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Gutted Cuda Doors #2310180
05/24/17 04:30 AM
05/24/17 04:30 AM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,432
NorCal
RylisPro Offline OP
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RylisPro  Offline OP
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NorCal

I was able to get a pair of used `Cuda doors that will be a side project. Plan is to strip the paint, cut as much weight out of them and use instead of my stock doors that still have the factory glass. Since it is mandatory to have windows down on a track day it makes no sense to carry around extra weight.

These doors weigh I would guess 85-90lbs each even without the glass windows and window mechanisms. They both still have the crash bars spot welded in which are easy enough to drill and take out as I have X-bars in my roll cage. The outer skins are banged up and have dents but fortunately AMD door skins are available.

Anyone do something similar to their doors? What's the best way to take the door skins off? How much of the structure should I leave behind?

This will be a long term side project that I'll update the progress of so any tips would be appreciated thanks!



73 `Cuda
Instagram: @rylispro
YouTube: RylisPro
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Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: RylisPro] #2310183
05/24/17 05:31 AM
05/24/17 05:31 AM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 280
GEORGIA
barracuda7199 Offline
enthusiast
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GEORGIA
A flap wheel ran around the edge will have the skin loose in no time. Just a few spot welds on the top edge and they are off.

Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: RylisPro] #2310187
05/24/17 07:06 AM
05/24/17 07:06 AM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,490
Lethbridge, AB, Canada
dangina Offline
pro stock
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Are you going to acid dip these doors as well? I read a great atricle last year on the all steel widebodied challenger, wish I could find it, talked about how he pushed for the lightest weight possible, using acid to get the sheet metal paper thin, it was a great read

Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: dangina] #2310188
05/24/17 07:11 AM
05/24/17 07:11 AM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,432
NorCal
RylisPro Offline OP
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No plans for acid, most likely just drilling a bunch of holes in the non-structural areas. I haven't planned anything out yet.
If I get the weight down to half I would be happy.


73 `Cuda
Instagram: @rylispro
YouTube: RylisPro
www.rylispro.com
925-214-9192
Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: RylisPro] #2310226
05/24/17 10:00 AM
05/24/17 10:00 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,862
the frozen wastes...
Pale_Roader Offline
Swears too much
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the frozen wastes...

I was happy as hell to have a nice clean, base 70 Challenger... so this could have waited. Now i have a 74... so looks like i'm going into the doors too. I need roll up glass though. Shouldn't be hard to lose considerable weight. These suckers are HEAVY.

Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: RylisPro] #2310265
05/24/17 11:20 AM
05/24/17 11:20 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,237
north of coder
moparx Offline
"Butt Crack Bob"
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north of coder
if this were me, i would start by trimming the inside panel, leaving roughly 1 1/2" around the perimiter, or the width of the edge of the central, lower access hole. then, fabricate a light weight mounting area for the inner release handle, although i would leave this mounting point until last to fabricate, so as to not have it in the road during the rest of the modification process. next, i would decide on how much of the bottom of the door i could eliminate buy using a plasma cutter to cut oval holes, leaving 1 to 1 1/2" strips "xxx" spaced along the bottom to hold the inner skin to the area used to fold the outer skin crimp. next, determine how much you can eliminate from the hinge and latch ends safely. next, get your large size unibit out and drill as many holes in the largest size[s] you feel comfortable with in the left over material. a unibit will work better than a standard bit drilling sheetmetal. next, i would remove the skin. lastly, remove the crash beam. the reason the skin and the crash beam are the last to go is they both will support the inner structure well as you cut it up. as i don't have the door[s] in question in front of my old eyeballs, this is just a generalization of what i would do. others will have different opinions as to what may, or may not, be the way to approach this project. good luck, and keep us informed as to what you do, and the reduction in weight you achieve.
beer

Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: RylisPro] #2316435
06/05/17 04:56 AM
06/05/17 04:56 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,785
Utah and Alaska
astjp2 Offline
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Utah and Alaska
Use them to build a mold and make carbon fiber doors that are the same contours but 1/4 the weight...Tim


1941 Taylorcraft
1968 Charger
1994 Wrangler
1998 Wrangler
2008 Kia Rio
2017 Jetta

I didn't do 4 years and 9 months of Graduate School to be called Mister!
Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: astjp2] #2320372
06/13/17 07:21 AM
06/13/17 07:21 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,153
Mass
DAYCLONA Offline
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Mass
Originally Posted By astjp2
Use them to build a mold and make carbon fiber doors that are the same contours but 1/4 the weight...Tim






Unlimited Fiberglass has a set of doors approx $500 pr, 10 lbs each

Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: RylisPro] #2320465
06/13/17 11:16 AM
06/13/17 11:16 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,695
Bitopia
J
jcc Offline
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
jcc  Offline
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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Posts: 22,695
Bitopia
Does you car have any added rollbar/cage/crash protection? I assume its driven on the street, and without any of the above, removing internal door crash members leaves nearly nothing to protect you. I like weight reduction, but........? eek


Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: jcc] #2320468
06/13/17 11:20 AM
06/13/17 11:20 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
Supercuda Offline
About to go away
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up yours
Originally Posted By jcc
Does you car have any added rollbar/cage/crash protection? I assume its driven on the street, and without any of the above, removing internal door crash members leaves nearly nothing to protect you. I like weight reduction, but........? eek


Go back and reread the very first post.


