Project Family Hauler

[pickup67man]

I never looked at the ford before I cut it up. The doors may swing different or the body lines may allow the hinges to tilt in more at the top. I do know the body is thicker at the top of the door on the ford. I had to trim the hinge box to fit in the body lines of the suburban. If I move the top hinge in it will be past the weather strip. And if I move the lower hinge out it will be past the sheet metal. I've been staring at it for a while.
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[pickup67man]

And yes they pivot inside the pillar. I chose them because they make the door swing away from the body. Unlike Chevy hinges where the leading edge swings behind the fender.
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[jbclassix]

I looked back on page 3 and it looks like the door was doing that originally. I hope you can get it figured out!
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[pickup67man]

Originally Posted by jbclassix

I looked back on page 3 and it looks like the door was doing that originally. I hope you can get it figured out!
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If you look at all posts since then you will see there hasn't been much progress. I distracted myself with a garage but haven't figured out the door.
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[ThreeQtr]

Here is a discussion on suicide doors on a suburban.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=331633

In the pics Frizzle Fry's is definately down, though I only see one hinge in that particular picture. But even the custom red burb looks like it drops a little. More pics of it here. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=544965

Here is a crew cab project using a 68 suburban with a suicide doors starting on pg 9. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=495438
And pics of others for reference.

[pickup67man]

Well after talking and looking at more pics I have an idea. I opened the door and adjusted the top hinge until the doors were at the same level. 3/8" adjustment raised the door an inch on the latch side. Now the work. I got ahead of myself and welded a lot of the hinge box from the donor Ford. Now I have to cut those welds to move it. There is enough room on the body and door to tilt the angle of the hinges. I think the door will open correct then. I was just afraid this was the answer.
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[jbclassix]

Originally Posted by ThreeQtr

Here is a discussion on suicide doors on a suburban...
...And pics of others for reference.

What's up with the dually?! What's it look like with the doors closed?

That green one looks like the door drops too

Originally Posted by pickup67man

Well after talking and looking at more pics I have an idea. I opened the door and adjusted the top hinge until the doors were at the same level. 3/8" adjustment raised the door an inch on the latch side. Now the work. I got ahead of myself and welded a lot of the hinge box from the donor Ford. Now I have to cut those welds to move it. There is enough room on the body and door to tilt the angle of the hinges. I think the door will open correct then. I was just afraid this was the answer.
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As frustrating as it may be, I hope that solves your problem

[pickup67man]

Originally Posted by jbclassix

As frustrating as it may be, I hope that solves your problem

The only frustrating part is my welding too much too soon. Some welds may be hard to reach to cut out. But if I tilt the pivot angle of the hinge the door should open better. Maybe I'm just picky.
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[ThreeQtr]

Yes, the rear door of the green burb does look like it tilts down when open. Kind of like the rear barn doors on these open at an angle only the reverse direction (up).Keep up the good work and maybe you can make a kit for this.

More pics of the dually suburban here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...98#post5605998

[pickup67man]

Ok I bit the bullet and started to cut out all my welds. I had to cut the "hinge box" out of the suburban and tilt it. Then I had to cut the door apart to adjust that side an equal amount. I was able to move the top hinge in 1/2" and forward 3/8". This changes the pivot angle of the hinges.

Before Pic.


After Pic.


I think it looks better.

Here is what the "hinge box" looks like in the suburban.


This is the door side of the Ford hinges.


Lots of welds on the door. Looked a lot better before I cut the door apart.


The "hinge box" is actually part of the cab of the Ford. I have it welded to the floor below and next to the lower hinge, just above the lower hinge where the suburban floor meets the body and at the top right below the window. Then there is a 2" square tube that runs up to the header. No flex, which is good since the door hangs from it.


Looks better. I plan to have the doors open at shows so it will be easy to see if they are off.


Now to finish the jamb. Cut lots of holes for the hinges and now need to make it look good.

[Frizzle Fry]

It's the lateral relationship between the upper/lower that affects that swing. Imagine a single line between the two. If it angles out your swing will not be level.
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[pickup67man]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

It's the lateral relationship between the upper/lower that affects that swing. Imagine a single line between the two. If it angles out your swing will not be level.
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In my head I could picture the angles but it took a while to start cutting. I had to admit I got ahead of myself. Haven't done much on it for almost 2 years. Starting to move forward.
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[Frizzle Fry]

It's quite a coincidence that the donor for your rear door opening was the same color as mine...


-and-

[pickup67man]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

It's quite a coincidence that the donor for your rear door opening was the same color as mine...


-and-

That means I am on the right track. I noticed yours was a GMC according to the vin plate. Mine was a 1972 GMC cab I got for free. Going to use the A/C dash also. Now everyone will think you need a green GMC cab to make a 4th door.
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[Frizzle Fry]

good eye man! Mine was the same price. Just had to winch it out of the blackberries
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[pickup67man]

My second extra cab cost more. A special 10 pack of beer is all that it cost. It was a 12 pack but the guy offered me a couple while we loaded it and Bs'd. The green one the guy offered to help me unload it when I got home and I sold him an old engine analyzer so it was less the free.
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[pickup67man]

I did get something accomplished this weekend. Lots of grinding. With all the new and old welds I had lots of grinding to do. Not my favorite thing but it has to be done.


I know




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[68 TT]

Glad you got the hinge tilt problem figured out. Now get back to work

[Dieselwrencher]

Man oh man you are getting this unit done. I'm debating making a crew cab again, so keep up the work to motivate me. Haha

[pickup67man]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Man oh man you are getting this unit done. I'm debating making a crew cab again, so keep up the work to motivate me. Haha

I took almost 2 years off. The hinge problem slowed me down as much as the rain. I ran out of excuses so I started working on it again. Hopefully I can do more this weekend around pumpkin projects.
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[pickup67man]

Well I got some more done this weekend. Finished filling in all the gaps on the hinge side of the door jamb.





Also took the door skin on and off too many times to count.

Suicide Doors

Then I had to get the door lock linkage hooked up. The rod had to clear the window channel to I made a new one.

Door Lock Rod

And I filled in the rest of the holes on the latch side of the door.


Latches and locks now.

Door Latches and Locks

[pickup67man]

Finished grinding the inside of the door and hopefully done welding on the lower inside part also. POR15 the inside of the door. Maybe that means I'm almost ready to close up the work area and the skin will stay on. Maybe.



This is the hinge support from the donor truck. It should stabilize the hinge mounts.



Looks better to hide the rusty colors.

[pickup67man]

Finished up rewelding the window frame in what I HOPE is the final position.





Then I worked over the door skin so it fits the frame good. The gap for the window is 1" on all my other doors so that was the number I had to get when the skin fit right. I'm there. Also with all my cutting the drain holes at the bottom of the door disappeared so I made new ones.



Then I started to finish the rocker panels. I started with a drivers side rocker for the rear door. Not much fit right. They aren't cut for a B pillar and the curve is wrong. Then I had to join it to the front rocker to make it flow. Cut, cut, cut. Weld weld weld. It is now one rocker that runs like a uni-brow. When its done I will plug weld it to look like its stamped.

[68 TT]

Nice to see you back at it. Keep it up.

[pickup67man]

Originally Posted by 68 TT

Nice to see you back at it. Keep it up.

Glad to be back at it. Hope no one gave up on me.
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