How to Add a Door?

Wish I would've stumbled across this site before I cut my door. I guess I can start practicing saying "Yeah, I planned it that way. Better ventilation, you know.".

 

I'd be interested in seeing photos of how you cut it. Even if it's not the way you would do it again, it might give me some ideas for mine.

Jack

 

I'm getting closer to starting this work (or paying someone else), and I have one more question. The floor in my bucket is plywood, and I don't really know how well it's 'glassed in to the body. I don't have any reason to think there's a problem in that area, but the original owner probably wasn't thinking about cutting a door when he did it. There will only be a small strip of glass at the bottom on that side of the bucket after the door is cut out. The only thing I can see that will prevent it from flexing is the attachment to the floor. Is it possible that when I cut the opening for the door, the body will become structurally unsound?

Jack

 

I haven't really decided, there seem to be several ways to get this done. Will the wood added in that process make up for the stiffness lost by cutting the opening?

 

I think you mean to cut through the middle of 3 pieces. The piece at the top gets completely cut away, and that's where it loses strength.

No, I'm OK with that. In fact, it's how I planned to make the cut. The door doesn't need to be very large, so I was thinking it should be cut along the molded ridge at the bottom and sides. Still, that only leaves a sill about 3" tall. That just doesn't seem like it would have a lot of strength unless a steel strip or something is glassed in at the side, running front to back near the floor. Maybe that's not needed, I just don't know.

Are the commercial builds from companies like Spirit, Wintec, CCR, RPM etc. built like this with wood floors? What type of body reinforcement do they use when installing a door?

Jack

 

We do not use wood floors but here is a few shots.

 

I need one of those in red, please.

 

Did you modify it to fit or are you using CCR bodies? It doesn't look like it's adjustable for length. Funny, I wasn't even thinking about the body flexing in that direction (right/left). I was thinking about it sort of folding up in the fore/aft direction (moving on the rubber body mounts). Honestly, if I thought I would still be able to get in and out of the car after I install the soft top, I'd just forget about a door. I think it's going to be a major issue though.

 

I made a door frame & jamb sepratly out of wood & glassed that into the body before cutting the door , I also shamelessly copied CCR's steel frame design & had that installed prior to cutting [I used 3/4" square tubing rather than round stock . After cutting the door I glassed all edges & frames & made hinges , used a '26-'27 style door latch assembly. I wish I still had pics of the process , sorry , old 'puter ate 'em.
dave

 

Dave, I hadn't realized a reinforcement like that would be necessary. It moves the project out of my capabilities, and it's also turning into more time than I can devote to this hobby right now. I'll need to find a local shop that can do this and hope its affordable. I think I'll also let someone else tackle the fabrication of fender mounts that we were talking about. If I can't get these things done at a reasonable cost, I might be forced to sell the car.

Jack

 

In all candor , & I'm not trying to be cruel about this , you may be better off selling the car you have & finding something already done that fits what you want ..... both from a cost standpoint & time involved.... just sayin'...
dave

 

Believe me, I've been analyzing this situation in detail for several months now. It's a great car, I love driving it, but it might just be the wrong one for me. If I only drove it on weekends like most people, the situation would be different. Trying to drive it everyday presents challenges. We'll see how it goes over the next few months...

Jack

 

I've had a health/mobility setback recently, and it's looking like I'll have to add a driver side door to my bucket...and an enlarged one at that. It's not a task I'm looking forward to. Good luck with yours.

 

Scott's Rods has a door kit. Been looking at it myself.

 

Thanks, I hadn't seen that kit before. I like that it comes with the offset hinge and a framework to glass into the opening. Incidentally, is that scottrodscustom.com? I don't see any links to bucket stuff on their homepage. There's a Scott's Rods in Oz too, but they don't seem to have it either.

Jack

 

Here's a link to their Ford Parts page. The door kit is about 15 lines down.
http://www.scottrodscustom.com/ford.html