can get it the better according to the little voice in my head;)

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Well, The pivot point is already as far out as it can go without moving the hinge down. The hinge can't be moved down anymore because of the tub (see pics). So it's a very tight spot for this set-up. The only thing I have left to play with is getting the door side closer to the outside. I only need about a 1/4".

It's currently shimmed out 1/8" from this location and just touches the skin:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1224428348

Can't move down any further:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1224428348

Worst case scenario if i can't use the full "180*" it's not the end of the world.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Could you use slightly lower tubs or are the tires already too close?

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Nah, with a dropmember waiting to go in I don't want to limit the rear drop at all. It already won't lay the rear with the tubs in the current location, so I don't want to move them down. Right now with the rear on the bump stops there's about 1/2" tire clearance.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

What about moving the rear axle back slightly?

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

That would ne a nice solution if I had room in the notch, but I don't :o

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

How about a notched notch. Gotta think outside the box here. How about cutting the tub to fit around the hinge that pokes through it, then cover the exposed hinge piece with a piece of sheet metal. I know the tire clearance is still gone, but you won't be driving it while sitting on the stops will you?

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

I still have more room to move the door-side hinge box out so I'll try that first. If it still doesn't clear for the 180 swing I'll probably just limit the hinge travel accordingly. The 180 aspect is not a "must-have" for me. It'll still open more than a conventional hinge. I want to maintain the ability to roll on the bump-stops. Not for driving it that way, but for safety purposes if I ever lose a line or bag.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Well, I worked on it last night and it's gonna work. I'll post pics when I have the door swingin.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

You replaced that old muffler bearing and it all worked out didn't it! :lol:

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

just saw your "tahoe" in sport trucks mag ...man awesome work i wish i had your skills and patience to get all this done.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Dang it! All I wanted was for you to use one of my ideas so I can claim some small amount of credit when it's on the show circuit and magazine covers. Maybe you'll actually do the front doors the same way and I can claim that.;)

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Really? I didn't even know it was out yet. Is it the Dec or Jan issue?

:lol: I really appreciate all the suggestions.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

I was just checking out the spread in mine too. It's the Jan. 09 issue. :cong:

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

It took me three days to get through this thread A D D. It looks awesome, made me start thinking about what my 91 suburban would look like as a tahoe.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

yeah I have been wondering about a square body tahoe also, hmmmm

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Just guessing....but probably something like this: :lol: