A proper conversion Mk3/4 to Mk1

[gs.davies]

A long discussion was had today about exactly what is involved in getting a Mk1 door to fit in the Mk3 onwards door aperture. Apart from the B-Pillar differences and the obvious A Post arrangement, what is the other difference?

From what I can see it seems that the Mk1 door is slightly shorter overall, suggesting that there's more steel between the top of the door frame and the bottom of the drip rail. If that's correct, is it true then that the Mk3 rear windows won't fit as they're taller too?

What really made me think of this was the amount of Mk2's I saw today - all of which have the later non-piano hinged rear side window. Or are they a different dimension still compared to the Mk3 onward type?

If it were possible to obtain a b-pillar from a donor Mk1 type shell, what else would need to be done to get a Mk1 door in?

[1071 S]

I suppose you could just replace everything between the front and rear seams....

New A pillar, new A panel (to support the Mk I hinges), new B pillar, new bottom to the door aperture. And then there's a new top for the side panel ( as you are identified there's more metal above the door).. and I suppose the rail/internal structure that supports the roof is probably different...

Or, you could just modify the later door to take the (custom made, larger) sliding glass panels, fit external hinges and round off the front bottom corner of the door and aperture to resemble the Mk I style. I' have seen that done on a Cabriolet fitted with external hinges....

Cheers, Ian

[Dr S]

I'm pretty certain that the mk2 body side is basically the same as the mk1. So you'd be dealing with changing that window aperture as well.

It's a big old job! We had a measure up in the workshop and it appears that the dashrail in the mk1/2 is about 1/2 inch shorter than the mk3. This means fitting the new a panels and posts in going to be non trivial as well.

Think I'd try and fit the stiffeners for the inner a panel to the back of the mk3 a panel and then fit the hinges with a sliding window kit in the door.

Should do the trick from 10 yds

[rich@minispares.com]

most mark 2's dont have piano hinge windows though, they used the little hinges, so a mk3 three window is taller.

[Daz1968]

you may hit problems if you have an accident as the later doors have anti burst door catches and retro fitting older ones may cause problems with type approval and insurance so look into it carefully

[WMU 211G]

I suppose it depends on how far you really want to go - are you going ot modify the rear panel to make the smaller Mk1 rear screen fit...?

[rich@minispares.com]

I suppose it depends on how far you really want to go - are you going ot modify the rear panel to make the smaller Mk1 rear screen fit...?

that's actually a very easy conversion, far easier than converting the sides to accept mk1 doors and side windows!

[WMU 211G]

'Fill in' the aprture or replace with a new Mk1 panel...?

Nice