Installation of vertical doors
Originally Posted by L33TZOR
KCOBEAN - thanks for all your comments, advice.
Im going to take pics of the hinge kit (still in the box)
to display to the forum what the VDI kit has.
I did notice the wiring extenders, but as you say, the original
owner didnt use them. people keep telling me that welding is required.
I can bet it will strengthen the installation, but my kit is used,
and the previous owner took the hinge kit off himself!
I have already taken some pics of the before hinges (stock)
this is how far i have gone.
Im waiting one thing before i get the install done, that would be this collision
shop that i barter services with, and they say there is some attachment device that holds the door in place when unmounting the hinges.
they definately have an edge on me as they remove and replace doors and handles parts much more than i do. i found that most collision places arond phoenix dont care to do bodykits or custom jobs because lack of experience
to properly quote and estimate.
also, I hear that the other kit is better for daily use, but is VDI the only kit
that actually opens up straight up versus I see some that dont go all the way up?
Im going to take pics of the hinge kit (still in the box)
to display to the forum what the VDI kit has.
I did notice the wiring extenders, but as you say, the original
owner didnt use them. people keep telling me that welding is required.
I can bet it will strengthen the installation, but my kit is used,
and the previous owner took the hinge kit off himself!
I have already taken some pics of the before hinges (stock)
this is how far i have gone.
Im waiting one thing before i get the install done, that would be this collision
shop that i barter services with, and they say there is some attachment device that holds the door in place when unmounting the hinges.
they definately have an edge on me as they remove and replace doors and handles parts much more than i do. i found that most collision places arond phoenix dont care to do bodykits or custom jobs because lack of experience
to properly quote and estimate.
also, I hear that the other kit is better for daily use, but is VDI the only kit
that actually opens up straight up versus I see some that dont go all the way up?
The VDC/LSD/Decah kits are all really "butterfly doors". Because of the horizontal motion of the door required to get the interior door panel clear of the a-pillar, when you rotate them up, you get something half way between lambo and Enzo. The GTFactory kit is as close as you can get to a true 'lambo door' given the build of the door/frame on the Z. It requires cutting/welding and I would consider it non-reversible.
As far as the amount of upward rotation, none of the butterfly kits get the door truly vertical (ie bottom edge of door perpendicular to the ground). I just don't think there's enough room for that.
OK, I did my best and it came out great IMO.
notes...
I FORGOT TO TAKE PICS OF THE DOORS TAPED. USE WIDE BLUE PAINTER MASKING TAPE SPARINGLY TO HOLD DOOR ONTO CAR.
I didn't even need a second person to make sure the door alignment didnt move any.
After I got the fender off, and before I took off the stock door hinge, I unloosened and then tightened each of the door hinge bolts on the body of the car and on the door one by one so that i don't run into alignment issues being a brute.
when you remove the door panel, there are differences between the driver and passenger doors. The passenger has a handle.
on the pic showing the door panel off, there is a small plate just behind the door handle, it doesnt require any unscrewing but just either by hand or a small screwdriver, pluck it out. behind there is a 10mm bolt.
there is a chance you are doing this project p/m, post or email me ron@l33tzor.com
Ron
Here are the pics using my Phone camera.
Here is a link to the pdf supplied by VDI. (Thanks VDI)
and here are the images i stopped to take during progress.
http://www.l33tzor.com/doorinstall/V...%2003-2004.pdf
(The image shows a 350Z but I believe the doors were some other Nissan product).
notes...
I FORGOT TO TAKE PICS OF THE DOORS TAPED. USE WIDE BLUE PAINTER MASKING TAPE SPARINGLY TO HOLD DOOR ONTO CAR.
I didn't even need a second person to make sure the door alignment didnt move any.
After I got the fender off, and before I took off the stock door hinge, I unloosened and then tightened each of the door hinge bolts on the body of the car and on the door one by one so that i don't run into alignment issues being a brute.
when you remove the door panel, there are differences between the driver and passenger doors. The passenger has a handle.
on the pic showing the door panel off, there is a small plate just behind the door handle, it doesnt require any unscrewing but just either by hand or a small screwdriver, pluck it out. behind there is a 10mm bolt.
there is a chance you are doing this project p/m, post or email me ron@l33tzor.com
Ron
Here are the pics using my Phone camera.
Here is a link to the pdf supplied by VDI. (Thanks VDI)
and here are the images i stopped to take during progress.
http://www.l33tzor.com/doorinstall/V...%2003-2004.pdf
(The image shows a 350Z but I believe the doors were some other Nissan product).
Last edited by L33TZOR; Oct 15, 2006 at 05:15 PM.
reply of your reply IN CAPS
Originally Posted by kcobean
Once you get into the project, it will become quite apparent where (i.e. how much) of the strength rib you need to cut.
NO, BAD WAY TO EXPRESS!! TRAIL AND ERROR IS NO FUN AND ABSORBS TOO MUCH TIME.
I don't have any pictures, but you can basically mount the door then hold the fender up and see how much travel room the hinge requires. Wouldn't be hard at all.
