PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Shiny is Good! => General Pinto Talk => Topic started by: 79prostreet on May 05, 2013, 07:44:16 AM
-
Has anyone pulled the crash bars out of your doors? I'm thinking of cutting the front open, drilling the back spot welds and pulling it out then make a pc to cover the front hole.
-
This link shows removal via the the rear, your idea of removal by the hinge side sounds less conspicuous. Thought I read that somebody snuck in there with a die grinder using a cut of wheel and removed most of the bar in pieces leaving just the spot weld portions in place, but could not find the link. I assume this is for race car use.
http://www.fordpinto.com/general-pinto-talk/door-help/msg63866/#msg63866 (http://www.fordpinto.com/general-pinto-talk/door-help/msg63866/#msg63866)
-
I experimented on a pair of junk doors with the latches, rods, glass & tracks removed. Using my Sawzall with a long (10" maybe) metal blade I was able to cut through both sides & remove 95 percent of the brace rather easily. A die grinder & cut off wheel works well if you are patient & careful.
-
Well I removed the crash bar from my drivers door, not for the faint of heart! As the pictures will show the bar gets wider and taller in the middle area, so as I went the hole became larger and wider. All in all I'm pleased with how it's turning out,well worth the weight loss. With the door being 53'' long and that bar to add to the over all weight, I can see why hinge bushings wear out.
-
i drilled the spot welds in mine and cut the bar in 3 pieces thru the access hole. it probably would have been easier to do it the way you did . i think it is worth the little bit of work.