Just wondering what are some tips / tricks to know just before I strip my passenger side door on the weekend? How long will it take me considering I have never fully stripped a door?

This is for my car so it is a Mk 1 winding window door (needs a new door skin).

I will be using the information found on 'TheMiniMan's website as well as having a workshop manual beside me.

Cheers, Nick

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

Tip number 1: Don't do it.
Tip number 2: Don't do it.
Tip number 3: It will take forever.
Tip number 4: Have magnets handy. When you drop a screw you can try to fish it out.
Tip number 5: Keep a swear jar around. You can buy a new door after a days work.

Thats all I have for now. I dismantled my doors a year ago......still trying to get them back together!

That's not really filling me full of confidence

Maybe I should just pay the panel beater the extra money to get the work experience kid to do it

I'm only doing one door, I was hoping I would have it done in 4 hours tops

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

pay some one else so when something goes wrong you can blame them 4 hours good luck

It's straightforward Nick , two or 3 screws hold the top of the 1/4vent then the two bolts on the inside of the door , with the window wound down slide the top of the 1/4vent assembly to the rear of the door (might need a gentle thump with your hand to start it) and then up and out . wind the window up and tilt the glass forward so you can pull it off it's runner then slide it out of the window frame (hard to describe but you'll figure it out) . Take photo's of the handle and lock assembly at various stages as you pull it out so you can remind yourself as it goes back in plus read the manual . It's not hard , should take less than 4 hours easily but some of the handle/latch is fiddly . If you get stuck and can't figure something out just leave it for a while , go have a drink and start again in 10 minutes .

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I know where I will be dropping mine off with a carton of what "ales" you when it is time for them to go back together

What sports said. Make sure you remove all the inner clips on the window rubbers. I left some in and could not figure why I couldn't get the 1/4 frame to lay back to remove. The tricky part is to get the locks and the outer handle off. Have done one and now forgotten - so photograph as you go and be prepared to think outside the square.

regards - miniDave

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Dave K.
1979 Moke Californian + 1981 'Coke' Moke

Its not that hard mate, I read alot on here about how hard it is. I put 1/4 vent seals in both doors in a lazy saturday. The hardest part was the friggin pop riverts.

You will be fine its not that hard.

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Nick, i have done it. F@#$#ing pain in the bum. But if i can do something, i am shure you can do it....Planed the week-end, thats about the time it took me!

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Thanks for the help guys. I'll be sure to take a few different pics along the way.

Is there anyway I can leave the door lock in there cause I was just planning on driving it there and leaving the whole car (I need the door lock to keep the door closed as I drive ).

Would I be better off to just strip the door, take it off the car and just take the door out?

<edit> is it better just to take the door lock out and then just put that back in after all the rest is disassembled?

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

I took a few piccies along the way so hopefully I will be able to pull it apart no worries. Only took me about two hours to get all the guts out of it but an hour just to get the stainless moulding from around the window off! It is now just about done (I've also taken it off of the car).

Just one question. I have not been able to get the remote operating arm out (the arm that goes from where you open the door from inside that goes back to the handle). I can't get it off and I can't get that little bit off that goes around the door frame (that the operating rod connects to).

I can't move the window frame enough to enable it to slide off. Is there an easy way to do it? Cause I'm starting to think that I'll just leave it on there and my panel beater can deal with it.

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina