Scissor doors
#1
Scissor doors
Anyone had experience with Scissor doors on third gens ? I've seen these scissor doors on the Evoluzione II kit car ( http://www.k1-styling.sk/default2.htm) , but id like to see them on a third gen, not... that. I can only assume that lighter doors are made, with hella shocks for em too... anyone know anything about this ?
#2
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I saw a picture of one from a car show that was floating around online so it's possible. To try that type of modification would require alot of time, money, and patience. As you might have noticed thirdgen's doors are very heavy (hence them being well known for sagging doors) so a fiberglass, carbon fiber, or etc. lightweight replacement door would be required. Because of the square edges around the lower part of the door this would require that the new lighter weight door have alot more curve along the bottom outer edge to compensate for the new opening angle of the door and the body of the car of course would have to be modified around the doors to fill gaps. These are just a few things that would have to be done not including designing the pivot point, and modifing the door latching mechanism. I hope this helps to answer your question.
John
John
#3
Its possible
I've seen a few ricers in town with these doors, but obviously the door on an eclipse will be a lot lighter than that of a camaro. I've tried to contact K1 about it, but they have yet to reply. I wish I could just get the door kit without the rest of the car. The mod looks tight , and I was truly considering it as well but I put some 2000 C5 rims on my 87 IROC and that spoke louder than hell for me. At any rate, anyone else have any ideas on this ?
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Car: 89 IROCZ28
Engine: 350TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.77 Gears
I would think it would be easier to make a reverse opening hood than to convert our doors to scissor style...
Ryan
Ryan
#5
Originally posted by IROC350TPI
I would think it would be easier to make a reverse opening hood than to convert our doors to scissor style...
Ryan
I would think it would be easier to make a reverse opening hood than to convert our doors to scissor style...
Ryan
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#10
I't seems simple honestly, but biggest problem might be the lift . Hydraulic ? Electric? I found a guy locally who says he can do it for 1500. He's done it on hondas with difficulty due to the top door frame. Don't see why he couldn't do it on a thirdgen.
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I'm pretty sure that there are structural members within the doors which is what makes them so heavy. If you want lighter doors, you may sacrifice much need structural integrity of the whole car.
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Car: 2001 Trans Am WS.6, 1985 Trans Am-RIP :,(
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I contacted Euroworks to see if was possible to do it without the entire kit. All I got was a "No, no way."
#19
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Originally posted by omnipotentgoku
I't seems simple honestly, but biggest problem might be the lift . Hydraulic ? Electric? I found a guy locally who says he can do it for 1500. He's done it on hondas with difficulty due to the top door frame. Don't see why he couldn't do it on a thirdgen.
I't seems simple honestly, but biggest problem might be the lift . Hydraulic ? Electric? I found a guy locally who says he can do it for 1500. He's done it on hondas with difficulty due to the top door frame. Don't see why he couldn't do it on a thirdgen.
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I'm new here but I somehow stumbled on this thread and thought I could contribute. I've also read the other threads on the site about this topic so some of my comments might be related to other posters.
Door Types:
Scissor - Found on Lambo Diablos, Roadsters and other exotics. They just swing straight up, some as much as 75º. SIngle or dual shocks.
Butterfly - Found on McLaren F1 and others. Doors open to the 10 and 2 o'clock positions (when viewed from front). Sometimes the doors ave 2 hinge points, one close to the roof and one at the traditional place. The doors are almost like gull-wings
Door Weight:
Fully assembled Lambo doors are about 65lbs or so. If you could make a fiberglass copy of your doors it would help. I wouldn't use Lexan instead of glass because of DOT street legal rules and it scratches easily (from my experience). I know many of you are worried about structural support / impact bracing. Kevlar has a tensile strength of about 44,000psi and you can use woven sheets when fiberglassing your door (should be at least 3 ply). It's not cheap but it will be very strong. They run around $35 per sq yard. I don't know how much of a clearance you have between your window glass and your door skins but when making a fiberglass door you should also attach support framing - usually square tubed mild-steel stock. Two bars across the middle act as intrusion bars and the rest of the doors is built on a frame. I don't want to start a battle but if this is done right you can have a stronger door than you have now. Naturally it will cost you some. Of course you don't have to go fiberglass but I don't know how much your doors weigh.
