Converting Bi Doors to single..

[Eric]

Our Front door drives me CRAZY! They don't seal for poop there is no simple way to lock them when you are in or away from the bus...my question has anyone ever welded the doors together to make a single "Salon" style door? We are back in central Nebraska and there is a local blacksmith who's REALLY good and i have to say i'm tempted.. Will this work?

[HighTechRedneck]

Gene Lewis has an article on how to do it in the May issue of BCM (current issue).

[Van]

Howdy Eric. Having the double doors was always a pain in the you know what. this is the before and after.

 Before


After welding the doors together




And this is how it looks now


hinges


lock



Tight on funds right now,so I wanted the functionality of a single, with the appearance of a double,

I used 3 commercial SS ball bearing hinges and a surface mount rim cylinder latch lock. Still use the original camlock dead bolt that was used before door conversion. I hope this helps,good luck.  V.


 

[Eric]

HighTechRedneck - I guess there is no better time then the present to subscribe!

Van- Exactly! i was hoping i wasn't alone in the door dilema.are the 5 pieces of iron the only thing holding them together?

Thanks!
Eric

[loosenut]

This thread, http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=13647.0, is about refurbishing a transit bus.  The OP decided to do away with his front door.

Mike

[Van]

Eric, yes the 5 pcs. are it. I actually followed SUNCHASER ART's build, and with the exception of doing a full skin to recover the door (broke right now), tried to make it usable as is,by modifying the center rubber strips to seal the door. On an Eagle, the weakest part of the door( why they never seal right) is the upper portion ( around the glass), so I pre bowed the upper frame slightly to provide a proper seal when closed. After a few test runs down the freeway at speed, I was pleased at how snug the door was, even at 80 mph. I look forward to the artical in the BCM (as well as the issue   ) but here is a link to Art's build site, http://www.webcove.com/eagle/.  Check March 05 for the door build, good luck. V

[zubzub]

I'm wondering if it really fair to force a Bi door to become straight.  Is it really our place to pass judgement on all of the flapping about that a Bi door may do?  I won't even get into the issues around proper sealing. 

[Just Dallas]

Removed

[Van]

 LOL,Once the doors finally saw it my way ( My way or the Bi-way  ), they are swinging straight, and their lips are sealed .

[Eric]

Only in the world of bus nuts 

[NeoplanAN440]

some pics how i changed my AN440 from two bi doors to 1 single!

i used 11/2 thin walled square tube as frame,skinned with 16 gauge steel (i know its a little heavy!!)
door handle is Chevy c/k truck
lock mechanism  VW rabbit
isnside handle  (old suburban door handle)
door linkage Opel GT

so my bus is a mix what i had left from my cars over the time
if you wonder,taillights are rabbit also
i liked the flush look