Just got my Vertical Door Kit in.
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T-88 FD
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Dallas, TX
Just got my Vertical Door Kit in.
I just got the kit in from Verticaldoors.com and wanted to post pics of the kit before it goes on the FD.
Enjoy.
Pic.1 The door Hinge itself
Pic 2 The shock
Pic 3 The hinge opened u, as if the door was open( the top part being bolted to the door)
Pic 4 Th complete kit
Enjoy.
Pic.1 The door Hinge itself
Pic 2 The shock
Pic 3 The hinge opened u, as if the door was open( the top part being bolted to the door)
Pic 4 Th complete kit
Last edited by Brian_93; Oct 28, 2004 at 03:32 PM.
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From: Dallas
Those parts look awful flimsy considering there is not much material in the hinge itself and when the doors are open they will easily twist.
On a side note does anyone have an idea what kind of crashworthiness these hinges have? In a side impact I would expect the door to more easily fail and enter the passenger compartment than it would with the stout stock hinges and pins.
On a side note does anyone have an idea what kind of crashworthiness these hinges have? In a side impact I would expect the door to more easily fail and enter the passenger compartment than it would with the stout stock hinges and pins.
Last edited by DamonB; Oct 28, 2004 at 03:37 PM.
Thread Starter
T-88 FD
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Dallas, TX
My body shop will be doing the install this weekend , just waiting on the car back from tuning.
I think these hinges should hold up , but I might have my frame man , weld up some spots to reinforce the hinges. ( that was he thought)
The hinges bolt up to the post of the car. If you have done frame work, this is thre strongest part of the car in most cases, due to the fact more the 10 piceces of metal meet and combine here. I would think it would even reinforce it more .
I think these hinges should hold up , but I might have my frame man , weld up some spots to reinforce the hinges. ( that was he thought)
The hinges bolt up to the post of the car. If you have done frame work, this is thre strongest part of the car in most cases, due to the fact more the 10 piceces of metal meet and combine here. I would think it would even reinforce it more .
Last edited by Brian_93; Oct 28, 2004 at 03:41 PM.
Originally Posted by DamonB
Those parts look awful flimsy considering there is not much material in the hinge itself and when the doors are open they will easily twist.
On a side note does anyone have an idea what kind of crashworthiness these hinges have? In a side impact I would expect the door to more easily fail and enter the passenger compartment than it would with the stout stock hinges and pins.
On a side note does anyone have an idea what kind of crashworthiness these hinges have? In a side impact I would expect the door to more easily fail and enter the passenger compartment than it would with the stout stock hinges and pins.
Granted, the stock door hinges are strong (I've seen them remain intact w/ a door pulled forward...actually bending the frame, but not the hinge). But I don't think they're bulletproof, either. I also don't understand why you'd think a side impact would change anything. The doors close just like stock, and if anything, I'd think the added weight and sturdyness of the large vertical door hinge would take a hit better than the stockers. But in actuality, all this is pure speculation. It's not gonna get anywhere, unless someone wants to volunteer their car for side impacts
I'll tell you though, I don't have any worries w/ driving around w/ the hinges. If you believe I should have reason to worry, please do share (and explain).Thanks
~Ramy
PS: Oh and Brian, congrats on the doors
Last edited by FDNewbie; Oct 28, 2004 at 03:52 PM.
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Originally Posted by FDNewbie
Damon, isn't that a wee bit too much info to gather from simply *looking* at the pic?
As for side impact imagine the door buckling in the middle as it is struck. Absolutely the firewall and A-pillar are two of the strongest structures in the entire car but the door is no longer solidly fastened to them with this hinge. Every bit of the load between the door itself and the A-pillar is only supported at a single point by the small assembly in green. The rest of the bracketry is just there to reach the factory mounting locations and has absolutely zilch to do with structural integrity.
Ignore all that nice thick plate as structurally it accounts for nothing. The entire system can be simplified down to the single joint circled in green.
