Project: Barn Door Swap!

[zukrider]

the skinny: ive got a 91 burb with a tailgate. was told that barn doors can be swapped. so i picked up a real clean set of craigslist for $100. will be swapping here soon!

looking for any input from those that may have knowledge of this. i was doing a little inspecting, and did not see the hinge holes in the body :Wow1:

i am hoping they are just under the paint. a long shot i know, but, even if i have to weld, im putting on barn doors! i think in the worst case, i can just install some crush nuts to get the bolt holes. though, we will see.

pics and more detail will be posted as they are obtained. the one negative side is this is my DD, so im not starting til all the ducks are in a row!

joe

 

[Heimz]

Nice project!

Out of curiosity, what would be the benefit of the barn doors? I was bummed out when the Suburbans and Tahoes lost the tailgate option in the last few years. As of now you have a roll up rear window (though it may leak) and a tailgate to put a stove, lantern, taco fixin's, and a blender atop.

I'll check my friend's 1990 K1500 Suburban with barn doors to see if theres any advice I can offer.

 

[BorntoVenture]

I'm very interested in seeing more on your project because a friend of mine has considered doing the same thing to his '88. My '98 has barn doors and I love them, with the exception of the factory latch/stay mechanism.

Good luck!

 

[zukrider]

well, for me, the benefit is the deletion of the power rear window. i hate power rear windows. i agree that the tailgate becomes a nice table, but if you dont have the door stops hooked up, barn doors will open fully, allowing the rear of the "bed " to be your table. i intend to make drop down tables on each door for my grill as well as a cutting bored/prep table. fridge will be right next to the driver rear door allowing easy access.

it boils down to this. if the rear window motor takes a s@!&, its either all the way up, and you cant get to the back, or its open, and the weather comes in.

and i love the look of barn doors better also. i would appreciate the info your buddy could provide though Heinz.

ill start getn some good pics tomorrow of what ive got, and will try to get to the junk yard to take a few pics so im not taking mine apart yet. wish me luck

 

[Heimz]

I hear ya on the motor woes. Murphy's Law says they die at the most inopportune times, like my Dad's '86 GMC JImmy that had the motor go out about 30 mins before some helicopters started spraying Malathion here in So Cal.

And I agree on power windows in general. It took me 3 weeks and an hour drive to find my new Dodge 2500 ST with manual windows and locks. All the dealers would look at me confused, "You WANT a truck with manual windows????".

 

[Jeep]

It HAS been done, I don't think I had to drill any holes, it was a few years ago but I was surpised how easy it was. I noticed the "barn door holes" on my 1990 Blazer too (not in the hard top but in the body).

 

[earthmuffin]

I will be following closely......
The tailgate is the one thing about my burb that I dislike the most, but the thing was to good of a deal to pass up.
I have often thought of attempting the swap but just read to many conflicts online about the feasibility of the swap.

Please take lots of pics and keep us updated.