Thread: Later model door swap

Why would you want to swap them? - other than I gather that the locks are apparently more troublesome than other types. When disadvantages of late types are considered, maybe best keeping what you have.

With the later type, the inner liner comes further into the cabin allowing less elbow room. (note mine have been permanently removed.)
The plastic outside door handles are more prone to damage by sticks, etc than the recessed ones. Also, the striker plates protrude more, and are good for ripping pants, especially the belt loops.

Another "feature" these striker plates have is plastic around the round bit that the lock grabs. This rapidly wears out. It is basically plastic hose with 10 mm OD over 8mm rod. Have rebuilt mine using rod from 10 mm bolt.

Not strictly true Cooper. Post 2004/5 (i think) ones from memory are a one piece steel galvanised door in the same vein as the post 2002 rears. They are much better.

The doors changed in 1987 to the push button handle. The earlier doors are thinner, hence more room, but the early doors probably tend to rattle more. Not sure which rusts better - both types rust quite well. 2007 on I believe have steel skins. Very early 110s had doors the same as Series 3, and all doors are interchangeable, with changes to the striker plate and door check to suit, from the first Series 2 in 1958 until current Defender.

John

Okay

All good feed back as usual

Will stick with the OE doors then

ahh but when did they goto roll down windows?

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

ahh but when did they goto roll down windows?

1984 (he says confidently, with nothing but memory to back him). I think the initial 110s had sliding (but angled) glass then winding windows came out with the 90.

Certainly all 110s I've seen in Oz had winding windows. We had some of the last Stage 1's and Series 3's though (there was production overlap for a year or so).

Against that confident timeline, are the photos here:
Land Rover History: Defender 90 & 110
showing even a 127 with sliding windows. I wonder if the poverty pack versions had them for a while?

There was a Blue 110 County at the LROCV trip to Dargo last Aiust day weekend with the angled sliding windows.

I also have a 1983 Stage 1 109" that has straight sliding windows as fitted to series 3's

All Series 3 had sliding windows. Same but with angled join on the glass for the first 110 in 1983, although at least some of the press vehicles were the same as Series 3. The windup window was introduced in 1984, around the same time that the 90 was introduced, and may have been optional at first, although I have never seen a 110 or 127 (or 120) with factory fitted sliding windows, except military ones. Sliding windows with removeable door tops remain standard for military models, and probably could be supplied for civilian ones.

As I said, the doors are all interchangeable, so you can't go on what is fitted today.

John