suicide back doors

**D-Man** · 20-07-2009, 12:58 PM

so i want to get suicide doors for my rear doors.
i have a vt calais 99 series 2..

i havent really researched much yet (still at work :/)

so just putting it out there if anyone has any:

info on how to do it?
info on who can do it in melb?
run through guides etc?
or if there is a thread already on this.. (had a quick look but didnt find anything.)

cheers guys

**Ozzie** · 20-07-2009, 03:32 PM

Basically you need to swap the hinges and latches to the opposite sides of the door.

Its not rocket science.

**Rav3n616** · 20-07-2009, 03:39 PM

only trouble you really run into when doing a suicide conversion is moving the door handles to the opposite side of the door, but again its just a cut out and move job, as for fixing up the door after ur done, thats a bit of a pain in the ass, you know what you have to do tho eh?

**Ozzie** · 20-07-2009, 03:42 PM

Yeah an easier alternative that looks just as good are scissor doors that open upward.

**phatvtcom** · 20-07-2009, 03:47 PM

why bother??

**acarmody** · 20-07-2009, 04:11 PM

I actually had to look up what the hell suicide doors are, and all I can say is they are totally crap. Look terrible, and are well named, would be social suicide to put these on your car.

**lout** · 20-07-2009, 04:22 PM

you would never get engineering approval to do that, so basically you would spend a fortune to build a car that first time a cop saw it would get you a canary and you would never be able to resell. If you ever had an accident you would be paying for it forever

**Junny** · 20-07-2009, 04:25 PM

RX8 look sick with them.... iuno about a commy

**phatvtcom** · 20-07-2009, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by Junny

RX8 look sick with them.... iuno about a commy

Second that, its just not meant to be.

**D-Man** · 20-07-2009, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by Rav3n616

only trouble you really run into when doing a suicide conversion is moving the door handles to the opposite side of the door, but again its just a cut out and move job, as for fixing up the door after ur done, thats a bit of a pain in the ass, you know what you have to do tho eh?

yea i'd need to patch it all up again :/ but not hard to do..

**D-Man** · 20-07-2009, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by lout

you would never get engineering approval to do that, so basically you would spend a fortune to build a car that first time a cop saw it would get you a canary and you would never be able to resell. If you ever had an accident you would be paying for it forever

why are you so certain that i will not get approval for them...

other cars have them.. as long as the job is done well, and is structurally sound then there will be no issue getting an engi cert...

and basically every post in here is absolutely useless to me.. i didnt ask wether they look good.... please read initial post

raven and half of ozzie's first post :P are useful... cheers guys.

**Trayner** · 20-07-2009, 08:18 PM

Would look allright , Did a bit of a google search and found this site for yah with a little bit of info
Street Dreams Suicide Door Conversion Page

**jazza15** · 20-07-2009, 08:57 PM

I was initially thinking what everyone else was thinking - suicide doors are a crap idea on Commodores.
But then I noticed how many people have actually agreed with the idea, compared to those who don't and I now say go for it, because it will be a mod that is unique, not something that everyone has on their commodores and judging by the difficulty of it, not something that a whole lot of them will be rushing out and getting soon.
One problem that i have thought of that you might run into during testing/development, if you chose to do it yourself is the door fouling out into your rear quarter panel. The same as if you took the door striker off your door now.
Take plenty of pictures if/when you do the job, so that the small amount of us can enjoy the developments.

**D-Man** · 20-07-2009, 09:35 PM

im more or less just looking into it now,
i definately want to get them, but it's a matter of priority making sure everything is in order before i spend on things like this. it will im thinking be about 4 - 6 months before i start.

just getting in early

and big Cheers for that site Trayner.. gives me a real good idea on how it all goes

now i just have to find an Aussie supplier ! yay. more fun.

**Zeussy** · 20-07-2009, 10:19 PM

Check out a few of the minitruckers websites, etc, chop shop at gosford, new south wales have done a few, old school caddy, (I think) a few trucks etc..

Basically you need to strengthen up the rear end of the door, add in sheet metal to help take some of the strain of hanging the door off the other end - to whats its made to be.. Strengthen the rear quarter panel heaps.. (where the hinges will need to be) over time it will have a tendency to want to sag.. there shouldnt be a problem with it fouling on the rear quater panel, as it opens outwards as well as pivots, not just pivots (if ya get me) its all in the design of the hinges.

And with the shape of the commodore doors, they curve up, like not flat like an RX8 door, or a minitruck ute etc.. so the little research I did on it, I think its best to run one big fat hinge at the top half of the door, because the bottom of the door will be at least 6-8inches away from the rear quarter when in the fully open position..

Google suicide hinges, theres a few suppliers in Aus, maybe have to get it interstate, but you can find them, alternatively, you could manufacture your own, with a bit of research and someone with a metal lathe, its possible...

Good luck mate, and let us know how you go, as I'm looking at doing it down the track, if I dont loose motivation before hand!!

OHHH and speak to an Engineer before you start cutting, lol, all engineers have different things they would like to 'see' done to complete each job to their satisfactory standards..

And I say go for it, as to the "why would you" " that'd look shit" comments like that, why would you do anything to any car... beacuse YOU thought it'd look good, and YOU thought it'd be different, and more importantly because YOU want to!!!

**D-Man** · 20-07-2009, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by zeussy

Google suicide hinges, theres a few suppliers in Aus, maybe have to get it interstate, but you can find them, alternatively, you could manufacture your own, with a bit of research and someone with a metal lathe, its possible...

Good luck mate, and let us know how you go, as I'm looking at doing it down the track, if I dont loose motivation before hand!!

OHHH and speak to an Engineer before you start cutting, lol, all engineers have different things they would like to 'see' done to complete each job to their satisfactory standards..

And I say go for it, as to the "why would you" " that'd look shit" comments like that, why would you do anything to any car... beacuse YOU thought it'd look good, and YOU thought it'd be different, and more importantly because YOU want to!!!

hah yeah cheers man, gosford is a little far i think.. not sure hey.

cheers on the heads up also about strengthening the quarter panel and the door - didnt think about that part...

will definately put up the pics and what not when it goes ahead

**Zeussy** · 20-07-2009, 10:41 PM

They have a website man.. lol, where were you expecting to find some info on it? down the street? lol..
Wasn't expecting you to drive up there just for a chat...

Send them an email, or give them a ring, speak to Laurie.. he's a good bloke.. should give you a slight heads up as to what needs to be done..

Theres also burnin customs, I think they're still around, up in Qld, again, they have a website!

**blky** · 21-07-2009, 01:25 AM

dont forget about reworking the loom for the door!

**D-Man** · 21-07-2009, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by blky

dont forget about reworking the loom for the door!

forgive me for not know what you mean.... please explain a little ?

**Matt_vp** · 21-07-2009, 10:05 AM

He means you will have to change the wiring loom abit since the wiring will come in the back of the door now. No biigy compared to the rest of the mod.
Go for it, make your car the car you want.
Matt

**NVE_069** · 22-07-2009, 03:04 PM

I remeber sing this ages ago for sale but its the front doors.

**D-Man** · 27-07-2009, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by NVE_069

I remeber sing this ages ago for sale but its the front doors.

that looks SICK haha

**ephect** · 27-07-2009, 06:24 PM

first & second pic is lambo front doors and rear gull wings..

trying to find i think it was by-p11g (its a VS), with suicide rear doors..

still searching

EDIT: found it, 3 pics, yes its a VS but gives you an idea anyway