They say there are no such thing as a stupid question.
They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
Don't be the exception.
Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: Supercuda] #2320634
06/13/17 04:35 PM
06/13/17 04:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,695
Bitopia
J
jcc Offline
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
jcc  Offline
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
J

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,695
Bitopia
Originally Posted By Supercuda
Originally Posted By jcc
Does you car have any added rollbar/cage/crash protection? I assume its driven on the street, and without any of the above, removing internal door crash members leaves nearly nothing to protect you. I like weight reduction, but........? eek


Go back and reread the very first post.


You mean this "as I have X-bars in my roll cage."? bow biggrin

On a related note I was reading this morning the May? issue of "Race TecH", they were discussing "pole impact" issues with rally cars, in that contact with a pole or tree or like on the side near the center of gravity, usually causes the car to wrap around, vs if impact is forward or rearward, it has inclination to more glance off. They are now requiring like 30cm? between driver/crew and outer skin, with impact foam, etc.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication...g_championships

Last edited by jcc; 06/13/17 10:01 PM.

Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: RylisPro] #2320641
06/13/17 04:51 PM
06/13/17 04:51 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
Supercuda Offline
About to go away
Supercuda  Offline
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up yours
Why don't we just mandate they be driverless cars and we can all sit home in our mommies basement and be safe.


They say there are no such thing as a stupid question.
They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
Don't be the exception.
Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: RylisPro] #2320663
06/13/17 05:53 PM
06/13/17 05:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,575
The Netherlands
BigBlockMopar Offline
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The Netherlands
Basements have been known to flood.

Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: BigBlockMopar] #2320988
06/14/17 09:55 AM
06/14/17 09:55 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,237
north of coder
moparx Offline
"Butt Crack Bob"
moparx  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2003
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north of coder
spiders live in basements !
beer

Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: RylisPro] #2321986
06/16/17 02:39 AM
06/16/17 02:39 AM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog Offline
Striving for excellence
Kern Dog  Offline
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Granite Bay CA
Be a BALLER. Not a bawler.

Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: RylisPro] #2322524
06/17/17 08:10 AM
06/17/17 08:10 AM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,432
NorCal
RylisPro Offline OP
top fuel
RylisPro  Offline OP
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NorCal
Passenger door skin came in



73 `Cuda
Instagram: @rylispro
YouTube: RylisPro
www.rylispro.com
925-214-9192
Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: DAYCLONA] #2323286
06/18/17 09:34 PM
06/18/17 09:34 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,826
NY usa
5
540challenger Offline
master
540challenger  Offline
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NY usa
Originally Posted By DAYCLONA
Originally Posted By astjp2
Use them to build a mold and make carbon fiber doors that are the same contours but 1/4 the weight...Tim






Unlimited Fiberglass has a set of doors approx $500 pr, 10 lbs each
do they work with the factory glass or do u need lexan...p

Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: RylisPro] #2323433
06/19/17 02:54 AM
06/19/17 02:54 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,862
the frozen wastes...
Pale_Roader Offline
Swears too much
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the frozen wastes...

Anyone ever weighed ALL the guts inside an E-body door? Glass, regulator, mechanism, tracks, lock, etc.???

Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: Pale_Roader] #2323441
06/19/17 03:32 AM
06/19/17 03:32 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,007
Bend,OR USA
C
Cab_Burge Offline
I Win
Cab_Burge  Offline
I Win
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,007
Bend,OR USA
I know a former NHRA E body stock class record holder that removed over 40 lbs. from his 1971 Challenger doors and still got through NHRA tech and NHRA tear down inspections when he would set the class records, them dang E body crash door bars are heavy shock
He strip that car down to a bare shell and only put back in what he thought the car needed to get through NHRA tech. shruggy
That car was really lightweight for a E body, he had to add over 180 lbs. ballast to be legal with him in it and he was not a lightweight driver work

Last edited by Cab_Burge; 06/19/17 03:36 AM.

Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Gutted Cuda Doors [Re: RylisPro] #2323496
06/19/17 10:20 AM
06/19/17 10:20 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,033
Madison, Wisconsin
chrisnben Offline
super stock
chrisnben  Offline
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Madison, Wisconsin
yes! I used to drag my '72 Cuda, 440 car. Removed 20# each door bar. FYI


'70 Cuda "Badfish 2"- in the works

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