Door Swap question

[398HBX]

Trying to decide if I should swap the doors during my rebuild. My 73 K5 has manual windows and the drivers side door is dented pretty bad. My donor vehicle is an 1986 K20 Suburban with electric windows. Wiring aside, would these doors fit on my 73? I know that I would have to cut the upper window frame off since the 73 is full convertable.

I am thinking about this since the donor has electric windows and no rust or dents. Should I try the swap or just fix the big ass dent in the K5 door and stick with manual windows?

 

[KansasTwister]

They bolt up, but the 73-76 and the 77+newer door panels don't interchange. Just so ya know that. Id swap the newer doors in because i read somewhere once that the factory power windows from 77+newer don't fit the older doors, hence the reason why they changed them to begin with. (77 first year of power doors)

 

[jeremywrags]

398HBX,

I did this exact swap myself and it is actually pretty easy. I am no fabber and IMO i did a pretty good job.

Make a template using the Screw hole for the wing window at the top of the window frame.

Mark it roughly on the new door and cut about 1/2" to long so that you can grind down to the right level. This takes a while to get right so go slow and you'll get it. Use the Rubber thing at the top of the original door, when it fits snug and the screw hole lines up you know you got it right.

As for the bottom, cut about 1/4" above the level of the door and grind back again using the plastic piece as a guide to know when you are good.

You will need to cut the inner brace out of the bottom of the old door and weld it into the new door. Get a spot weld remover bit to remove it without to much damage.

Take your time and good luck... Also search the form there is a good writeup with lots of Pics

 

[gone huntin]

UH, I'm pretty sure he's wanting to swap the whole doors out, not just skins.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

UH, I'm pretty sure he's wanting to swap the whole doors out, not just skins.

who said anything about skins?

Kansas said the door panels arnt the same,

and jeremy told him what he has to do to make the doors work with his top, e.g cutting the top off and adding the inner brackets/rubber

 

[4-play]

Just for your info, I wish I had my manual doors back. My power windows suck (slow). I played with them a bit and made sure they were lubed and such, but there is another problem or two with them. For my trail truck, manual would be fine. The inner sections of the doors still need to be painted to match on my truck. Guess it's different for everyone. Good luck with your decision!

 

[jeremywrags]

UH, I'm pretty sure he's wanting to swap the whole doors out, not just skins.

I agree and that is what I was explaining, taking a full door from a 76+ vehicle and cutting it so that it will work on a 73-75

 

[398HBX]

Just for your info, I wish I had my manual doors back.

Any particular reason?

And thanks to all you who have replied. I knew someone had to have done this before. If I do change the doors out, I'll be taking skins and all.

 

[buefchris]

Yea, I put the electric windows in mine just to get rid of them years later.
Too slow, switchs always went bad, not worth the hassle.
The doors on my 75' are from a 86' I use a the frame because I run a custom soft top.

 

[4-play]

Any particular reason?

Same reasons as Buefchris said. My windows and mechanisms/motors could probably all use a rebuild. There's got to be a reason they are slow and pull so much current. (that burns out the switchs) Sometimes in the winter they won't close all the way once you get them down. It's easier to help the window down than up. I'm just not on window duty at the time. I have much bigger issues to work out on my truck first.

 

[gone huntin]

who said anything about skins?


and jeremy told him what he has to do to make the doors work with his top, e.g cutting the top off and adding the inner brackets/rubber

I agree and that is what I was explaining, taking a full door from a 76+ vehicle and cutting it so that it will work on a 73-75

Yeah, I missed that, thought jeremy was talking about outer skins. Sorry