Door hardware:
All you really need is a single hinge and a strut. There are a few Lambo kit car companies that will make you hinges for about $100-150 a piece. Personally I like this company's design:
http://www.iserv.net/~strdream/fiero.html
You can get struts at RV shops and off of certain cars. You will need to know your compressed and extended lengths as well as the force required, which will be more than the door's weight (especially if you locate the sturt at some weird point). If you look you can find 100lb struts. If not there are other mechanical and hydraulic options but they will cost you as well.
I think the biggest problem for you will be your door shape. Like someone posted earlier I think the bottom corner will hit the pillar when it tries to rotate. However, you might be able to find hinges that throw the door forward as it rotates up. You can see this on the new Cadillac concept car. Other than that, I don't know much about setting up a door to pop out before it opens up. Sorry I can't help you here. IMO I wouldn't use the "half door" approach for aesthetic reasons.
Here's a good link to see how the lambo guy's do it:
http://lambolounge.com/Body/Door/hin...door-hinge.htm
I know it's not exactly what you want but perhaps it can give you some ideas.
You can also find some good rubber boots to cover your whole assembly to give it a clean look.
http://www.minorrubber.com/
I plan to do a detailed writeup on this and post it on my site in a week or so - I just need to workout the math. If anyone has other info on this (I've seen the eclipse post) then please let me know.
Door Types:
Scissor - Found on Lambo Diablos, Roadsters and other exotics. They just swing straight up, some as much as 75º. SIngle or dual shocks.
Butterfly - Found on McLaren F1 and others. Doors open to the 10 and 2 o'clock positions (when viewed from front). Sometimes the doors ave 2 hinge points, one close to the roof and one at the traditional place. The doors are almost like gull-wings
Door Weight:
Fully assembled Lambo doors are about 65lbs or so. If you could make a fiberglass copy of your doors it would help. I wouldn't use Lexan instead of glass because of DOT street legal rules and it scratches easily (from my experience). I know many of you are worried about structural support / impact bracing. Kevlar has a tensile strength of about 44,000psi and you can use woven sheets when fiberglassing your door (should be at least 3 ply). It's not cheap but it will be very strong. They run around $35 per sq yard. I don't know how much of a clearance you have between your window glass and your door skins but when making a fiberglass door you should also attach support framing - usually square tubed mild-steel stock. Two bars across the middle act as intrusion bars and the rest of the doors is built on a frame. I don't want to start a battle but if this is done right you can have a stronger door than you have now. Naturally it will cost you some. Of course you don't have to go fiberglass but I don't know how much your doors weigh.
Door hardware:
All you really need is a single hinge and a strut. There are a few Lambo kit car companies that will make you hinges for about $100-150 a piece. Personally I like this company's design:
http://www.iserv.net/~strdream/fiero.html
You can get struts at RV shops and off of certain cars. You will need to know your compressed and extended lengths as well as the force required, which will be more than the door's weight (especially if you locate the sturt at some weird point). If you look you can find 100lb struts. If not there are other mechanical and hydraulic options but they will cost you as well.
I think the biggest problem for you will be your door shape. Like someone posted earlier I think the bottom corner will hit the pillar when it tries to rotate. However, you might be able to find hinges that throw the door forward as it rotates up. You can see this on the new Cadillac concept car. Other than that, I don't know much about setting up a door to pop out before it opens up. Sorry I can't help you here. IMO I wouldn't use the "half door" approach for aesthetic reasons.
Here's a good link to see how the lambo guy's do it:
http://lambolounge.com/Body/Door/hin...door-hinge.htm
I know it's not exactly what you want but perhaps it can give you some ideas.
You can also find some good rubber boots to cover your whole assembly to give it a clean look.
http://www.minorrubber.com/
I plan to do a detailed writeup on this and post it on my site in a week or so - I just need to workout the math. If anyone has other info on this (I've seen the eclipse post) then please let me know.
