Door interchangibility
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Door interchangibility
I have an 86 with power windows and locks, and i am looking for a new set of doors due to rust. I found a nice rust free set of doors from a 96 that have power options. Would they work on my truck? would the switches plug in? WHat about body lines? I also found another set from an 86 but without power options? Is it hard to swap out the innards? Thanks, let me know!
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There are minor differences between the doors starting in 87. I believe someone said the vent window area is different? But, the whole door will bolt on in place of the earlier door.
The wiring for the electric windows and stuff is not going to plug into any wiring on your old truck. You will have to get the rest of the wiring that leads to the fuse box and plug it in. A guy in the elec forum just got done plugging in a 86 electric door into a 80 without elec. He had to unbolt the fuse panel and plug in the wiring, but it worked ok for him.
The wiring for the electric windows and stuff is not going to plug into any wiring on your old truck. You will have to get the rest of the wiring that leads to the fuse box and plug it in. A guy in the elec forum just got done plugging in a 86 electric door into a 80 without elec. He had to unbolt the fuse panel and plug in the wiring, but it worked ok for him.
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as far as the wiring goes, wouldnt i be able to just splice the wires coming from the new doors to the corresponding wires? Im sure that could be done. Also i forgot to ask, would my door panel from the 86 go on newer door? I was able to tell the wing window difference, but like you said that does matter because it is contained in the door
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The door panels all interchange. I have 91 doors on my 84 if you'd like to take a look at my gallery.
The vent windows are shaped different, but they seal better.
Another thing to note is the mirror mount holes. They are different too, but you can just use the later mirrors also. That's what I did and while not "period correct", you wouldn't even notice unless you were looking for it.
BTW: I wouldn't splice the wires. That's a hack job IMO
The vent windows are shaped different, but they seal better.
Another thing to note is the mirror mount holes. They are different too, but you can just use the later mirrors also. That's what I did and while not "period correct", you wouldn't even notice unless you were looking for it.
BTW: I wouldn't splice the wires. That's a hack job IMO
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Suffolk, VA USA
The vent windows are different starting in 92. The 92+ doors have an additional lower door line. As Stosh pointed out, the mirror mounts are different. And the wiring will be different, but in typical Ford fashion it will still be a plug and play harness that ultimately will only need to be wired into the large blue wire just above the fusebox in your 86. So it's not a huge lift if you use the 96 setup as long as you get the power window harness also. Even better, wire the system in with relays and really improve performance.
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Instead of sending all of that current for the motors through the switches, they are just used to trigger a 20 or 30 amp relay.
It'll save your switches from burning up prematurely and they are designed to handle the current repeatedly.
It'll save your switches from burning up prematurely and they are designed to handle the current repeatedly.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Kuna ID
In order to put your old door panels on the newer doors, you will have to transfer the armrest support bracket from your old doors to the new ones. The holes for the old style bracket will still be in the new door so you can just bolt them on. The new brackets are riveted on so you will have to drill or grind to get them off.
When I added PW/PL from a newer truck onto mine, I ran a wire straight from the battery to an extra 6 position fuse block I mounted under the dash. I used 30 amp circuit breakers for the locks and windows. It also gave me an easy spot to wire in my CB and my trailer brake controller.
When I added PW/PL from a newer truck onto mine, I ran a wire straight from the battery to an extra 6 position fuse block I mounted under the dash. I used 30 amp circuit breakers for the locks and windows. It also gave me an easy spot to wire in my CB and my trailer brake controller.
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In 1987-1991's as well. The vent window frame is wider, and the door windows are slightly narrower because of it.
Correct, but it is cosmetic only.
You can also swap the guts out of the 1986 doors, and put them in the newer doors, without too much problem. The window motors are the same 1980-1996 so all you would have to really do is swap the door windows, and vent window frames, and use the door harness from the 1986, then use the 1986 door panels and switches.
You will need to move the armrest bracket, but the hole is already provided because they use the same doors for the 1980-1999 F-series medium duty trucks, F-500 to F-900, and they use the same door panels as the 1980-1986.
Hope this helps.
The 92+ doors have an additional lower door line.
As Stosh pointed out, the mirror mounts are different. And the wiring will be different, but in typical Ford fashion it will still be a plug and play harness that ultimately will only need to be wired into the large blue wire just above the fusebox in your 86. So it's not a huge lift if you use the 96 setup as long as you get the power window harness also. Even better, wire the system in with relays and really improve performance.
You will need to move the armrest bracket, but the hole is already provided because they use the same doors for the 1980-1999 F-series medium duty trucks, F-500 to F-900, and they use the same door panels as the 1980-1986.
Hope this helps.
Posting Guru
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From: Suffolk, VA USA
Stosh hit the nail on the head about the relay conversion....bottom line is they will work faster and last longer...
I don't have time to do a wiring diagram for the relays right now, but I'll get to it. We've been a little busy here in Suffolk this week. The tornado missed my wife and I by about a mile, but a some of our friends were completely wiped out. I've been pretty busy running work parties to help sift through the debris trying to find personal effects. It's been an experience.
I don't have time to do a wiring diagram for the relays right now, but I'll get to it. We've been a little busy here in Suffolk this week. The tornado missed my wife and I by about a mile, but a some of our friends were completely wiped out. I've been pretty busy running work parties to help sift through the debris trying to find personal effects. It's been an experience.
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: North Georgia
you did mention in your first post you could get a set of 86 model doors with the manual options. I would go that route and just put your stuff into them. It is not that hard just grind off a few rivits and bolt your stuff in with some case hardened bolts. I have a 86 crew cab that had the manual set up that I changed to all auto and it was a breeze. Just another way to go and probably the easyest as well. Scott
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