I made linkage from the handle to the latch. I mocked it up with wire for now, but on the real doors I'll use all-thread bent to fit. Since all of this will be exposed I'll round all of the edges so it doesnt catch on clothes then I'll spray beadliner on all of it.

I had to go with 14gu 1X2 tubing because the place I get it from cannot get 1X1.5 anytime soon. I am using 16gu steep for the skin so it will be thick enough to not bend at the edges. It will be kind of heavy, the the bullet-proofness will be a plus

Last pics of the template!!! Next pics will be steel




First post updated...

 

I picked up the steel skins for the doors today. They are 18gu so they are pretty stout but not crazy heavy. I ended up taking my pattern to a place here in town and asking them to copy it. The guy did a SUPER job and it only cost me $48 for the 2 back doors. He said the front wouldn't be much more so I am going to try to make a pattern for the front. I need the measurements from a Bestop Element skin if anyone can help me out. I have the tubing for the frame but won't be able to mess with it until NEXT weekend. We gutted a bathroom and my wife thinks it is more important to finish THAT then work on the Jeep

Here is the skin. It is a PERFECT copy of the template with nice rounded edges.

 

awesome, when you get the measurements and everything for the fronts please let me know! i want to make a set!

 

Looks great! You don't want the measurements from the Elements doors. It looks like they had a 3 year old trace it out. They don't match the curves well at all. There are gaps you can stick your fingers between. My neighbor has them and they suck.

 

Very cool. That has me thinking about making a set of light-weight skins I can clip to my home-made tube doors. They would be useful if I want to go play in the mud.. keep some of that crap out of the interior. Add a lip up top, a 90 degree bend about 2" wide to use as an arm rest.... Hmmm...

 

That's either the dumbest thing I've ever seen.. or the best thing ever. Please await my decision. Thank you.

 

Yeah, if you could post up some prints and or measurements that would be great! I can have these cut on the waterjet at work!!!!

 

Wow, great job. I think they're going to look incredible.

 

I can photograph my factory half doors and overlay a 1" x 1" (or .5" x .5" or whatever you may need) grid on AutoCAD for you if that would help. Make a pdf ?

 

cant wait to see it with the metal doors!