Topic: Half Doors - pics "for dummies".

[Yota Up]

I should call these "tech" posts "Mickey Mouse tech" because a drunk monkey with a dull knife watching Mickey could handle them.

Anyway - onto to doors.

My approach was to salvage the inside arm rest, and then take it down as far as I could go.

I started by having the wife bring me 4 beers and my grinder.  She took a pic so here you go.

PS:  Notice the chunk of my truck bed in the background...

[Yota Up [OP]]

Here you can see the path I took for the cut.  Notice that the mounts for the arm rest stay.  I used the scrap metal from the door to make the fillers and just tac em on.

[topar]

  4 more beers and stop posting!  Thats the next step. 

[Yota Up [OP]]

The handle and mechanism.  This is the part that's pretty trick.
I don't need a handle on the inside because they are half doors(duh).

So, the outside handle remount was simple:  Simply lower it from it's original position by the same distance as it had from the latch to begin with.  A stock door has the handle a few inches up from the latch.  The bars inside run up and down to activate it.  The answer is to just go the same distance DOWN from the hatch and keep the mechanism inline.

I cut the handle out, and cut a hole out lower, and welded it in.

Here is a closeup.

[Yota Up [OP]]

See...you made me stutter...

[Yota Up [OP]]

Now then.

Here is a shot of it almost done.  See where the handle is now.

[Yota Up [OP]]

Painted and mounted on the truck.

[Yota Up [OP]]

Here is the passenger side.  Next step is to use the lower flat panel on the door and cut holes in them to mount cupholders sunk into the door.  One big one for Fosters and one little one for everything else.   

[topar]

  Just kidding they look good!

[Yota Up [OP]]

P.S.:  I know they ain't "purdy".  It's a TRUCK.

[Yota Tony]

Just because it's a truck doesn't mean it can't look nice.

oh and minus 1 point because you didn't put cup holders in them.

[chim]

No offense.. but those are ugly:( I would rather run no doors! But if you like them then thats all that matters

[Yota Up [OP]]

Just because it's a truck doesn't mean it can't look nice.

oh and minus 1 point because you didn't put cup holders in them.

Dude, you are a trip to the store to find the right cup ahead of me here.
Didn't ya read my plans for 2 cupholders?  One big one for Fosters, one little for the rest...

In short time.  In short time.

Oh, and to everyone that thinks they look like crap:
This was the 2nd time in my life that I picked up a grinder and used a welder.  Just for perspective...  Show me your project#2 and it better be good.

Flame on.

[BLACKDOG]

Not a big fan of the way you did the handle, but I like the doors. look alot like mine actually  

I'm putting cupholders in mine soon as well, in the same place, so I'm curious to see how you do them. 

[jimbo74]

you only used the bottom hinge?

[rednk1980]

I have tube door no way to mount a cup holder! 

[jimbo74]

I have tube door no way to mount a cup holder! 

where there is a will there is a way young grasshoppa

[rednk1980]

ooooo aaaa now ya got me thinkin 

[BLACKDOG]

or you can just mount a water bottle holder from a bike

you only used the bottom hinge?

oooh, good eye jim, I don't know how I missed that

Did you relocate the hinge yotaup?  or just not use it since you cut half the door off? 

[want2wheel]

I like them, what about the other hinge?  Do you have problems with the cops? 

[Yota Up [OP]]

Cops smile and wave.  Sometimes ask me about my trucks.  I'm a good ol boy and don't cause trouble, so they're cool with me.  I'm sure if I come across a guy in a bad mood, I'll get a ticket just for no mirrors on the doors(then I'll put some on).

Yes, I did away with the top hinge.  The center clip piece stayed.  I'm adding a shim to the center piece to true it up some(the only problem is that you just have to give the door a little lift when you close it).

The handle is actually in a comfortable place.  When you are inside, you just reach your hand out and down, and it's right there.  Perfect fit using all the original mechanisms, and doing away with the one on the inside.  Why 2 when you got no glass?

Cupholders will be a piece of cake.  Just cut a hole the same size as the cup you're sinking.  Drop it to fit to the lip and weld in place.  Drill hole in the bottom for spills and you're done.  I'm just having trouble finding the right "cup" that's not made of plastic...

[Yota Up [OP]]

PS:  If I could go back and do it again, I would retain the top hinge.  For all you guys about to do it, don't make my mistake.

[BLACKDOG]

PS:  If I could go back and do it again, I would retain the top hinge.  For all you guys about to do it, don't make my mistake.

Kinda what I thought.  Seems like you're giving up a bunch of support.  As for the handle, I eliminated mine on the outside, and moved the inside one down.  Now you just reach right inside the door to open it, and no outside handle to drag across the rocks

I've hear it mentioned elsewhere, and I think this is what I'm going to try for the cup holders.

Go to a auto parts store, and buy one of their short peices of exhaust tubing in the width you need.  on a peice of flat steel, cut out a lip to weld onto the tubing, as well as a bottom.  weld it all together, and wala!  cupholder! 

[Yota Up [OP]]

Kinda what I thought.  Seems like you're giving up a bunch of support.  As for the handle, I eliminated mine on the outside, and moved the inside one down.  Now you just reach right inside the door to open it, and no outside handle to drag across the rocks

I've hear it mentioned elsewhere, and I think this is what I'm going to try for the cup holders.

Go to a auto parts store, and buy one of their short peices of exhaust tubing in the width you need.  on a peice of flat steel, cut out a lip to weld onto the tubing, as well as a bottom.  weld it all together, and wala!  cupholder! 

Smart man.  you got me thinkin.  Thanks.

[Yota Tony]

Kinda what I thought.  Seems like you're giving up a bunch of support.  As for the handle, I eliminated mine on the outside, and moved the inside one down.  Now you just reach right inside the door to open it, and no outside handle to drag across the rocks

I've hear it mentioned elsewhere, and I think this is what I'm going to try for the cup holders.

Go to a auto parts store, and buy one of their short peices of exhaust tubing in the width you need.  on a peice of flat steel, cut out a lip to weld onto the tubing, as well as a bottom.  weld it all together, and wala!  cupholder! 

That's exactly what I'm doing.
3" ID exhaust tube will hold just about any drink.

[7Jake]

Here's another link to the doors I made.
http://www.nv4wd.net/Default.aspx?tabid=52&forumid=12&postid=287&view=topic
As for my cup holders, I purchased plastic inserts from a boat and RV shop on-line for about $3 each. They had Coozie size and 12oz size.  Simply cut a hole and drop them in. Nice part is you can pop them out to clean or even insert their ashtray for extra stash of change and crap.