fordh8r's 84 Xtra-bad Daily Driver

[fordh8r]

Shortly after I mocked up the handle I had a slight mishap which fast-forwarded me to a future possibility. 

The door fell over and landed on the handle. Fortunately with it mocked up the handle just moved out of the way. Had it been solidly mounted it would have most likely broken the plastic handle and I'd be looking for another one right now  .

So after mounting them I made a small gaurd for the handle in case they should happen to come in cantact with a hard surface again. They may not stop all possibilities for damage but some is better than none. 

[fordh8r]

With the door on.. thanks to some quick change pins I made a while back out of 8MM bolts with the threaded section cut off and a hole drilled in them for removeable pins. The bolts have been in there now for nearly 3 years and they still fit really nice with no looseness of the door whatsoever.  I even made pins for the doors that sit so the bushings wouldn't fall out and get lost.

[Tallchevy]

Sweet!  Are the key locks still on the doors? I knew the TRD would kick in 

Now I have to get mine done 

[fordh8r]

Well, the only contact point in the linkage was near the latch so I covered the edge of the metal at the contact point with a piece of split loom. The split loom being plastic also gave it a lubricated feel and stopped any rattling noise from the linkage contacting the door frame. 


That's it for today. Tomorrow I start the skin for the inside of the door. Then I'll be that much closer to being done...whatever that means...

[fordh8r]

Ok, I managed to get a little more done before going to work today. I started the inside skin for the door. Here's what I got so far. 

[fordh8r]

today's progress:


1)   Got mirrors on the doors today. Now they are useable. 

2)   Shifted my focus on building a rack for storing the doors that aren't being used. So I
      started bulding this.  Still not finished more to come tomorrow. 



I'll explain later about the rack. I'm off to work right now.

[fordh8r]

Looks good

Thanks! 


A little hippie action....I recycled the mirrors from my full size Chevy since I had to put towing mirrors on the Chevy. 

[fordh8r]

So can we plan on seeing this rig in action this year at MCR?

That is the plan!    Should be sending in my reg papers next week. 

I was thinking they were from a Chevy, just didn't know what one. I like how they come foward from their mounting location making them the perfect mirror for half doors since that places them back in a stock-ish place. I like the idea and I like your half doors. Well done!

Thanks!    They're my first attempt at such a project and so far I've been pleased with the outcome and have had lotsa fun doing it.    That's my goal, have fun building it then have fun wheeling it. 

[fordh8r]

ur doors ar coming out sweet man      i wish i had that much patients doing mine

Thanks Bro!    As far as patience, well, they are getting kinda thin now but I try to keep in mind how unhappy I'll be if I rush the job. Kinda "A catch 22".   

[fordh8r]

some more updates. 


1)   I did some work on the door rack (Still not done but getting
      there  )

2 & 3)   the doors attach like this.

[fordh8r]

I spent a little time wit da Po'man's metal break. 

[fordh8r]

After flyin' blind for about 2 hours I came up with these lock boxes for the half doors. They are 10"X9"X3" in their inside dimension. I figured I needed someplace secure to keep some things when the half doors are on and I don't have much of a console now that I have the dual cases. 

I have the door and lock assembly already made I just need the hinge and some padding to line the boxes in each door. 

[fordh8r]

Here the boxes are being installed and fitted.

[fordh8r]

One thing I forgot to mention about the door rack...it can be set on end to store the doors upright which saves more space in the garage. 

[fordh8r]

1)   I got a little bored today so I gave my truck a little "aerosol-
      overhaul".   


2)   Of course the new doors have to match. 

[fordh8r]

Oh wow, these are going to turn out cool. Now hope you dont smash them on the first run with them on!

Thanks KDXSR5!    If I do happen to smash them on the first trip I'll keep in mind who jinxed me...  

[Tallchevy]

Doors & lock box look sweet 

I like your rack 

1)   I got a little bored today so I gave my truck a little "aerosol-
      overhaul".   

Looks like your still bald on top 

[fordh8r]

Looks like your still bald on top 

Yup. I stopped being bored when I got to where I had to break out the sander. 

[fordh8r]

i like your paint scheme.... i want to prime my whole truck and have black rockers and fender lips.

Thanks HO kid!    I have seen that scheme before and it does look cool if the paint lines aren't all crooked and stuff.  I just think this way is easier since there is less masking involved. When it comes to the fender areas you have to mask a straight line for your edge around the fenders or it will look funky.  I didn't trust I could pull it off so I went this route instead.   

[fordh8r]

Ok, so I gave in to temptation today and couldn't resist wanting to cruise around with my nearly finished doors.    It was a little weird at first and I was slightly distracted by the novelty of the doors but it was fun!  Here's what it looks like with the doors now that they're almost done. 

[THK Matt]

DAMN! i love your truck, i want your front bumper so bad

[fordh8r]

DAMN! i love your truck, i want your front bumper so bad

Thanks! The bumper is a modified unit which was for an Isuzu Trooper.  I don't know what brand it is though.  there were no identifying marks or numbers on it that I could find anywhere.    But it fits a Toyota now! 

[fordh8r]

Truck looks nice. I like the new paint.

i like the half doors ...very creative. keep it up 

That came out killer buddy. Lookin good.

Thansk guys!    My focus right now is to get as much of this stuff as done and functional as possible before MCR. That in itself is turning into quite a chore.     But so far so good.    I think...

[Yota87Truck]

Here the boxes are being installed and fitted.

Do you have a picture of the final product? and by the way the doors look nice

[95SAS]

this truck kicks ass, you did an amazing job on those doors.

[fordh8r]

Do you have a picture of the final product? and by the way the doors look nice

your truck looks better and better everytime i see it... good job tom!

time for a bed bob

this truck kicks ass, you did an amazing job on those doors.

Thanks guys for all the kind words.    I feel all giggity inside that you guys approve of my project!  

Yota87Truck, the doors aren't quite finished yet but progress is being made. I will post pics as I continue. I just got what I think is the last of the stuff to finish them, today.   Hopefully they'll be done real soon.

Jimbo, as far as a bed bob...hhmmm...not yet. I won't say never but...   Right now I use the truck as a truck more than a toy so that doesn't make it practical for now. As it is, my motorcycle barely fits in there now and it wouldn't if it were bobbed.  although....I may think of something later, ya never know.    

[fordh8r]

Looking real good! 


Ya, we'll have to trade notes. 

Maybe even have a couple of  ...

[fordh8r]

Lookin good but still need more

Ask and you shall receive. 


I got some work done today. I finished one of the lock boxes on one of the doors. Still need to do the other one. 

I've got barrel locks in the door and I also put a pry gaurd to cover the top edge of the door so things can't be too easily pryed open. They aren't built like a safe or anything, just there to secure simple items from 'walking away' unecessarily.  Nothing more. 

[fordh8r]

I used a spring loaded piano type hinge for the door so they won't get left open and possibly get caught in the door when shutting the door.  You can see I'm holding the door open with one finger and it opens rather easily. 


That's all for today.  Hope to have more soon. 

[fordh8r]

That is simply awesome.

I would really hate for you to slam those nice fancy doors into a tree or rock or something and render them useless. Be careful!

Thanks! I usually try to pick somewhat reserved lines to keep from destroying my rig which is how I managed to keep it so straight from getting any more damaged than it already is. 

The doors look better in pics than up close. The doors aren't all that straight anyway. They came from a buddy's wrecked truck a while back. I straightened them some and they fit pretty good. That's also why they don't have window frames cause they were bent in the rollover.    If you make it out to MCR, you'll see what I mean.