unknown_host

iTrader: (1)

I am taking a bunch of weight out of my doors, got inspired by a post I read last night from Matt Walter.

One question I have, the door panels seem way heavier than I thought they would be. What have you guys done for door panels on street/strip or racecars? Non stock please. I would even consider ditching the stock armrest if I had something to pull while the windows are up.

Pics would be great.

Thanks!

LB9GTA

iTrader: (1)

Subscribing!

I took off my door handles for my door bars to fit better.


I'm going to paint the silver metal tab to black and put black plastic caps to cover the holes in the door skin.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

LB9, if you take the door panels off, those tabs for the arm rest are just riveted on, and it can come off. then make your covers or caps from the inside of the panel.

I'm running stock panels at the moment. i'm really considering making a move to some carbon fiber sheet honestly. i've been thinking about it for a while.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

Seth, take a look at this thread i posted up a few years back on the door project that i abandoned. i think i'm going to revisit this:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/orga...ch-weight.html

unknown_host

iTrader: (1)

Thanks Matt, will check it out in a second . I guess some Porsches and European cars come with pull straps instead of armrest/pull bars from the factory:



I am totally doing this the armrests are heavy.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

i like that...i think i'll look into that too.

LB9GTA

iTrader: (1)

Lol! I just weighed both of my armrests from my 91 GTA, together they are 5lbs.

redneckjoe

wow! never really thought they weighed that much. it all adds up though.

tvc 15

Not sure if these are much lighter than stock. I made them out of .040 aluminum.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

That looks way better than I thought it would

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

The pull handles are a very European thing... Magnus Walker does something similar on his cars... but it's a good example of a super spartan door that looks good.

http://digitaldtour.files.wordpress....4/dsc_0056.jpg

http://www.roadandtrack.com/cm/roada...1_STR_2351.jpg

And that's inside this car, which is pretty much his streetable track car.

http://digitaldtour.files.wordpress....2/dsc_0656.jpg

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

I gotta tell ya, roads ace guys always have the cleanest race interiors

unknown_host

iTrader: (1)

Wow that looks amazing.

unknown_host

iTrader: (1)

Man those look good too, a lot to go on in this thread thanks for the replies. I was in Oklahoma for a week, getting caught back up.

unknown_host

iTrader: (1)

Now I am wondering what to make my replacement door panels out of... I liked aluminum but all I have access to are tin snips really for doing sheet metal work.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

We got the driver's side door lightening done. 15lbs saved out of the door itself. the c-channel crash bar is 12lbs by itself. i highly recommend removing it if you have door bars in your roll bar.


this is the passenger's side door, which i haven't touched yet.







here is our driver's door in the "after" state.

Dialed_In

iTrader: (3)

You can cut aluminum sheet using a jig saw. Then finish the edges with some sort of vinyl material.

Dialed_In

iTrader: (3)

Trim options:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#trim-molding/=qxnhzw

unknown_host

iTrader: (1)

Good stuff Matt! Makes me want to pull the crash bars lol, too bad I don't have a cage . Are you counting the actual door panel in your 15 pounds or are you planning on putting it back on?

unknown_host

iTrader: (1)

Ok so here is what I wound up doing:


Before Cutting out:


After Cutting out:


Aluminum Test Fit (I used the old door panel as a template):


Everything Mocked up:


Bought a pair of these in grey to replace the stock arm rest:


I will post a real finished pic once everything is mounted.

Dialed_In

iTrader: (3)

Very nice!

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

seth, is that ozite carpet over the aluminum?

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

does anyone know the exact year of the c-channel vs round bar crash bar? 87 and older have the c-channel for sure. 89+ has round bar for sure. i've never seen an 88 door (well, not with enough attention to detail anyway). it happened in the 88/89 years i believe.

unknown_host

iTrader: (1)

Walmart sells generic, lightweight black carpet for $9 a roll. The carpet covering the entire door panel weighs next to nothing.

unknown_host

iTrader: (1)

Thanks I just want it to not stick out lol. Thanks for sharing those links btw.

Mrbanados

Got any pictures of your car's interior/exterior?

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

I found out the year split. The 82-87 had the c - channel crash bar and the 88-92 had the tubular bar.

tvc 15

Build is in Fabrication under "ls1 roadracer project"

kthxbai

iTrader: (5)

Spent the last few afternoons putting together some door panels.









Steven

LB9GTA

iTrader: (1)

I like the door strap idea.

kthxbai

iTrader: (5)

Went and finished them off with black fabric and spray adhesive, as well as a slim felt backing to stop any rattles.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

That turned out great!

Wife'sCar

iTrader: (1)

Going to be making my own door panels prolly this weekend, not weight saving or anything just tired of my tore up cardboard panels and not paying the crazy prices for good condition panels. I've got 26 gauge galvanized steel, it was free and I'm not worried about weight savings in my wife's daily driver. I've got my plans set for making them and how to attach them, for those using screws/bolts through the front of the panel, what size/length/thread are you using. I've thought about tacking some nuts on the door and using allen head bolts to match the lock/handle screws.

kthxbai

iTrader: (5)

I used plastic screw/push type rivets, I think they are 3/8" or 7/16"? Used 12 or so of them in all the stock locations around the perimeter, looks clean and is very easy to remove and replace.

~Steven

Wife'sCar

iTrader: (1)

One down!!!
Need to buy more clips tomorrow, ran out, need 13, only had 9.

kthxbai

iTrader: (5)

Lookin good

Wife'sCar

iTrader: (1)

I peeled the fabric from the stock cardboard panel, traced the cardboard panel on a sheet of steel, cut that out, glued the cardboard to the back of the new metal panel so the panel wouldn't rattle against the door, then laid that on a sheet of auto carpet, traced it a little bigger, glued that and wrapped the edges and drilled holes in the panel in the stock clip locations and used the style clips suggested.

I'm positive its heavier than the original panel but it looks and feels so much better to have a solid panel and not the deteriorated and falling off old panel.

billybob6110

where did you find these straps at?

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

i don't know about those ones, but my cousin and fellow TGO member sells these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rally-Racing-Custom-Door-Pull-Strap-23-Colors/141256248258?_trksid=p2050601.c100272.m3467&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140813112422%26meid%3D7521f9383c0c49c29daf200bd78bf69f%26pid%3D100272%26prg%3D20140813112422%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D141256248258%26clkid%3D3215215896449221177&_qi=RTM1963929

z28venezuela

Maybe you're going to need this.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/fabr...-template.html