custom doors

[markub]

i need to know how to make tube doors. please help

[bmarkley]

I'm in the middle of making tube doors right now. I've got the left door pretty much done, just need to weld the support beams. The right just needs the hinges and support beams. I used 1 1/4 inch conduit for the outer part of the door, the support will be 1 inch conduit. Conduit isn't the strongest stuff, but not too worried about rolling and such. Made doors more for looks and be able to look at the trail, as well as cooling, since I do a lot of desert wheeling. Anyway, I'll try and take some picks tonight to post them for you. Again I'm not done, and this is my first real fab work. But for my skill which is none, I'm pretty happy with the outcome, so far. I'm still trying to figure out the best way to make the locks. I thought maybe just a bar of thin steel with a small bend might work best. It will be much more understanding with the pics. If anyone else has done this mod, I really could use some help on the door handles/locks.

Ben
1979 Toy

[bmarkley]

Here is the left door. On the right you can see the right door. I used 1 1/4 inch conduit 10 feet long. I used a 10 foot pipe for each side, with some left over.
I don't have a pipe bender, so what I did was: Used my air saw to cut the pipe. I didn't cut it all the way through, I would cut it at the angle I needed leaving a little still connected. This way I could bend it into shape. I then would weld the rest of the tubing in the desired angle. Took a bit of work, but I'm happy with it.

[bmarkley]

Here is a closer look at the door on the truck.

[bmarkley]

This is a picture of the hinge I made. Actually I used the trucks hinge and just welded a nut onto the tube door. I cut out a piece of steel and welded it to the end of the conduit. Drilled two holes then welded the nuts on. Bolts right up, just make sure you drill the holes in the correct location, or they won't match. Is a little rusted from sitting in the bed of the truck when rain hit. I plan on sanding and painting.

[bmarkley]

I highly suggest notching out the top of each of the hinges. It makes it soooo much easier to mount the doors. Especially the stock doors, since they are heavier. You put the bolts in the top nuts on the doors, just hand tighten maybe 3 or 4 screws, then place on hinges and tighten down. Next you put the other two bolts into the door. Will save you a lot of time, plus makes it possible to mount the door or remove the door with one person.

[hbar314]

here is a pic of mine

http://tellico.off-road.com/wwwthreads_uploads/1072182-Mvc-135s.jpg

[4rnr4evr]

man i wish they made rust free toyotas out here (rust ohio) that has got to be the first rust free none restored ? 79 toy ive seen

[hbar314]

hey thanks. its an 83 with 272,000 miles on it. im second owner of three years ago. the first guy wrote EVERTHING down. i can look back and know that he used five quarts of blah blah in september of what ever year when changing the oil. its great. i rebuilt the motor at 232000 and the transmission at 248000. i think i can get another quater million out of him.

[hbar314]

here is a better pic of the ride

http://tellico.off-road.com/wwwthreads_uploads/1067826-Front.jpg