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Thu May 18, 2006 5:10 pm

I want to put suicide doors on my bug. Does anyone know how to do this or have any pictures of bugs like this. With this mod. I also want to hide the door hinges and shave the door handles, but dont know where to start. Help would be greatly appreciated. :D

Thu May 18, 2006 5:51 pm

hey I can give you what I know hope it helps,
with shaving the door handes just take them off,
then get some 18-20 gage sheet steel and then get some card board put it in the back of the handle and trase it cut it out copy to the steel cut that out clean it up then weld in to place, then do your bodywork.

Chirs.

69 GL (building 2380cc turbo) AWD two 2380cc front and back )
72 stock 1642cc

Thu May 18, 2006 7:48 pm

been there done that. I built my hinges don't do it AUTOLOC has them.also bear claw latches small ones with install kit.http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=275517

Thu May 18, 2006 8:19 pm

I highly recommend you get hinges that are pre-alligned, that is both top and bottom hinges pre-welded together by a bar between then so they are perfectly parallelwith each other. I've heard form a few body guys that's been in teh business how hard suicde hinges are, mostly because of teh allignment problems. It's common for you to weld, cut and reweld both hinges multiple times before they are perfectly parallel or your doors may not be able to open/close correctly. SO if you get a kit that are pre-weld/alligned then you are far ahead of the game already.

Also most hinges are universally made, meaning made for any car/truck out there. But bugs has alot thinner B pillar then most cars so most hinges you'll have to modify your B pillar near the rear quarter uphostery panels. Just an FYI.

Thu May 18, 2006 8:24 pm

Kelly has some pics of one that he did on his site. There's one good pic of the hinge system.

http://www.metwiz.com/ Go to where it says galleries on the left hand side and click "G4".

Fri May 19, 2006 9:11 am

Hey guys thats for your replies. I really appreciate it. Rocky Colton how hard was it to do this. I am a noob to modifications but I would really love to be able to do this myself.
Kubel Nick-do you know where I can get hinges the are welded together like you mentioned. That would help alot.
Vwsarent4hippies- thanks for the link. Its great to see how it would look.
Any other advice would be appreciated. Any more pics, how tos, parts list, tools needed would be great. :D

Fri May 19, 2006 11:29 am

I have done this on 4 different cars now and is the best way i can find.
1. open the door and use a cut off wheel and cut the body where the hinges are. Cut them completely out. from 1/2 inch above the top hinge and the same on the bottom.
2. Cut out the back door pillar ( the door catch) to match as close to the cut on the from as possible.
3. Cut the door post off both doors (about 1 inch above the body line)and take the door pannel off and cut the inside out of each door behinde the door pannel.
4. Take the passenger side door to the drivers side and the driverside to the passenger side.
5. weld the hinge part of the driver side door to the passenger side rear door pillar and the door catch from the driver side front door pillar.
6. repeat the same for the driverside. weld the door post back on and cut and modify the inside door handel rod to fit.

this way seems like a lot of work but the hinges look factory the outside door handel is the same and it looks like it came from the factoy with some body work. and you can do it with only haveing to work the doors if you cut at the ridge inside the doors and not cut out side the door jamb. you swith the inside of the door pannels so that the window winder and handel is in the right place. the door post can be glued back on useing pannel glue and a 2 inch strip of sheet metal just glue the strip to the inside of the door and then glue the top ( door post) to it but for better strength i would weld the inside of the post. but make sure that you measure about 50 times before you cut and putting it back together isnt that bad.
I have to say that all 4 cars we have done here were chop tops so this may be a little more than you want to take on. in that case then go to WWW.suicidedoors.com and get a kit. but i think they are a pain in the ass

Fri May 19, 2006 1:01 pm

I made my own hinges, and they fit completely inside my B-pillars. I posted pics of them on this site before, maybe they're on my web pages listed in my sig.

Suicide doors are ALOT of work for a noob. Unless your really dedicated to learn, and know how to weld and fabricate I would have someone do it for you. I am in Lakeland Florida, if your anywhere near me your welcome to stop in and take a look. For the right price I would do your bug. Ive got a Ghia lined up to do shortly, and Ive decided that any hinges I build from here on will be 100% stainless steel. Wouldnt they be cool all polished up?!

Fri May 19, 2006 1:09 pm

Check this post, there are pictures of mine in it;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=147730&highlight=suicide+door

My pics are in my gallery, not on my web site. sorry.