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Customs Suicide Doors 30 Tudor

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by deansrr, Nov 11, 2020.

  1. deansrr
    Joined: Jul 20, 2011
    Posts: 66

    deansrr
    Member

    Advantages & disadvantages of doing Suicide Doors, 1930 Ford Model A Tudor, Thanks, Dean
     
  2. fastcar1953
    Joined: Oct 23, 2009
    Posts: 4,150

    fastcar1953
    Member

    I wouldn't do it on a 2 door sedan model a . No advantage. Would't look right. Hard to do.
    Why do you want to do it?
     
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  3. deansrr
    Joined: Jul 20, 2011
    Posts: 66

    deansrr
    Member

    I like the look
     
  4. abonecollector
    Joined: Oct 7, 2009
    Posts: 411

    abonecollector
    Member

    suicide doors on a model a body, might really live up to the name. The 28-31 bodies are not built as stout as the 33-34. The door could open up with body flex alone. I've had the door on my rickety 29 tudor open at low speed on a not so smooth road. The B pillar is mostly steel, but the wood is there too, & pretty flexible
     
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  5. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 64,794

    HOTRODPRIMER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Fine for STREET RODS not for a TRADITIONAL HOT ROD! HRP
     
  6. goldmountain
    Joined: Jun 12, 2016
    Posts: 4,864

    goldmountain

    You would also have all the work of making it flush fit I would imagine. From there it would morph into hidden hinges and other such things.
     
  7. amodel25
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 704

    amodel25
    Member

    It would be a lot easier just to drive in reverse....:rolleyes:
     
  8. 31Apickup
    Joined: Nov 8, 2005
    Posts: 3,637

    31Apickup
    Member

    Not a fan of adding suicide doors. Plus the the other issue on Model A’s are the doors overlap the body on the b-pillar, a lot of work refitting them and in the end I don’t think it’d add any value to the car.


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  9. deansrr
    Joined: Jul 20, 2011
    Posts: 66

    deansrr
    Member

    Wood is being replaced by metal, and doots cut to fit body. Just wandering if anyone with Suicide Doors like them or not
     
  10. larry k
    Joined: Feb 23, 2009
    Posts: 626

    larry k
    Member

    I'm the weard ****head that will turn the doors on a 32 ford 3 window around the right way ??? But is just the way I'm made ???
     
  11. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 64,794

    HOTRODPRIMER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I knew one guy that slicked up a '29 tudor sedan, he chopped the top 4" and made the door suicide back in the 80s, he flush mounted the doors and used hidden hinges.

    I spent a lot of time and money trying to make it different, he drove it a few months and found getting in and out was a pain in the ****.

    Having to back in and it being chopped didn't bode well for a man the was over 6 foot tall and 240 lbs, he sold the car and bought another 29 sedan and built a traditional hot rod, he also lost 40 lbs.

    He has kept the car for almost 38 years.

    It's your car, build it the way you want, Have you got the car rolling yet? HRP
     
  12. mr57
    Joined: Jun 3, 2002
    Posts: 2,212

    mr57
    Member

    Buddy of mine did that to an A years ago. Used a set of Es*** hinges and was a lot of work. Looked okay but with the exposed hinges didn't look 'right'
     
  13. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 24,957

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    not sure why anyone would want suicide doors on any car that did not come with them.
     
  14. A Boner
    Joined: Dec 25, 2004
    Posts: 8,162

    A Boner
    Member

    ^^^^This!
    So you can leave the door open at cruise nights and show everyone how you wasted your time!
     
  15. warbird1
    Joined: Jan 3, 2015
    Posts: 1,354

    warbird1
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Just be sure to hang on to the door real tight when it pops open... ;)
     
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  16. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 24,957

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    I prefer Lambo doors on 30's cars myself.
     
  17. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 15,337

    Budget36
    Member

    I often wonder why someone would put a brand X grill in a brand Y car.
     
  18. mad mikey
    Joined: Dec 22, 2013
    Posts: 9,440

    mad mikey
    Member

    Don't do suicide doors on a Model A, that's just wrong.
     
  19. lostone
    Joined: Oct 13, 2013
    Posts: 3,615

    lostone
    Member
    from kansas

    I started this on my 31 tudor, I cut the lower rail and moved the body back 3/4" of an inch. This gave me the ability to flush fit the doors.

