Stephen, since you seem to be my mentor on just about everything, I know you can help me out with this one.

I have a pair of fairly crappy doors. The driver's side window is cracked and the motor doesn't even work so it's stuck in the down position. I've been trying to find a new door for a while now, when I realized that rather than just get another 15 year old door, why not go another route?

So I found out the same place that made my fiberglass 4" cowl hood ( http://www.vfnfiberglass.com ) also makes fiberglass doors, but here's the catch that I'm sure you're aware of...It requires lexan and will be stuck in the upright position. I still drive my car every once in a blue moon on the street, so I still want the window to be able to come off. Is there any way that that lexan can be removed and installed fairly easily like a pair of t-tops?

Fenders also popped into my head, but wouldn't be quite the same hassel as this

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82 Z28
355 carb'd, Edelbrock Performer RPM package (minus heads), Hooker Super Comps, Mufflex 4" offroad y-pipe, 700r4 with B&M shiftkit, '85 IROC 10 bolt rear with Richmond 4.10's & Auburn posi unit, Lakewood 50/50 drag shocks. Shooting for 3000lbs w/ driver.

The car's website (New design in progress...very cool look)

(383/TH350 buildup this winter)

AIM: Unitedhope
ICQ: 77979548

 

Do those fiber doors have the impact bar in them? Something to think about if you plan to drive on the street, cause if someone hits you from the side, you dont want them ending up in your lap.

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-Justin-
T-Top '86 5.0L LG4 700R4 WS6 Now Bilstein equipped!
T-Top '92 5.0L TBI 700R4
My '86 Firebird Homepage
The F-body Model Kit Pictoral Archive (updated 9/18/00)

There can be only one!!

[This message has been edited by Justins86bird (edited October 25, 2000).]

 

The fiberglass doors and fenders are strictly a race only part. They were never designed to be used as stock replacement parts. You could fasten the lexan on with wing nuts for easy removal but when it's out the support would look out of place.

 

I realize the risks involved and I'm not sure how reasonable this really is even if I don't drive it very often on the street. I talked to VFN and they said that some of the guys used their regulators to roll the lexan up and down just like normal glass

 

just had a thought...with a 10 point roll cage, my side would be protected, would it not? So if I do get hit from the side I might actually not get killed...I don't see how the stock fenders could protect the engine if in fact there is an accident, so I don't see the problem with putting fiberglass in place of those.

 

In the newer cars (not sure about 3rd gens), the fenders are designed to crumple up during an impact and absorb some of the energy in a collision. This effect will allow the occupant to have less of an instantanious g-force increase, lessening the chance of injury. With a glass one, there would be no crumpling effect. For an example, put a pillow on a table and punch the pillow as hard as you can. Now remove the pillow and hit the table as hard as you can. Which one hurts more? Kind of a goofy example, i know.

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-Justin-
T-Top '86 5.0L LG4 700R4 WS6 Now Bilstein equipped!
T-Top '92 5.0L TBI 700R4
My '86 Firebird Homepage
The F-body Model Kit Pictoral Archive (updated 9/18/00)

There can be only one!!