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Lambo Door Install SkyDoor Kit w/ **pics**
Updates
08/03/2005 I finally got started today at work. We barely had anything to do but I still got interrupted from time to time helping customers. I think I can definitely have the passenger door up and going by tomorrow! It's quite exciting. About the kit: This is a liteglow SkyDoor kit, also known as the GT Factory lambo door kit. This is the hardest kit to install (only comes in "universal" form factor) and generally is only put on show cars. For the consumer looking for a lamborghini door kit we push the VDC (Vertical Doors Conversion), Decah, or AutoLoc kit (motorized). Like I said - the SkyDoor kit is a pain and not worth it for a shop to install on a customers car. The kit is not designed for lowered vehicles or vehicles with 19" or bigger rims on them. However, it is the only kit available that can make the door open a full 90 degrees (so that the door is now perpendicular to the car - in the air). However, I don't think this is going to be possible on the SVX. The clearance between the fender and the frame is not big enough to allow the hinge to open to a position so that the door can raise 90 degrees ............but I'm going to shoot for that 90 degree mark so people know it's NOT a decah or VDC conversion. SVX Concerns: Woah, the SVX sucks. We've done lambo doors (again VDC/Decah kits) on other cars that had GOBS of room in the fender. Now the SVX, different story. ...Hinge Mounting: The actual frame of the car leaves very little room for a hinge to sit on. The Decah kit as well as this SkyDoor kit encroached into the wheel well area. It doesn't look like it will be anything major but the wheel well will have to be slightly modified (looking to cut out the encroached area and fiberglass a bubble like cover. ...Strut Placement: On both the Decah and SkyDoor kit the strut ALSO gets into the wheel well area. The SkyDoor kit is much worse (hence no wheels bigger than 18" and no lowering springs) but both have issues. ...Fender Clearance: You can take a LOT away from the inside of the stock fender but there's still some issues. The VDC/Decah kit will have NO issues with fender clearance (guarenteed). You'll still have to cut away and roll the fender but that's simple. The SkyDoor kit will also fit in the stock fender space. However, my preliminary install leads me to believe that for the SkyDoor kit to open 90degrees the hinge must first open normally about 30-40 degrees (which I don't think is possible with the SVX's clearance ....bummer but we'll see. ...The Door is HEAVY: we'll see how the struts hold up To the pictures: 8/2/2005: Stock door harness boot and wires removed Ghetto door jig. This is important so that the door doesn't shift it's position or sag. you don't have to worry about it falling off because the latch will hold it but this is my car, the door is heavy, and this is not a bolt on kit Hinges removed and the door hasn't moved - thank god. It shifts slightly over time but nothing major. The silicon glue really hold the hinges on there even with no bolts ...impressive stuff Hinges removed, silicon removed, wires removed (except one added to fish them out later) The SkyDoor kit is universal - so this piece is fixed to the door, and then the hinge gets fixed to this piece. I made a template out of wood first so that I can contour it to the SVX's bolt holes. I lined up the two bolts that would fit best to the SkyDoor hinge. The wood is exactly the same shape and size as the metal counterpart. However, the ends have been shaved and holes drilled. The bolts to hold this piece on are temporary. Remember, this is a weld on kit and welds will be added for safety - but this is good to make sure it works. After making a cardboard template, one hole was drilled (the others marked) so as to check position/placement of the lambo hinge. Everything looked on the mark so the rest of the holes could be drilled. Now check out the problems talked about earlier. You can see that there's no much surface area to weld the hinge to on the car. Also you can see how much the hinge encroaches into the wheel well. It looks worse then it really is. It's only about 1/2" at the biggest point All three holes have been drilled into the hinge assembly. The stock hinge is sitting on top The bolt holes are way too close to the inset of the actual moving hinge. The head of the bolt and washers will not be able to sit in the inset so I had to bore out the area around it. Can't really disassemble the hinge for this so I just took the grind wheel to it. Next is that top bolt...same procedure. Of course, why would this be easy Rolling the fender. The hinge has to move up and down and the fender will get in the way. To easily roll it relief cuts were cut and bent in by hand. But before that the guts of the fender have to come out to allow for clearance of the hinge Scraps of metal cut away from the inside of the fender ...guess I just killed some structural integrity but the fender is still solid. The completed fender ...guts removed and fender rolled (by hand of course ...with some dowel assistance) The metal piece is ready to be cut to the proper shape. The wooden template is aligned on top and the metal is marked to be cut and drilled Metal door plate fixed to the door and hinge mounted to the car. The struts were placed on the hinge to check the best way to mount these bad boys Another look at the struts ...note - that's not going to be their position ....right there they're just resting on the plastic wheel well. The welding begins tomorrow. Time to affix the hinge to the metal door plate ....The end for the day ...not bad for about 4-6 hours of work on it so far. I should have this door up and going tomorrow and god knows when I can start the driver one....hopefully we don't have a busy week. But yeah - the SkyDoor kit is not for everyone ...not for anyone really. Hope you enjoyed the show!
