I have a photo of my suicide door being open just to show it can be done. The photo was during the tear down of my camaro getting ready for a complete engine build and repaint. I have shaved the door handles and key holes. I am debating on returning the doors back to their normal opening direction but figured I would get opinions from my third gen family.

 

ok bro you gotta tell me how you did it i want suicide doors on my car

 

not a fan personally. but I am also curious how you did it. simple as swapping hinge locations? any problems?

 

I applaud your fabrication, but it just doesn't look right on a 3g.

 

It definitely looks odd and the weight distribution is a problem.

I took door hinges from a totally destroyed 60's Ford truck. Then removed the rear speakers and opened up holes in the door jamb part of the quarter panels. I then welded into place a support and bolted the hinges in place. I bolted the doors onto the hinges by cutting holes in the door to receive the door hinge arm. The door was then adjusted with shims to get the proper closing and height. The door latch was removed the welded to the front of each door between where the original hinges mounted to the door.

This modification took a lot of time and was definitely not an easy weekend job. The weight of the doors causes the front to droop which in return makes it so you must lift the door slightly to get the proper latch and shutting of the door.

As far as the door handles and locks they are a normal modification... what do you guys think? better with or without handles and locks?

 

I'd keep the shaved door handles and locks. It was one of the first mods I did to my camaro and I love it.

As for the suicide doors, I like the look personally, and even considered doing it on my camaro. But the heavy doors on these cars are a real problem with it as mentioned. For the amount of work involved in changing them back, I'd probably just leave them alone unless or until something breaks.

 

I attempted the same mod on my 74 C10 pickup, I contacted autoloc and they sent me blueprints to their universal hinges. I built my own off their prints, Then tried to install on a parts truck I have before chop'n on my good cab. I spent 6 weekends on this one door and no matter how much extra support I added to the door jam, The sheet metal would flex causing the door to sag.

I got it close where it needed to be lifted slightly to latch, But close wasn't good enough for me, I aborted the mission and just went with the home grown reverse opening hood which works flawlessly.

I'm surprised you got this long heavy door even that close to closing......

 

Thanks it definitely was not easy

 

I take it that the doors aren't with power windows or locks?

 

No it was not power locks or windows but to unlock it I ran a steel cable around the inside of the door and hooked it to the latch making it so it is still operational.

 

Not my cup of tea but pretty cool

 

Well everyone I am switching back to original way of opening the doors. This was a fun mod but now I am wanting to put power doors on the car and return it to a more of stock looking vehicle. I do still plan on shaving the door handles and keys off though.