Originally Posted by FDNewbie
Granted, the stock door hinges are strong (I've seen them remain intact w/ a door pulled forward...actually bending the frame, but not the hinge). But I don't think they're bulletproof, either.
Last edited by DamonB; Oct 28, 2004 at 04:08 PM.
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Originally Posted by Fatman0203
How much does each side weigh?
Damon, thanks for the enlightenment. Basically the chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, right?
Now you got me paranoid LOL.Do you have the hinges, or you just had that pic handy?? Also, there's no changing/improving upon this problem, is there?
EDIT: Oops...I just saw that was one of the original pics lol. Don't mind me.
I'm a CF and poop smith
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Hawaii
as for looks, i really do like it but for functionality and/or or use, i just dont personnaly like them. its hard enough to get in and out as is but with the sissor doors, its just so much harder. i guess its ok if its your race car and you hardly get in and out but remember, you really dont wanna use these for race as if you flip, you will have quite a hard time getting out... they open up and if you happen to land upside down its gonna be fairly hard on you and/or emergency personal to get you out without possibly tweeking your neck.
if your doing this for show, i say its a good choice! everybody always likes to see something different. especially if you can get it to closed flush like stock (something i hardly ever see!).
if your doing this for show, i say its a good choice! everybody always likes to see something different. especially if you can get it to closed flush like stock (something i hardly ever see!).
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Originally Posted by FDNewbie
33lbs a side, = 66lbs total
Damon, thanks for the enlightenment. Basically the chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, right?
Damon, thanks for the enlightenment. Basically the chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, right?
Originally Posted by skunks
as for looks, i really do like it but for functionality and/or or use, i just dont personnaly like them. its hard enough to get in and out as is but with the sissor doors, its just so much harder. i guess its ok if its your race car and you hardly get in and out but remember, you really dont wanna use these for race as if you flip, you will have quite a hard time getting out... they open up and if you happen to land upside down its gonna be fairly hard on you and/or emergency personal to get you out without possibly tweeking your neck.
if your doing this for show, i say its a good choice! everybody always likes to see something different. especially if you can get it to closed flush like stock (something i hardly ever see!).
if your doing this for show, i say its a good choice! everybody always likes to see something different. especially if you can get it to closed flush like stock (something i hardly ever see!).
As for entry and exit w/ the door up vertically, it's actually easier than stock, at least for me. You have a LOT more lateral room to play w/. Look at the pic below, for example. BUT, you're def. right, this is a show mod. That's pretty much all it is. The only other functionality (other than ease of getting in an out, IMO) is the ability to park on corner spots or VERY VERY close to a wall, and still have lots of room to get in an out of. I do this a lot say if I park in a garage structure, and wanna make sure the guy next to me doesn't ding my doors. I'll park next to the wall, as close to it as possible. And since the door opens vertically, I need minimal lateral room for the door, and getting in and out is very easy. Good stuff.
As for the doors not closing flush like stock, I've said it once (many times actually) and I'll say it YET again. The doors close PERFECTLY like stock, IF INSTALLED PROPERLY. A lot of ppl like to wing it and try installing the doors themselves...or body shops simply get tired of working on the doors, and do a half-*** job. My guy spent over 100 hours installing my doors, but that included making modifications to the actual VerticalDoors.com prototype, which they then corrected, and sent us back in a new hinge kit. Point is tho, it took lots and lots of time, and because of that, my doors have never had to be readjusted (9 months and going strong), close perfectly like stock, and STILL retain the factory air-tight seal when closed w/ the windows up
Last edited by FDNewbie; Oct 28, 2004 at 04:34 PM.
Originally Posted by DamonB
Right. The red in this diagram shows how the door transmits force into the structure and where the structure can support the door. Obviously if all you're worried about is opening and closing the door it's no big deal. Personally I don't want to sit behind the scissor hinge everyday.