NOW THAT I HAVE SEEN ACTUAL WORK FROM VERTICAL DOORS INC ON A FRIEND'S Z FROM THE TEAM I'M IN, TAKE MY PICS AS WHAT VDI DOES.
Depending on how long you call a sitting you might be able to do it, but I think it's a tall order (good luck to ya though)
VDI DID MY FRIEND'S IN A FEW HOURS, IT TOOK ME APPROX 9 HOURS AND I TOOK A BREAK TO EAT AND REST IN BETWEEN DOORS.
Awesome! That's what makes a forum great...your contributions are most appreciated.
YES, HAPPY TO HELP!!
It's experience. You've seen the pictures of my car, right? I didn't do my own install, but I'm well aware of what was required from talking with the person who did the work.
THANKS, SHARP NOTES SECOND HAND IS BETTER THAN NONE!
I just mailed off the booklet that came with my doors to the new owner of the car, otherwise I could provide you with a comprehensive parts list. Give the manufacturer of your kit a call and see if they can send you one. It would be good to have the documentation anyway.
USE THE LINK FOR THE PDF, IT HELPED ME GREATLY.
(MANY TIMES MISGUIDED, BUT WHEN I GOT THE PDF
I BECAME A WITNESS)
An extension kit came with my doors, however it wasn't needed on my car or the previous owners car. I think most people don't use them with the VDC/LSD kits.
PLUS CONSIDER A POSSIBILITY OF A VOIDED WARRANTY OR WORSE, FIRE, SHORTAGE IF YOU DON'T DO IT CORRECTLY.
WORD! EVEN MY FRIENDS KIT THAT VDI INSTALLED EARLIER THIS YEAR HAD A GROUND SHORT OUT RECENTLY AND THE OWNER WAS NOT ABLE TO USE HIS DOOR ELECTRIC. IN SPEAKING WITH HIM JUST YESTERDAY AS HE SAW I ROLLED IN WITH MY "LAMBO DOORS", TELLS ME ONE SHOCK IS NEEDING REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE DOOR SOMETIMES SAGS BECAUSE HE IS A DAILY DRIVER.
No, the LSD/VDC kits are completely bolt-on kits (minus the fender cutting). No welding required.
In order for the hinge-arm to have the horizontal clearance, the fender has to be modified. It's not a difficult task with the right tools (you could probably use a dremel if you had the patience.) If you think we're pulling your leg, don't know what to tell you.
Nope, sorry.
NO, BAD WAY TO EXPRESS!! TRAIL AND ERROR IS NO FUN AND ABSORBS TOO MUCH TIME.
I don't have any pictures, but you can basically mount the door then hold the fender up and see how much travel room the hinge requires. Wouldn't be hard at all.
NOW THAT I HAVE SEEN ACTUAL WORK FROM VERTICAL DOORS INC ON A FRIEND'S Z FROM THE TEAM I'M IN, TAKE MY PICS AS WHAT VDI DOES.
Depending on how long you call a sitting you might be able to do it, but I think it's a tall order (good luck to ya though)
VDI DID MY FRIEND'S IN A FEW HOURS, IT TOOK ME APPROX 9 HOURS AND I TOOK A BREAK TO EAT AND REST IN BETWEEN DOORS.
Awesome! That's what makes a forum great...your contributions are most appreciated.
YES, HAPPY TO HELP!!
It's experience. You've seen the pictures of my car, right? I didn't do my own install, but I'm well aware of what was required from talking with the person who did the work.
THANKS, SHARP NOTES SECOND HAND IS BETTER THAN NONE!
I just mailed off the booklet that came with my doors to the new owner of the car, otherwise I could provide you with a comprehensive parts list. Give the manufacturer of your kit a call and see if they can send you one. It would be good to have the documentation anyway.
USE THE LINK FOR THE PDF, IT HELPED ME GREATLY.
(MANY TIMES MISGUIDED, BUT WHEN I GOT THE PDF
I BECAME A WITNESS)
An extension kit came with my doors, however it wasn't needed on my car or the previous owners car. I think most people don't use them with the VDC/LSD kits.
PLUS CONSIDER A POSSIBILITY OF A VOIDED WARRANTY OR WORSE, FIRE, SHORTAGE IF YOU DON'T DO IT CORRECTLY.
WORD! EVEN MY FRIENDS KIT THAT VDI INSTALLED EARLIER THIS YEAR HAD A GROUND SHORT OUT RECENTLY AND THE OWNER WAS NOT ABLE TO USE HIS DOOR ELECTRIC. IN SPEAKING WITH HIM JUST YESTERDAY AS HE SAW I ROLLED IN WITH MY "LAMBO DOORS", TELLS ME ONE SHOCK IS NEEDING REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE DOOR SOMETIMES SAGS BECAUSE HE IS A DAILY DRIVER.
No, the LSD/VDC kits are completely bolt-on kits (minus the fender cutting). No welding required.
In order for the hinge-arm to have the horizontal clearance, the fender has to be modified. It's not a difficult task with the right tools (you could probably use a dremel if you had the patience.) If you think we're pulling your leg, don't know what to tell you.
Nope, sorry.
