66 Doors with 69 Internals

[AMullow]

Hopefully can shed some light on my question.

1) I have a 66 roadster and have purchased '66 doors from Denis Carpenter. (Keyhole above body line)
2) My donor doors are from a 69-77. (Keyhole below body line)
===
Will the window and door internals from my donor doors work on my 66?
Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you
Al

 

[jamesroney]

Hopefully can shed some light on my question.

1) I have a 66 roadster and have purchased '66 doors from Denis Carpenter. (Keyhole above body line)
2) My donor doors are from a 69-77. (Keyhole below body line)
===
Will the window and door internals from my donor doors work on my 66?
Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you
Al

In a word..."no."

The 66-67 used the small door latch. The hole in the door to mount the latch is in a different location and is a different shape early vs late.
The 66-67 used an internal door release handle, and the 68-77 use the paddle. So the door handle mechanism has to be correct for the door panel, and the door shell.

The early window crank handle won't attach properly to the later window regulator. ( It's much harder to put late window cranks on early regulators.)
I think the regulators will fit the shells.
The wing windows will fit, but of course they look funny with the wrong closures.

Door lock cylinders, and exterior door handle is the same.
Glass, window channels, felts, and bumpers are the same.
I think that every latch rod will be the wrong length.

 

[AMullow]

So your saying there's a chance!

 

[Speedrdr]

Sounds like James is saying there’s 2 chances: slim and none, and Slm just rode out of town. Lol
I’m gonna say it maybe COULD be done, but the juice ain’t worth the squeeze.

Randy

 

[AMullow]

Sounds like James is saying there’s 2 chances: slim and none, and Slm just rode out of town. Lol
I’m gonna say it maybe COULD be done, but the juice ain’t worth the squeeze.

Randy

I'll post pictures on this thread when I have it done.

 

[Broncobowsher]

And the internal handle mechanism is COMPLETELY different.
The '66 will be a pull lever. The '69 is a paddle.

To make the '66 door shells work with '69 guts you need to cut the inner door skin off and the latch hole out then graft in the same from a '69. That is just stupid work. It would be easier to graft '66 door skins onto '69 door shells. Even easier to just move the lock hole on a set of '69 doors. In the end you will still have '69 doors that won't work on your '66 body until you replace the striker on the body with a later model. And it is not a one for one bolt on replacment. To do it right you cut the striker out of the body and put a new one on.

All this because you got the wrong guts for the door. Stop. Sell the '69 door guts and get the proper '66 style door guts. Don't care what it costs, it will cost less and be a better product in the end then trying to use the '69 guts.

 

[AMullow]

And the internal handle mechanism is COMPLETELY different.
The '66 will be a pull lever. The '69 is a paddle.

To make the '66 door shells work with '69 guts you need to cut the inner door skin off and the latch hole out then graft in the same from a '69. That is just stupid work. It would be easier to graft '66 door skins onto '69 door shells. Even easier to just move the lock hole on a set of '69 doors. In the end you will still have '69 doors that won't work on your '66 body until you replace the striker on the body with a later model. And it is not a one for one bolt on replacment. To do it right you cut the striker out of the body and put a new one on.

All this because you got the wrong guts for the door. Stop. Sell the '69 door guts and get the proper '66 style door guts. Don't care what it costs, it will cost less and be a better product in the end then trying to use the '69 guts.

I understand that the rails and regulators are the same. Toms and WildHorses sell the parts I need.
I am buying new:
-66 rods
-66 release actuators
-66 strikers, latches and bushings
Once I have these, I have the same internals as a 66. Am I missing something?

 

[Broncobowsher]

I understand that the rails and regulators are the same. Toms and WildHorses sell the parts I need.
I am buying new:
-66 rods
-66 release actuators
-66 strikers, latches and bushings
Once I have these, I have the same internals as a 66. Am I missing something?

Yes
The handle mechanism (inside) that bolts to the door shell is completely different. Not just the parts, but the bolting to the door part as well.
The bearclaw latch on the door. The only one that fits the '69 door shell is the '69-77 version. The '68 and prior are different, bolt in different, in a different location.

They are the wrong door shells for a '66.

With the exception of a few parts (rails, window regulators) the '66 doors are very different than the '69 doors.

If you want to get into a deep restoration, even the hinges and hardware changed, but they are interchangable.

You are free to try putting the '69 doors on the '66. But very little of the '66 hardware will bolt into that '69 shell.

 

[ngsd]

Could it be done, yes. Would it be worth the effort to modify everything? no

 

[Speedrdr]

And that is why I’ll stick to what I said. The juice just ain’t worth the squeeze. It’s metal and I suppose if you feel like you just HAVE to modify it, that’s definitely your decision.
I know that I don’t have the skills and/or determination to do this particular modification.
Will certainly be interested, @AMullow, to see the pics showing your project.

Randy

 

[AMullow]

Could it be done, yes. Would it be worth the effort to modify everything? no

So am I hearing that most people would just stick with a later door on a 66? @Speedrdr ?

 

[ngsd]

You have the right doors you just need to scrap those donors and buy the latches rods, handles and striker. All can be found new but not cheap to rebuild a whole door.

 

[AMullow]

You have the right doors you just need to scrap those donors and buy the latches rods, handles and striker. All can be found new but not cheap to rebuild a whole door.

For sure. That's what I'll be doing. I'll post photos when done.

 

[Speedrdr]

So am I hearing that most people would just stick with a later door on a 66? @Speedrdr ?

As said by @ngsd said, just get the right guts for your doors. Yeah, it’s probably a lot more than internals for later model doors, but it’s a matter of replacing parts and not having to change parts and re-skinning doors and all that goes with a “Franken-door.

Randy

 

[AMullow]

As said by @ngsd said, just get the right guts for your doors. Yeah, it’s probably a lot more than internals for later model doors, but it’s a matter of replacing parts and not having to change parts and re-skinning doors and all that goes with a “Franken-door.

Randy

I'll be using 66 internals and will let you know how it goes here with some photos. I don't think it'll be an issue.

 

[Speedrdr]

I'll be using 66 internals and will let you know how it goes here with some photos. I don't think it'll be an issue.

Following your thread….AND looking for the pics. If you haven’t already started taking current door internals out, consider taking lots of pics so if something (life) happens to interrupt your progress you’ll have reference pics to help you.

Randy

 

[AMullow]

Following your thread….AND looking for the pics. If you haven’t already started taking current door internals out, consider taking lots of pics so if something (life) happens to interrupt your progress you’ll have reference pics to help you.

Randy

Well, I'm actually going to keep my old doors as-is and use them as a reference when putting these together.
I'm purchasing all new 66 internals from North East, and have chatted with Nick about what's needed. I'm going to go with all 66 oem internals....just to be safe. Doesn't seem too complicated but I will soon find out.

 

[m_m70]

So am I hearing that most people would just stick with a later door on a 66? @Speedrdr ?

No. you are not hearing that. Most people would stick with the door that works. The later door will not work with the '66 internals.

 

[Speedrdr]

No, sir, not saying that. I’m just saying if you have a door that’s NOT a 66 that works, rebuild that door with the guts for the appropriate year door. If you want a 66 correct door, get a 66 door and don’t try and make a frankendoor with a 66 skin. That’s where I was trying to go, even if it wasn’t elegantly worded.

Randy