#23
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IMO suicide doors like above have no place on this type of car. I'm sure that these people spent some time on the conversion so I respect that but i don't think it serves any practical purpose. At least the scissor doors will let you open your door in tight places.
#25
I know it's early in the morning and what not.......
so i might still be messed up from the EminEm concert i just got home from........who knows......but i noticed a few things about that pic............
But is half the door missing....... ........
and look at that wing.......
so i might still be messed up from the EminEm concert i just got home from........who knows......but i noticed a few things about that pic............
But is half the door missing....... ........
and look at that wing.......
#27
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Car: 1989 IROC-Z
Engine: 383 stroker
Transmission: 700R4 3500 stall, TransGo shift kit
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Originally posted by FLYNLOW92rs
Here it is.....
A camaro with scissor doors...............it looks BAD@SS IMO.....
Here it is.....
A camaro with scissor doors...............it looks BAD@SS IMO.....
#28
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Actually they cut the door because of the pillar that is behind it. If you don't cut the door it will not be able to rotate. The bottom corner catches. I imagine it saves weight too but this was the primary reason. That's why in my earlier post I said it didn't look very good an shouldn't be an option.
A possibility is reshaping the doors - round them out at the bottom. You would then need to build up the pillars at the bottom to match.
A possibility is reshaping the doors - round them out at the bottom. You would then need to build up the pillars at the bottom to match.
#29
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Car: Right now 93 Lumina
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why dont you cut it in half but vetricaly like staturns and make the back half suicide and the front lambo style that would be very original and eliminate alot of the problems or suicide lambo the whole door so when it goes up in opens backwards
#31
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Car: 83 Z28
Engine: vortec 305 for now
Transmission: 5 speed
try Autoloc, 1281 NE 25th #N, dept PHR, Hillsboro, OR 97124
1-800-873-4038
or: www.autoloc.com
I'm not a big fan of this, but at least these look like a well engineered piece.
1-800-873-4038
or: www.autoloc.com
I'm not a big fan of this, but at least these look like a well engineered piece.
#32
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i think adding something custom to a thirdgens door is awesome! Be it shaved, lambo, butterfly or suicide. I was planning on going suicide with my doors. As just posted, autoloc makes a suicide kit, you just need to do alot of re-enforcing with suicides.
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ok... i thought you couldn't really do lambo style doors on a 3rd gen, i wanna know how that guy did it....
if anyone knwos that person, have them contact me, rofl.
if anyone knwos that person, have them contact me, rofl.
#35
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good links on the lambo style door stuff btw, thx. & autolock makes a stronger 250 lbs motor thingy, so add the two.. i see why not..
one thing i thought about though, the windows.. they'd really get in the way, but, BUT!!! solution.!!!!
if any of you have seen the new ford thunderbirds, they have the type of window setup we do... and when you open the door, the window goes down a bit, close it, it goes back up!.. why not get some electronics, to do this, like, unlock the car, windows go down, voom!, an inch.. and then, open/shut doors, lock, VOOM! back up!..
It's all very possibly, now that i've seen some of these hinges, and that autolock makes a powerful pushy thingy.
one thing i thought about though, the windows.. they'd really get in the way, but, BUT!!! solution.!!!!
if any of you have seen the new ford thunderbirds, they have the type of window setup we do... and when you open the door, the window goes down a bit, close it, it goes back up!.. why not get some electronics, to do this, like, unlock the car, windows go down, voom!, an inch.. and then, open/shut doors, lock, VOOM! back up!..
It's all very possibly, now that i've seen some of these hinges, and that autolock makes a powerful pushy thingy.
