pickup door to sub door?

[Scrubby]

Anyone every converted a good pickup door to a sub door by changing the window frame? My subs passenger door got smashed in a hit and run, and I have a good pickup door. Seems to me I could just cut the corner out of the window frame and weld on the one from the sub door. What do you guys think?

[RANDY COX]

looks to me like that's all youd have to do,and change the glass of course, it would probably be hard to find a replacement original door.won't know till you try.I cut down a truck door to a blazer one time,but that was pretty easy.

[tjhooker125]

Scrubby, the easiest way to do it would be to drill the old frame out at the spot welds, little dimples, where the frame goes down into the door at the front and rear (on the pick-up door you're going to use). The frame that you will be using, (off of your smashed Sub door), you will need either a special spot weld cutter that works in a drill or if you have a die grinder, grind the sheet metal down around the dimple. You don't want to drill through this frame. If you use the grinding method, the sheet metal will turn blue from heat, but the spot weld won't. You'll know when you've ground through, you will see the frame under the door sheet metal. The spot weld will be at the center of the area you grind.

When you're ready to weld, holes will be already drilled in the pick-up door your using from drilling the old frame out. Just check the frame you're welding in to make sure the metal is ground clean under the holes so the weld will stick.

Hope this isn't too confusing and helps. TJ

[68plus4sub]

I don't think that sub doors are to difficult to locate, seems like A LOT of work to do on a door when there are doors all around. Just my thoughts. I have seen many doors and sets of doors at swap meets, online, and in the papers. Sounds like to much time to waste to do all that body work. Look around a little (if you haven't already), it may save you time and money in the long run.

[bagged91]

That may be all fine & dandy in your area with the logging companies,ect... that used to have them but I know where I am at, there are just no Suburbans to be found,Period. Out of the 3 Suburban's in my local area, I have 2 of them. I have thought of doing the same thing with the doors. We have TONS of pickups here and quite a few of them are pretty decent... 1st Gen K5's are more prevelant than the Subs around here too...

[Scrubby]

Thanks for the suggestion TJ. I have a spot weld cutter and I don't think it would be too bad to do.

I have looked for doors, and for $100 for crappy doors around here, I can do a lot of fab work.

[68plus4sub]

I guess we're spoiled out here, lots of 'burbs to be had with not much looking. Overall, I'm always amazed by the number of '67-72 pickups, blazers, and 'burbs out here. I guess they used a lot of them, and unless they were on the coast they stayed in fairly decent shape. I'm from Iowa originally, and everything you see there from this era is almost always rusted terribly. Just another reason to live in the great northwest!!!! And yeah, $100 for crappy doors sure wouldn't be worth it, especially with the skills it sounds like you have. I bought a 3rd door at the big swap meet here last year, and the only thing wrong with it was that there had been a speaker hole cut in it.....$20. I guess that proves the differance in demand. Good luck, hope there is a warm spot down below for the hit and runner!!

PS - sorry for rambling

[daves71k5]

Scrubby;
I have a good set of Burb doors and I'm here in Idaho too, sent ya a PM about them, let me know.
Dave

[Nightrider]

I've had a post for a drivers door for a while, no find....

[kwmech]

I've done the upper frame swap and it is not all that hard. As posted above, just drill out the spots welds wiggle it loose and move it over and weld it back together.

[70chevyguy]

hello scrubby i got a 68 panel that im restoring and i had to change the door i udes the truck door and changed the panel top post and it just like they said grind out the welds and change and reweld it that simple!!
thanks, bob