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Door, or frame & skin?


GarethP

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Posted

I have the option of the above.

I need a new N/S door and have seen a NOS door and also a NOS frame and NOS skin for sale relatively locally by different people.

Combined, the frame and skin are about 1/2 price of the door.

Will be fitted etc. by a mechanic mate with welding kit etc.

Which is best to go for?

Will the door come with anything not on the frame and skin?

Thanks in advance...

Posted

Are you sure the frame is genuine NOS? There is no part number recorded for this in the factory lists, is it in black or red transit finish?
If your car is perfectly straight and unmolested then the door should bolt straight on. In the real world this rarely happens. It's generally accepted that frames and skins need the odd tweak to fit the cars they are intended for. It's generally easier to build a door to fit a specific car than it is to modify an assembled door shell,
Cheers,
Bill.

Posted

Thanks Bill,

It is advertised as NOS.  The door is in black.

My Herald is a looonng way from straight and unmolested!! and it was my guess that a separate frame and skin would be easier to make look 'right'.


Posted

I believe the door (if its the eay one) is a fitchett door made from the original tooling.

I have two of these fitted to my Vitesse and am told were a b@stard to fit.

If I were you I would re-skin your original door as long as the frame is sound.  You know it fits so there shoudn't be much of a problem.

Cheers
David

Posted

Thanks David,

That's what was done by a previous owner.  Even though the frame appears to be more filler than metal!

I think the frame and skin is looking the best bet - at £50 I don't think I can really argue!

Posted

If you look at the bottom corners of the door shell............the bit that sits in the door shut...............a genuine one will be a fairly smooth pressing.

All of the new/repro I have seen that are allegedly done on the original press tooling are creased or crinkled, which would suggest that they are not. Hence the fitting problems. 

Posted

The wrinkling is more likely to be operator technique or pressure capacity of the presses used. The originality or otherwise of the tooling is better determined by the exact profiles of strengthening ribs and the like.
Cheers,
Bill.

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