Suicide doors how too install good or bad idea

[Joe Mollnow]

Hi everyone,I have a 38 ford 2 door deluxe that I have been gathering information on chopping the top. I all so been wondering if it is possible to install suicide doors on this style vehicle.I have not been able too find any information on doing this.Hinges mounting points ,latchs,door clearance,picturesThis may be a good forum for suicide doors in general good/bad any info will help thanks again Joe

[CCWKen]

Geez, I did a 37 Chevy Sedan a few years back and for the life of me I can't remember the hinge setup. Most of Sedans in that era had suicide doors in the rear (4-door). The 33 & 34 Ford Coupe also had the front latch. If you could locate an example or donner car, It would give you a better idea.

[Dutch Comstock]

Joe, As you are only a little ways away from me, I am in East Herkimer new york just stop in for a visit and I can give you all sorts of info on this. Dutch

[Joe Mollnow]

thanks for the info dutch, I'll get in touch in coming out maybe one sat. morning. Any other info from anyone else is greatly appreciated. Topic I have seen very little about in mags, books, etc. THANKS!

[Richard K]

Why.................... are they called "Suicide Doors"???

Maybe it is not a good idea.

[blazedbowtie]

They are called Suicide Doors because they open in reverse... If opened going down the road, it would be difficult to close them as they open to 90 degrees.

Suicide Doors makes a great kit for suiciding doors of any type. They are made to be used on fullsize trucks, and are very rigid. I believe your door would be lighter than that of a late model fullsize.

Here is a link to the complete kit:
http://www.suicidedoors.com/products...mplete-kit.htm
This kit is very well thought out, and very sturdy.

Here is a "How-To" suicide:
http://www.suicidedoors.com/howto/howto_2000_s10.htm

Seth

[87gtmustang]

"Why are they called Suicide doors?" Ill tell you a funny story! A co worker and I were working on our projects one day, and in walked one of our customers. Ill call him "Bob". Bob owns a Black 34 ford, that there is a pic in my gallery somewere of it partially done (although my gallery seems to have disapeared). We just finished his car for him not to long ago, so it was still a very fresh car. The fact that he walked in, was not funny, but what was amusing, was that he was carrying his passenger door from his 34, and outside sat a black 34 minus a door! Bob and another one of our customers (ill call him "Harry"), were on the interstate to come bring his car in for a few small fixes and adjustments. The story was, that Harry forgot to engage the safety pin latch, and only had the door shut, or latched onto the first of the 2 catches. They were doing about 75mph, and then the door just flew off!, and skided down the road in front of a pickup. Luckily the pickup saw it happen, felt sorry for them, loaded up the door and followed Bob and Harry to our shop to deliver the door. The moment that it happened, Harry looked over at Bob stunned, and said "What just happened?", and of course Bob replied, "I think the door just blew off!". Bob was a little upset, but not mad at Harry. It was a fiberglass door, and amazingly all that it did to the door, was skin up the inner moulding, and the window and door cranks, and made a small hole in the leather upholestry at the bottom. It did star the paint on the front in one area, and shatter the glass and break the mirror too, but it actually was suprising that it didn't do more damage. The car only had a small scuff, not even really a scratch, but a scuff on the rear fender were it brushed it a little while flying by. Oh, and the hinges were toast! After fixing the door problem, and taking care of what they were coming there for in the first place, Bob wanted us to put in new saftey pin latches, the ones that are spring loaded with micro switches, and a very loud and obnoctious buzzer that buzzes if the car is in gear and the saftey pin is not latched. I guess he didn't like what happened and wants to prevent it in the future. I wonder why!? LOL I suppose that could be one reason why the are called "Suicide Doors".

Brian =)

[Jeff Parker]

Just in case:

Suicide doors make it extremely tough to get into the back seat. If you dont plan on using the back seat, its a moot point.

[s10xgn]

There's a guy from Canada selling plans on E-Bay for $10.00. I bought the plans and made my hinges for a grand total of $41.00, most of that was the pin and bushing kits.

Russ

[chadsbodyshop49119]

I'm in the process of suiciding the doors on a S-10 right now... so i attached a pic.. this kit is from suicidedoors.com..