Many guys have asked what is "Truely" involved in a "Bolt-On" Vertical Door Install, so I thought I'd answer some of the questions and put together basically what it's all about.

Needed -
-2 People (You can't do parts of this alone)
-Socket Set with extensions
-Screwdrivers
-Trim Removal tool...(Not Neccesary, but helps)
-Jack and Stands
-Metal Cutter Tool of your choice

1. Open Doors and remove both interior door panels (Pop off door handle cover and remove two long screws, also use a VERY small screwdriver and pop open the little panel hidden behind the door opening handle open and remove that screw) Once all three screws are removed, start on the bottom outside of the panel and pull around the edges to pop it off... disconnect the wiring harnesses on each side and set the panels aside.

2. Reach in and disconnect with inner door wiring from the holders to free up significant slack of wiring inside the door.

3. Open the door completely and remove the door retainer. (The little black thing that lets the door only open so far. Three 10 mm bolts hold this on, then it drops into the door frame for you to grab and remove it.

4. Cut the rubber wire cover coming from the door to the car in the middle, to allow that piece to stay in place, yet open up as the door is lifted

5. With the door open slightly, remove the two screws that hold the side skirt on in the front of the car and pop only the forward section of the skirt out and down slightly to gain access to the lowest mounted fender bolt.

6. Shut the door and use blue painters tape to tape the door up, running the tape from the window up over the sunroof glass area... to hold the door in place once the hinges are disconnected.

7. Remove the front bumper (Pretty easy, is just a few bolts and popclips) see other guides if you haven't done this yourself already)

8. Unscrew the outermost headlamp holding screws

9. Remove all the plastic clips that hold the plastic fenderliner to the fenders themselves.... the bottom two (Near the sideskirt) are tough, so be careful, you just need to use two flatheads and push from each side to unclip them and allow them to come out.

10. Remove all the 10mm bolts holding the fender on. I believe there are 7, including the headlamp screw (The three hardest to find are the one behind the little plastic cover in front of the mirrors, which just pops off, the one behind the side skirts, which you should be able to see, and the hardest one to find... in the wheel well area, behind a plastic protective panel, right where the hinges are from the inside of the wheel well.

11. Pull the fender off.

12. Remove the stock hinges (I believe they are 13mm bolts)

13. Install the Vertical Hinges and bolt them onto the door and car frame securely.

14. Undo the door tape and allow the door to swing open CAREFULLY, it will be saggy and need adjustment LATER

15. Have someone lift the door up (Being VERY carefull to watch the wiring inside/outside the door and be sure it doesn't stretch too tight) and install the strut per instructions.

16. Have someone lower the door and use the allen adjustments for door height and outward door travel, to ensure the door is aligned correctly height wise and doesn't travel out further than neccisary. It should be snug against the holder when lifted.

17. Once the door is aligned, close it securely and temporarily set the front fender on and mark where you need to cut the interior of the fender to allow full travel of the vertical hinges.

18. Set the fender on a soft work surface and use a cutter to trim the interior portion of the front fender to ensure proper travel of the hinge. Test fit the fender a few times and check travel of the door to ensure it will work well.

19. Reinstall the front fender and tighten down all 10mm bolts and headlamp screw

20. Test run the door a few more times to ensure proper travel, make adjustments if neccesary

21. Re connect the fender liner to the fender with the plastic pop clips.

22. Repeat steps 8-21 for the other side

23. Replace the front bumper

24. Wrap the wiring now outside of the door with electrical tape and reinstall the interior door panel.


You should be good to go.... Realise that this is the simple instructions, as I didn't have time to go into too much more detail with pics, but it is pretty straightforward, except for the scary aspect of cutting the interior portion of the front fenders for clearance, which is a little nerve racking.

Hope this helps you guys out in your decision to try this yourself.

The hinges I used are from JTAUTOSTYLE.com and are very rugged and secure, along with a longstanding rep in the vertical door business... (They've done MANY MANY different models of cars... they send me a poster with over 50 or so pics of different available models) and will retail for somewhere near the 800-900 range.

Here's a pic mid process for you to check out...

 

So how about the finished product pic?

 

Soon Enough... Waiting to pop them out at the show this weekend. After that, I'll throw a pic or two in my profile and on my Myspace

 

Just put my bumper all back on and nifty... Back to looking stock....

 

Ready for those pics man!

 

I really think the JTAutostyle go up further than the VDI's... but I'll have to really compare pics to be sure....

Let me clean her up and polish/wax her tonight for the show this weekend and I'll try to take a few pics...

 

w0rd

 

Very nice....how much room is there to get in and out of the car?

 

Good when they are lifted, but for a daily driver who's "Larger", not the best idea.. as you wouldn't want to lift them everytime you get in the car.

 

good stuff

 

love the install man.. 2 bad im not much of a lambo door guy but they do look great !

 

I'm not a Vertical Door / Lambo Guy much myself either... but these went really well with the style/look I want to work out... plus looked like a fun install, so I jumped in....

Thanks though!

 

WDS congrats bro... The write sounds like fun, I might have to try this (on someone elses car, different plans with my doors). Look forward to the pics and best of luck to you at the show...

 

Bump.
Just because this write up rocks!

 

Great write up as well, cant wait for those pics to come.

 

Here's some decent pics...

 

Looks good. Any problems after all this time?

 

One strut went out... but they next day air'd me another 2 for free!

Little hickup, but smooth sailing since then!

 

i found my answer

 

Yeah.... Struts will fail... just the life of the deal I guess.... But JT autostyle has a great warranty and took care of me no problee