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Mike - Proud owner of a Pearl 92 SVX LS-L 5MT with 78k miles and climbing 5-Speed Status: DONE! Lambo Door Status: On hold but will be a success 04 WRX 5MT, STi Short Throw Shifter, Group N tranny mounts, AZA Z-2 18x7.5 Rims, slotted/cross drilled rotors, stainless steel lines, 35/20% window tint, ecu bead crush, power mode button; 7" In-dash touch screen LCD, mobile computer, voice recognition, alpine PXA-H701 DSP, 2 JBL amps, focal speakers all around, 5 farad cap, and fiberglassed subs in the trunk. The Mobile Computer Interface - featuring the SVX | My Locker | My Secret Stash Last edited by rmjjensen; 08-03-2005 at 09:55 PM. |
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Mike,
Very nice! Can't wait to see the finished product! -Bill
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Retired NASA Rocket Scientist Most famous NASA "Child" - OSIRIS-REx delivered samples from asteroid BENNU to Earth in Sept. 2023 Center Network Member #989 '92 Fully caged, 5 speed, waiting for its fully built EG33 '92 "Test Mule", 4:44 Auto, JDM 4:44 Rear Diff with Mech LSD, Tuned headers, Full one-off suspension '92(?) Laguna, 6 spd and other stuff (still at OT's place) My Locker |
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Cool 123
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-Khalil *1992 SVX Red. Now 100k and climbing Tranny rebuilt @ 84k. Repaint @ 87k. Mods (in order of install)- K&N air filter, ECUtune stage 1v.4, Alternator mod, removed intake resonator, B&M Supercooler, Window Tint, JDM Emblem, Hid Kit 5000K. |
#4
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GR8 work RMJ !!! You realized my dream... I wish i can get my hands on those exact measures of the hinges so that i can manufacture them over here. they wouldn't cost me much...
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Danny 1994 Silver SVX in hybernation, awaiting for the monsterous awakening (Lebanon) 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL Euro Specs, Hard/Softtop, White/Red. Under Complete Restoration 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL350 Euro Specs, White/Red. Mint... Another step into SL Collection. |
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mmm. cant wait to see finished product, thats just jawsome
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I can't wait to see it too.... However, I think I am forever turned away from doing that myself.... Just looks too complicated.... If I got someone to do it for me, I might be interested...
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2020 Subaru Outback Touring - Wife's first Subaru 2005 Volvo V70R - 5-cylinder love! :Heart: ** SOLD **1998 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT Wagon - MOST RELIABLE car I've ever owned ** SOLD **2006Subaru WRXSTi (Former "Boxer4Racing.com / Continential Tire" STi) - Built EJ22t block / EJ207 JDM STi "big port heads" - 9,000rpm MONEY PIT!!! ** SOLD ** 1995 "Tree-Hugger Green" SVX L AWD(5 MT) --- "Gumby" 130K miles #399 in MY95, my original love... |
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well, how is it going? You have a few days to finish up and get your SVX out here for the meet. Let us know how things are comming along
Tom |
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status is the same ...well I'm rockin stock hinges
I'm really upset cuz I have no time to work on my car ...I'm doing four other cars right now!!! A GS400, Scion, RX-7, and an Extreme. It's insane at work right now and there's no free spot for the SVX. That's the problem really - I can't leave it apart for a day taking up a bay spot right now. I'm finishing the RX-7 tomorrow ...the GS400 is back from the body shop so if I can bang that out tomorrow as well - I'm in excellent shape to pull the SVX in and tear it apart after hours and let it sit over night. I think if worse comes to worse I will stay overnight at the shop
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Mike - Proud owner of a Pearl 92 SVX LS-L 5MT with 78k miles and climbing 5-Speed Status: DONE! Lambo Door Status: On hold but will be a success 04 WRX 5MT, STi Short Throw Shifter, Group N tranny mounts, AZA Z-2 18x7.5 Rims, slotted/cross drilled rotors, stainless steel lines, 35/20% window tint, ecu bead crush, power mode button; 7" In-dash touch screen LCD, mobile computer, voice recognition, alpine PXA-H701 DSP, 2 JBL amps, focal speakers all around, 5 farad cap, and fiberglassed subs in the trunk. The Mobile Computer Interface - featuring the SVX | My Locker | My Secret Stash Last edited by rmjjensen; 08-15-2005 at 02:34 PM. |
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Do you think the decah kit would work better now that you have been working the GT kit ??
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David 96LSi 102k Laguna Blue 95 LS-L AWD, Safety package, 140k Polo Green the Chick Magnet: 91 Justy GL EFI 4x4 154k (new motor @120k) 90 Yamaha V-Max 82 Yamaha XJ650LJ Turbo My Diver Propulsion vehicle: 88 Jeep Cherokee 160k "U-sta-have" 88 XT6 AWD Pearl, 86 XT Lt Blue, 85 XT AWD/4x4 Turbo Space Blue |
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Quote:
Install easier - YES but they're honestly two TOTALLY different kits. I gaurentee the decah kit can be installed in a day with just a drill, and airsaw/cut off wheel (to clear out the fender guts)
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Mike - Proud owner of a Pearl 92 SVX LS-L 5MT with 78k miles and climbing 5-Speed Status: DONE! Lambo Door Status: On hold but will be a success 04 WRX 5MT, STi Short Throw Shifter, Group N tranny mounts, AZA Z-2 18x7.5 Rims, slotted/cross drilled rotors, stainless steel lines, 35/20% window tint, ecu bead crush, power mode button; 7" In-dash touch screen LCD, mobile computer, voice recognition, alpine PXA-H701 DSP, 2 JBL amps, focal speakers all around, 5 farad cap, and fiberglassed subs in the trunk. The Mobile Computer Interface - featuring the SVX | My Locker | My Secret Stash |
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would you please explain the diference?
IE why you have a preference for the GT Kit?
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David 96LSi 102k Laguna Blue 95 LS-L AWD, Safety package, 140k Polo Green the Chick Magnet: 91 Justy GL EFI 4x4 154k (new motor @120k) 90 Yamaha V-Max 82 Yamaha XJ650LJ Turbo My Diver Propulsion vehicle: 88 Jeep Cherokee 160k "U-sta-have" 88 XT6 AWD Pearl, 86 XT Lt Blue, 85 XT AWD/4x4 Turbo Space Blue |
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