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SyncroButter
Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2016
Posts: 383
Location: Seattle
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 Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 8:48 pm Post subject: How do I remove the front doors? |
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Searched but could not find an answer...
I am about to repaint my van, had planned on not painting the jams but have now had to repair a footwell so I don't see another option... seems to make sense to remove the doors and shoot the jams and footwells etc.
What have not figured out is best way to remove the doors...if at all possible I would prefer to avoid having to do the alignment and adjustment when reinstalling. There was a way to do this when I shot my last paint job on a 73 beetle, but I have not figured this out for the Vanagon.
Thanks in advance!
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Grant
In the stable: 1986 Syncro Westfalia/Bostig, 1989 Doka Tristar, 1974 Vespa Rally 200, 1973 Vespa Primavera 125, 1963 Solex 2200, 1938 Buick Special
Gone but not forgotten: 1989 Porsche 944, 1973 Standard Beetle |
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16501
Location: Brookeville, MD
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zuhandenheit
Samba Member
Joined: June 27, 2008
Posts: 846
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 4:46 am Post subject: Re: How do I remove the front doors? |
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IME with an 82, this is an uncomplicated but difficult job. I have no electronics in the doors but my speakers, and so just had to remove the speaker wire before removing the four bolts that hold the door in place. I didn't mark anything in advance, which was a mistake. It took quite awhile to get the doors back on and realigned, first because I didn't have a helper and had to cobble together a means for holding up the door while attaching it, and second because it was a lot of trouble to get the alignment right.
I don't really know, but I think the best you can do is to carefully mark things in advance. Use a fine tip permanent marker and trace the position of the bolts. Do that, and you shouldn't have too much trouble. Oh, and maybe get some help! It's not much fun as a one-person job. |
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16501
Location: Brookeville, MD
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SyncroButter
Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2016
Posts: 383
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 1:27 pm Post subject: Re: How do I remove the front doors? |
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Ok,will enlist some help. Thanks!
_________________
Grant
In the stable: 1986 Syncro Westfalia/Bostig, 1989 Doka Tristar, 1974 Vespa Rally 200, 1973 Vespa Primavera 125, 1963 Solex 2200, 1938 Buick Special
Gone but not forgotten: 1989 Porsche 944, 1973 Standard Beetle |
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10248
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:23 pm Post subject: Re: How do I remove the front doors? |
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It's a bit of work alright. By the time you get it all back on - seals and any wiring - you will be proud. One caution on the rear hatch. The striker or something next to it (can't remember now) at center of floor at opening has bolts that go into nuts on the bottom that are unaccessible. I started to loosen mine, thought "Hm, where's the other end of this?" and slid under. Nope. Looked from the engine bay. Nope. I never did find any way to access, so I simply retightened and masked it for the paint booth. VW must have installed this part before welding that part of the body together. If you look and cannot see what I'm talking about, let me know and I'll go confirm what the part was.
Also you will need a helper for the hatch and slider. They're crazy heavy. You won't believe how heavy they are.
I did all the prep for my paint job and though it was tedious to remove every bit from the doors, hatch and slider, the van looks fantastic. If you've never done this before, understand you need to not only do this, but also blast hot soapy water inside these panels and get all the grit out of them. Then get all the water out of them. A pressurized paint spray is a cruel finder of any grit, which will get blasted out of the panels and inevitably screw up the work. I did a full color change, so I had to do this. Not sure if you are. I left the windows in and never regretted it.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32576
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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