22 replies to this topic

[superman]

Hi guys i'm after some advise, wind up windows in mini van doors? can it be done?

Any help would be great

Thanks

Edited by superman, 18 January 2009 - 08:35 PM.

[Bungle]

not with out a lot of work

external hinge doors and a completely different size and shape to later ones

[superman]

umm time for a challange then?

[Dan]

If you can find out how some of the bespoke coach builders like Wood and Pickett modified Mk 1 and 2 doors to take wind up windows in their conversions than you can do it that way, this is a lot of work. Or you can fit Mk3 doors, which means fitting Mk3 door frames and modifying the rear bodyside to fit, this is a lot of work. Or you can import some doors from Australia (I believe they fit), this is a lot of work and will cost a lot.

[dave21478]

I looked into this a while back for my van....its a LOT of hassle. Its certainly possible, and I would say the best way would be to strip a donor mkIII door of its internal framework and graft it into the mkI door.
I have all the parts lying spare here, so before I refurb my "good" mkI doors for th van, I will have a bash with the old pair and see if its feasable, as I hate sliding windows.

[Scotauto]

It is possible if you're good with a welder. The top part i.e. the window frame should fit without any problems it's the bottom half that is difficult. As some of you already know my pickup project was converted by the previous owner to internal hinges. I have of course put it back to external hinges which has been a bit of a pig to get right.

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[jwb_moto]

or if you have any friends/family etc in Australia get them to find you a pair of clubman doors, im sure they are extrernal hinges with windy windows and flush door handles

[In-a-mini]

The door top/frame is a different shape so you would need to get your glass ground to fit the door top unless you fancy changing the door surround of the car.

[Scotauto]

There wasn't really much of a difference in the door frames at the top on my pickup project Although I did have to modify the front part a little. In the photo below the chalk marks at the front indicate the area I had to modify slightly to make the door fit the rest above the pink stripe in untouched. Everything below the pink stripe is changed.

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[In-a-mini]

I dont know what the previous owner had done when they converted your pickup to internal hinges but have dealt with this before when a friend put a later front on his pickup. If you look at the section of the car/van at the top of the door surround the distance between the guttor and the door top on the mk3 on cars is amall and on earlier cars/vans and pickups etc is larger.

[Scotauto]

you mean this bit... right?

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[superman]

Thanks for the feed back guys. From what you guys are saying is "yes it's possible but a hell of a job to do it"

I think its best get a late model door and have a look

[Scotauto]

It guess it really comes down to how much experience you have fabricating and modifying body parts. If you've not done a lot of welding before then it's probably a bit of a mouth full but definetely possible. Good luck if you go for it. I prefer original myself that's why I put mine back to external hinges.

[In-a-mini]

Hiya scotauto yeah thats the area i was talking about.

[Scotauto]

I've just checked the door gap at the top (as in photo) on one side of my pickup and after the modification at the front of the door frame I have only around 2mm gap there so there doesn't need to be a big gap there with the original doors.