Hey Damon...you ever seen those Feed fender braces? I wonder if something like that could be incorporated, but to extend as to hold the BASE of the bracket?
I'm a CF and poop smith
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,957
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From: Hawaii
Originally Posted by FDNewbie
Skunks, I'm 6", 220lbs, and I can squeeze thru the opening when the door is open out and not vertically. I actually am very happy I can, cuz sometimes I have enough ppl staring at the car as it is, and I REALLY don't feel like getting added attention, so I don't wanna open the door vertically. So point being, it's VERY doable.
As for entry and exit w/ the door up vertically, it's actually easier than stock, at least for me. You have a LOT more lateral room to play w/. Look at the pic below, for example. BUT, you're def. right, this is a show mod. That's pretty much all it is. The only other functionality (other than ease of getting in an out, IMO) is the ability to park on corner spots or VERY VERY close to a wall, and still have lots of room to get in an out of. I do this a lot say if I park in a garage structure, and wanna make sure the guy next to me doesn't ding my doors. I'll park next to the wall, as close to it as possible. And since the door opens vertically, I need minimal lateral room for the door, and getting in and out is very easy. Good stuff.
As for the doors not closing flush like stock, I've said it once (many times actually) and I'll say it YET again. The doors close PERFECTLY like stock, IF INSALLED PROPERLY. A lot of ppl like to wing it and try installing the doors themselves...or body shops simply get tired of working on the doors, and do a half-*** job. My guy spent over 100 hours installing my doors, but that included making modifications to the actual VerticalDoors.com prototype, which they then corrected, and sent us back in a new hinge kit. Point is tho, it took lots and lots of time, and because of that, my doors have never had to be readjusted (9 months and going strong), close perfectly like stock, and STILL retain the factory air-tight seal when closed w/ the windows up
As for entry and exit w/ the door up vertically, it's actually easier than stock, at least for me. You have a LOT more lateral room to play w/. Look at the pic below, for example. BUT, you're def. right, this is a show mod. That's pretty much all it is. The only other functionality (other than ease of getting in an out, IMO) is the ability to park on corner spots or VERY VERY close to a wall, and still have lots of room to get in an out of. I do this a lot say if I park in a garage structure, and wanna make sure the guy next to me doesn't ding my doors. I'll park next to the wall, as close to it as possible. And since the door opens vertically, I need minimal lateral room for the door, and getting in and out is very easy. Good stuff.
As for the doors not closing flush like stock, I've said it once (many times actually) and I'll say it YET again. The doors close PERFECTLY like stock, IF INSALLED PROPERLY. A lot of ppl like to wing it and try installing the doors themselves...or body shops simply get tired of working on the doors, and do a half-*** job. My guy spent over 100 hours installing my doors, but that included making modifications to the actual VerticalDoors.com prototype, which they then corrected, and sent us back in a new hinge kit. Point is tho, it took lots and lots of time, and because of that, my doors have never had to be readjusted (9 months and going strong), close perfectly like stock, and STILL retain the factory air-tight seal when closed w/ the windows up
personnaly, i can and have gotten in and out of a fd when parked next to another car which was about only 5-6 inches away from my car but its not like i would want to do that every day, every time i get in and out of my car 
Originally Posted by skunks
im 5'7" at ~170lbs and find it much harder to get in and out. i guess you are more flexible then me or something. take a vid of how you do it personnaly, i can and have gotten in and out of a fd when parked next to another car which was about only 5-6 inches away from my car but its not like i would want to do that every day, every time i get in and out of my car
personnaly, i can and have gotten in and out of a fd when parked next to another car which was about only 5-6 inches away from my car but its not like i would want to do that every day, every time i get in and out of my car 
Just kidding man.Yea honestly, here's the weird part. There IS a technique to it lol...ie, an angle you gotta do it at haha. I think I'm a bit overdue for a video of me opening and closing the doors too! lol. I'll get to it...
