Sliding door

[bucko]

What year Vanagons have the same side slider door as an 84?

I believe I read here awhile back in an unrelated topic (can't remember the topic to search it on) that mentioned a difference in door sizes for the side slider door.

I have a small dent in mine (lower left) that I cannot get to unless I have a body shop weld some rods onto it and pull it out. Perhaps buying a good slider door is cheaper, so I'm trying to find what year(s) are compatable with an 84 Vanagon.
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Current VW drives: 1984 Westfalia

Past VW drives: 1967 Beetle, 1973 Beetle, 1977 Bus, 1971 Military Type 181

[iceracer]

As far as I know, they are all the same, except for colors. I happen to have a charcoal with silver stripe slider sitting in my garage in very good shape. It came off of a 1987 van. I have been thinking about how to get rid of it but I really don't want to ship it. Wanna pick it up???
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86 Syncro Wolfsburg edition
63 Beetle (The Iceracer)

[iceracer]

Forgot, it is in Milwaukee, WI
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86 Syncro Wolfsburg edition
63 Beetle (The Iceracer)

[captainpartytime]

I found out at my local pick your part that an 85 vanagon has a different slider door handle/lock mechanism than my 82. Don't know if his helps but it's a start....
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-Kerry

1982 turbo diesel Westfalia

[Christopher Schimke]

I do believe that '80- early '85 were the same and late '85-up were the same but the two styles are not interchangeable. There was a mid-year change in 1985. I'm not sure exactly where the cut-off was so you would be safe looking for any '80-'84 door.
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[camo westy]

The sliding doors are different starting in 1985.

Easy to tell the difference;
Late (post 1985) sliding doors have the latch at the rear of the door. and have rubber flap on the rear of the door frame at the latch.

Early doors through 1984 have the latch on the front of the door, and also the outside door handle is longer.

They do not interchange. (without a welder).

The later doors are an improvement, easier to adjust, close easier, etc. That said the early doors work just fine.

[gt8]

[camo westy]

The sliders look the same. The latches are totally different. I would not jump on this swap, and I am a project junkie with welding/bodywork skills.

Now the inner rails on the 85 and later vans have the Much Improved curtain hangers... there is a project worth doing.