#36
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Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
theres a trick im amazed noone here mentioned.
how they do it with all the ricers and other cars:
its not just one arc... the door moves OUT then rotates upward...
and the weight has nothing to do with it..... you can always use a gas strut to counter the weight, then use either a light electric motor, or your hand.... just like fiero lambo kits.
movie of the door opening so you see what i mean:
http://www.autoloc.com/quicktime/LamboCOM.mov
their kits:
http://www.autoloc.com/products/lambo.lasso
how they do it with all the ricers and other cars:
its not just one arc... the door moves OUT then rotates upward...
and the weight has nothing to do with it..... you can always use a gas strut to counter the weight, then use either a light electric motor, or your hand.... just like fiero lambo kits.
movie of the door opening so you see what i mean:
http://www.autoloc.com/quicktime/LamboCOM.mov
their kits:
http://www.autoloc.com/products/lambo.lasso
#37
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Car: Right now 93 Lumina
Engine: 3.4 DOHC
Transmission: 4T60-E
Originally posted by MrDude_1
theres a trick im amazed noone here mentioned.
how they do it with all the ricers and other cars:
its not just one arc... the door moves OUT then rotates upward...
and the weight has nothing to do with it..... you can always use a gas strut to counter the weight, then use either a light electric motor, or your hand.... just like fiero lambo kits.
movie of the door opening so you see what i mean:
http://www.autoloc.com/quicktime/LamboCOM.mov
their kits:
http://www.autoloc.com/products/lambo.lasso
theres a trick im amazed noone here mentioned.
how they do it with all the ricers and other cars:
its not just one arc... the door moves OUT then rotates upward...
and the weight has nothing to do with it..... you can always use a gas strut to counter the weight, then use either a light electric motor, or your hand.... just like fiero lambo kits.
movie of the door opening so you see what i mean:
http://www.autoloc.com/quicktime/LamboCOM.mov
their kits:
http://www.autoloc.com/products/lambo.lasso
#38
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ya, i know, it just swings out like normal, then goes up... sorry, but that's too cheap for me.. if it goes out then up, i want it to do it by itself, not me push it out. & you can tell that's what he did, espically when he pulled it back in.. pfft.
#39
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Car: candy blue 85 z28
Engine: 305 tpi LB9
Transmission: 700r4 crazy beefed up one
Axle/Gears: ones with teeth
sounds like a job for Monster Garage
get jesse on the phone!
i would think that hydralic pistons since they can be custom made for length and are adjustable with placement would be able to lift a stock door if the hinges are done right. simple electric hyd pump would run em sweet.
as for the hinge i would guess that the top hinge would have to fall away from the car when released so the top of the door goes out away from the roof line. the hydralics coule pull em back in tight and then need a latch system.
sounds like it would be fun to do anyway.
get jesse on the phone!
i would think that hydralic pistons since they can be custom made for length and are adjustable with placement would be able to lift a stock door if the hinges are done right. simple electric hyd pump would run em sweet.
as for the hinge i would guess that the top hinge would have to fall away from the car when released so the top of the door goes out away from the roof line. the hydralics coule pull em back in tight and then need a latch system.
sounds like it would be fun to do anyway.
#40
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Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
Originally posted by JeffW
sounds like a job for Monster Garage
get jesse on the phone!
i would think that hydralic pistons since they can be custom made for length and are adjustable with placement would be able to lift a stock door if the hinges are done right. simple electric hyd pump would run em sweet.
as for the hinge i would guess that the top hinge would have to fall away from the car when released so the top of the door goes out away from the roof line. the hydralics coule pull em back in tight and then need a latch system.
sounds like it would be fun to do anyway.
sounds like a job for Monster Garage
get jesse on the phone!
i would think that hydralic pistons since they can be custom made for length and are adjustable with placement would be able to lift a stock door if the hinges are done right. simple electric hyd pump would run em sweet.
as for the hinge i would guess that the top hinge would have to fall away from the car when released so the top of the door goes out away from the roof line. the hydralics coule pull em back in tight and then need a latch system.
sounds like it would be fun to do anyway.
a simple electrical linear actuator coudl do it.
however, i HATE the idea of relying on a powered device (regardless of the power type) to get out of the car.
and i like to be out of my car in less then a sec... i dont like waiting for the door to open. and a automatic system couldnt open fast for saftey reasons.