    Next was the top of the doors, since I was going to chop the top anyway I just took out the needed 5/8" out of the top of the doors to flush them with the roof too.

    Next I swapped the doors side to side to see about just turning doors around and with a little work it seemed very feasible.

    At this point all I needed to do was put steel into the B pillars to support the doors and move the cowl hinges to the B pillars.

    Once I got the door flush figured out and almost done now I haven't revisited the B pillar metal supports or swapping hinges to the back.

    As much trouble as my twisted body is giving me I'm not sure I'll do it now.

    Don't pay attention to the nay sayers, look people are using 32 grilles on them along with pinched 32 frames and 32 front roof header panels so whats the big deal if you suicide the doors like a 32?
     
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  20. I suicided the doors on a 40 Ford coupe once. Typical early 90s street rod.
    This is my opinion........
    “The end result isn’t worth the effort”
    Meaning, I would rather spend that time doing something else to the car that benefits the car more.
    The other issue is latches. Factory ford latches **** for suicide doors. If you do this, use better latches.
    And think about a safety latch
    Honestly, if I were to do it, I would consider using the factory hinges. I kinda like seeing the hinges.
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2020
    VANDENPLAS, mad mikey and dana barlow like this.
  21. dana barlow
    Joined: May 30, 2006
    Posts: 5,436

    dana barlow
    Member
    from Miami Fla.

    So you say"Like the look",funny thing about "Like the look" is if you do,your not really ready to be told how bad it looks ,on the car your asking about,nether is it likely you'd understand it's a fade thing for the most part,mostly done just to get points from a show sheet to start with. Were ya got point for the number of mods,not for how well it looks***So that on a car it didn't come that way,is putting your time an $ in a bad mod. May not of helped!
    It's your car,so do as ya like,but you did asked.
     
  22. fastcar1953
    Joined: Oct 23, 2009
    Posts: 4,150

    fastcar1953
    Member

    Some cars they work on some not so much. Have you seen a 2 door sedan model a with these doors?
     
  23. wheeldog57
    Joined: Dec 6, 2013
    Posts: 3,850

    wheeldog57
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    As stated above, swapping the doors side to side is a good start. The doors lap over the quarter panels so you would need to shorten them or else they will overlap in the front now. I just saw a coupe a couple weeks ago with swapped doors. He shortened the doors abit, new latches, and left the hinges on, looked pretty cool
     
  24. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    Personally, do whatever you want.

    But getting in that car is going to be a pain, especially if you have a back seat. Your door wont be able to open as wide, and will be somewhat blocking the entry.
    The overlap, the reinforcement, the hinge, the latch. Id use my time doing extra nice body work on it instead.

    Though I have a feeling youre shooting for somehing ridiculously low with no back seat and probably not much of a shiny paint job.
     
  25. Kiwi 4d
    Joined: Sep 16, 2006
    Posts: 3,899

    Kiwi 4d
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Bonus points at a high end car show??
    A 32 3W has big doors so entry is super easy , just looking at my sons 28 tudor , nope don’t do it you will get tangled in the steering wheel and smack yourself on the head trying to get in , especially if its chopped. Its a no vote from me.
     
  26. X38
    Joined: Feb 27, 2005
    Posts: 17,498

    X38
    Member

    Why?
     
  27. keith adams
    Joined: Nov 26, 2007
    Posts: 32

    keith adams
    Member

    Why chop, channel, v-8, big tires, 32 grille. Because if you like it, it's fine.
    Rigid frame, suicide latches, swap doors, steel B post, recess doors, hidden hinges.
    If it opens ninety degrees, why is it any harder to get in. Looks good. If it was easy , it wouldn't
    be Hot Roddin.
     
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  28. badshifter
    Joined: Apr 28, 2006
    Posts: 3,630

    badshifter
    Member

    Just shave your door handles, and screw them onto the fronts of the doors.
    You get your suicide door look with none of that annoying work.
     
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  29. 32fenderless
    Joined: Jun 7, 2007
    Posts: 405

    32fenderless
    Member

    I put suicide doors on my model a coupe years ago. I had bought the car from a relative and wanted to make it my own. Swap doors side to side and made hidden hinges. And added a safety lock. It worked, but I regretted doing it as it’s just not model a. Save yourself the work and focus it on another aspect of the car.


    Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
     
    warbird1 likes this.

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