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Are BJ7 doors the same as BJ8

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chicken

chicken

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I have a BJ7 and believe i had bj7 doors when i bought the car but it appears they may be BJ8 doors as they have the round hole for the later push button bj8 handles.
Will it matter if i just fit the bj8 round hole handles, do they work with the same lock mechanism etc or do i have to use the pull lever handles.
Looking at it i could adapt the holes in the doors to accept the lever type handles.
 
chicken said:
I have a BJ7 and believe i had bj7 doors when i bought the car but it appears they may be BJ8 doors as they have the round hole for the later push button bj8 handles.

Will it matter if i just fit the bj8 round hole handles,

This is a matter of personal choice.
do they work with the same lock mechanism

--Yes they will. However, some minor changes may be required.

etc or do i have to use the pull lever handles.--????

Looking at it i could adapt the holes in the doors to accept the lever type handles.

If that is possible it would seem like the best way to go.-- :cheers:Keoke
Click to expand...
 
chicken said:
I have a BJ7 and believe i had bj7 doors when i bought the car but it appears they may be BJ8 doors as they have the round hole for the later push button bj8 handles.
Will it matter if i just fit the bj8 round hole handles, do they work with the same lock mechanism etc or do i have to use the pull lever handles.
Looking at it i could adapt the holes in the doors to accept the lever type handles.
Click to expand...

the doors are almost identical, I believe, and putting the lever handles on them should work. There will be a little hole that needs to be welded up, or maybe put a little rubber plug in it.

the one area that is different, and a bit wonky to sort out, is the BJ7 window crank shaft is shorter than the BJ8 window crank shaft, so to set you BJ7 correctly you will need to either cut down the BJ8 shafts or get some old BJ7 cranks. the crank is shorter because the door trim on the BJ7 incorporates a little map pocket at the bottom.
 
I converted my BJ7 door handles to BJ8 handles. It did not require any change to the internal mechanism but it did require minor massaging around the door handle area to accept the BJ8 door handle. I made the change so I could have the BJ8 door locks. I'll be running with the hardtop most of the time (I'm building a Works rally replica which always ran with a hardtop)and wanted to be able to lock up the car.

Cheers,
Steve
 
You will also have to drill holes for the panal fasteners. On the BJ8, the panel is held on by hidden fasterners that insert into holes. Measure the other door and match the 1/4 inch holes.

Jerry
 
Alan

I'm hoping that i allready have BJ7 window cranks, bought secondhand ones believing they were right for the car ! how long should should the shaft be ?

Rob
 
chicken said:
I think i'm going to alter the holes to take the proper handles, i've come this far.
Yep that semed like the best way to go to me.--Keoke- :laugh:

Rob
Click to expand...
 
I installed my BJ8 posts, but the BJ7 are 1 3/8 inches for just the post part. So you need longer for the BJ8. Once you install the correct posts and drill the holes the panel fits on just like it was a BJ8 door, You also have to drill holes for the window stop, as in your BJ8 door.

Jerry
 
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