Chevy & GMC Vans

sunset77 wrote:looks good the hinges are a pain I was going to do the hidden hinge deal but my Caddy lights were to deep so I just welded the bottom shut who needs a door away.LOL

Yep thats what I`m doing, just welding the two lower doors closed and gonna loose the last section of my lower bodyline for a nice smooth rear-end.

When I`m towing my jetskiis or dunebuggie, I can`t open them anyway with a hitch attached. The upper door will open electrically using a power seat motor and the long screw drive from a Lexus.

you could leave them functional, except they stay on with magnets... like flip the leaver on the inside, and the doors fall off... but they have to be some heavy duty magnets. cant wait to see it finished

You could weld all three pieces together and make it like a tailgate or do a lambo style door or a hatch back with about a zillion supports or ....

Good work Darren. I knew you were going to do something like this and it looks like a great start to that smooth look you are after. =D>

Hey Merlin, there was an RS Astro in a wrecking yard overhere last weekend. Maybe still there if you need parts.

I'm late to the show... but nice work Darren!

Darren, where is that yard? Can you send me the name, address, and maybe the phone number? Do they have a web site? I do need a few things, mostly small stuff, but a few large too. The few yards that are up here think everything is gold and they don't like to let you pull the parts so they charge even more. Only two that I know of here that let you pull your own stuff and they still charge too much. Not much in the way of Astros in them either. The few there are pretty much stripped or junk. Thanks for thinking of me. Later.
Thanks for the info and the phone call Darren.

No Problem Merlin.

Some more progress.

Made the 3inch wide strips of sheet metal to cover the lower bodyline and the gap at the bottom of the door plus at the same time meet with the top edge of the roll pan, and tacked them in.








Next I cut some 5mm flat stock to weld into all the gaps around the doors and some scrap metal to fill the lower hinge holes, gonna fab up some plates to fill the upper hinge holes tomorrow.

I don't know why I haven't commented on this before now, But that's gonna look sick when it's done!

I've seen several pics of your ride before, but I have never noticed before today, that your hitch was hidden behind the vehicle tag. I've been contemplating that in some fashion or another, but I've been hesitant to ditch the bumper (the bumper has already proven to be pretty useful once before). Did you ever do a write up on that? Perhaps on the old site?

I am trying to build the smoooth-est rear end, ever seen on an Astro......

But, Don`t get this topic "twisted" Petey.... Because I know how your warped mind works...... !

Now I get crap for stuff I'm possibly gonna say?

Oh the injustice, huh Petey?

Or you could combine the dutch door top/barn bottoms and add a 2005 truck tailgate?

That's a unique look, I like it!