Post by girard on Apr 30, 2007 22:24:32 GMT -5
Now that my charging problems are over it was time to change out that smashed door. It was backed into by the original owners son with a flatbed truck. It hit hard enough to bust the window but it still opened and closed ok. I was lucky enough to find a pretty good door for $35. The first obstacle was swapping the new door over to power windows. I was delighted to find that i didnt even have to pull the glass. My donor car was a base model without p/w or radio speaker in the door. Therefore it didnt have the 1 3/4 hole for the wiring loom. Luckily my brother-in-law had the hole-saw bit and the manufacturer was kind enough to have a dimple in the proper place to help center the bit. I'm not sure and dont quote me but I think these doors are about 987lbs. apiece. With a couple of milk crates a 2x8 and the help of my lovely wife Melissa I got it on. Trying to put the hinges where they were on the other car was way off. The front of the door wouldnt clear the fender. Now with the door on I couldnt get to the hinge bolts where they bolted to the car. Or could I? It seems that Ford was smart enough to give access through the wheelwell. One bolt and bending a retainer tab provided all the room I needed. The body lines and gap came out nice. It opens and closes great (after some lube on the hinge). Tomorrow I will deal with the body moulding. All in all another rewarding day. My oldest boy said that a faded gold door on a red car reminder him of McDonalds. Oh well guess red primer will work for now. 