#41
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agreed, i want it to be fast & quick, painless, simple... But.. :-/ duno how you could, less the motor would let it go up fast.. talk w/ the guys at autoloc and see if they could make one go faster & support the weight still...
Also, instead of having it go out & then up.. how about do the windows thing like i said, til the hing this way \car/ (the \ /'s being the hinges).. and then have the doors go up & out like that..?.. fix the lock on the door & all that.. so it could work like that.. i see no reason why you couldn't do that with enough time & effort...$$..
Also, instead of having it go out & then up.. how about do the windows thing like i said, til the hing this way \car/ (the \ /'s being the hinges).. and then have the doors go up & out like that..?.. fix the lock on the door & all that.. so it could work like that.. i see no reason why you couldn't do that with enough time & effort...$$..
#42
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Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
if it was a extremely easy bolt in thing, id do it on the vert just because it would mean that i could get out of the car easier without hitting the car next to me with my door.
but i cant see me putting in the time to do somthing like that....
but i cant see me putting in the time to do somthing like that....
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One thing that I do think is being overlooked and could be very important is the alignment of the door with the body. The counter weight of the door would take alot of time and work and would not be over come by just a gas shock it would almost have to have some kind of motor or torsion bar to take most of the weight. Being a Delorean owner I can tell you gullwing door are neat but are alot of work and tend to have alot of alignment problems. I would tend to think a make shift set up would suffer from the same problems but would make a great show stopper car.
#45
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Car: 2001 Trans Am WS.6, 1985 Trans Am-RIP :,(
Engine: LS1, 305 TPI
Transmission: 4L60E, 700R-4
What if the door sorta popped outward while remaining parallel, or slid out some then rotated. Sorta like this:
l=car I=door > = slides out
Door closed:
l
l
I
l
l
door open:
l
l
> I Then rotates at this point
l
l
Basically the door stays parallel with the side of the car. It it slides/pops out enough to clear the fender(while remaining parallel), then rotates up.
Then to close it will rotate down then you pull it closed.
If this would work, I dont think the hinge will be the problem, I think the a way to support the door would be.
I think a car actually uses this method, some new exotic, not sure though, maybe its all in my head:lala:
l=car I=door > = slides out
Door closed:
l
l
I
l
l
door open:
l
l
> I Then rotates at this point
l
l
Basically the door stays parallel with the side of the car. It it slides/pops out enough to clear the fender(while remaining parallel), then rotates up.
Then to close it will rotate down then you pull it closed.
If this would work, I dont think the hinge will be the problem, I think the a way to support the door would be.
I think a car actually uses this method, some new exotic, not sure though, maybe its all in my head:lala:
Last edited by Matto'85TA; 10-23-2003 at 11:42 PM.
#46
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it does, the egerzo something... *looks up name*
Koenigsegg, that's it.. it pops out, then goes up by turning.
BUT!! those doors are very light, gotta take that into consideration, the hing would be a problem for us. all that weight... gonna bend something somewhere.
Koenigsegg, that's it.. it pops out, then goes up by turning.
BUT!! those doors are very light, gotta take that into consideration, the hing would be a problem for us. all that weight... gonna bend something somewhere.
#48
Originally posted by MrDude_1
why is everyone so paronoid by door weight!?
does anyone here even know the actual weight of the door?
why is everyone so paronoid by door weight!?
does anyone here even know the actual weight of the door?
less than a 2nd gen.. more than a 1st gen (in my experience)
#49
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Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
Originally posted by MasterEvilAce
it's heavier than average, that's for sure
less than a 2nd gen.. more than a 1st gen (in my experience)
it's heavier than average, that's for sure
less than a 2nd gen.. more than a 1st gen (in my experience)
streached fireo kit car doors are "heavier then avg" too...
my steel hood weighs alot more then my 82s SMC hood.
however, because the gas shocks used to match them were correct, they offset the weight and they seemed to weigh the same.
weight is not a issue. the design is.
in anycase, its pointless unless you design the door not to stick out more then about 3" or so.... because then i could open it in a parking spot easier...
anything more, and it REALLY would be just for show.
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