[cdnroundport]

I have been looking for a set of 70-74 doors with no luck
Is there a reproduction in the works?

[starlightblack]

There's a guy in Hamilton that has a lot of F-bodies in various states of repair - you might try him...heeheehee.

[unruhjonny]

There's a local who posts here on occasion, and another guy who is in southern BC;
Both more or less always have stuff listed on Kijiji.

Please take my advice, and stay FAR away from 'David T's'.

[unruhjonny]

here;
It took some time to find the BC guy (I will chose to leave both of their names out of my posts):

Calgary guy: gto-firebird-parts

BC guy: pontiac-engine-parts

[Norwood]

Cut the inner panel out of the early door and weld it in the newer door. Nobody will be the wiser.

[JUDGE3]

Originally Posted by cdnroundport

I have been looking for a set of 70-74 doors with no luck
Is there a reproduction in the works?

how bad are your doors? rebuild em. at worst usually, as mine were, the bottom is rusted out and they need new skins. a reproduction bottom replacement panel is available now, got mine from ecklers. skins have been available a long time. added new hinges, my internals were good. got new doors! and saved a lot of money. while I was in there took great pleasure removing the stupid heavy sidebeam. 21 lbs a door.

[Formulabruce]

I have a very nice pass side door shell, zero rust, yes Zero 1973 but outer shell dented, needs a door skin. pics in the for sale section back a few months, use search. I have a 1970 door shell with surface rust, needs to be dipped in evaporust , has correct drain holes for 1970. and ...Ames has Doors and skins

[JUDGE3]

Originally Posted by Norwood

Cut the inner panel out of the early door and weld it in the newer door. Nobody will be the wiser.

good alternative as well!

I have less than $200 in each door less hinges. and have new doors. and no sidebeam! lol

[cdnroundport]

Thanks for the input guys
Has anybody used the repop doors from Ames?

[unruhjonny]

umm, aren't those sidebeams there for crash protection?

if you remove them, doesn't the possibility of a side impact get MUCH more ominous?

I am earnestly looking for an educated response to my query.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

umm, aren't those sidebeams there for crash protection?

if you remove them, doesn't the possibility of a side impact get MUCH more ominous?

I am earnestly looking for an educated response to my query.

Does it really matter much on an old car with no air bags, no side curtains, no ABS and not much of any other safety features? Think about it.

[nas t eh]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

umm, aren't those sidebeams there for crash protection?

if you remove them, doesn't the possibility of a side impact get MUCH more ominous?

I am earnestly looking for an educated response to my query.

Don’t know how much the beam helped me in a crash I was in, but I’m glad it was there.
Since your car doesn’t have them do you worry when driving it?

[Formulajones]

My car doesn't have them, never give it a second thought and drive it daily, don't care. Glad they aren't there to be honest, it's just extra weight I have to lug down track

[JUDGE3]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

umm, aren't those sidebeams there for crash protection?

if you remove them, doesn't the possibility of a side impact get MUCH more ominous?

I am earnestly looking for an educated response to my query.

UGH here we go again. enjoy those beams if you choose. prior to the 2nd gen firebird and "the other car" our Pontiacs didn't have em. government mandated them for 1973 and on, but gm started early on with only the firebird and the un-named other car. uh, yeh its a hobby car. I've never been in a side impact, and no more than I drive my cars its highly unlikely. anyway, no battle here, enjoy the 42 pounds. had the government not required it, we wouldn't have em.

now, for kicks, pick up a 20 lb dumbbell at a store and envision that welded into your door. you'll dig it, but I didn't. lol

[unruhjonny]

so are you guys saying that they offer zero practical margin of safety for side impacts?

[JUDGE3]

Originally Posted by nas t eh

Don’t know how much the beam helped me in a crash I was in, but I’m glad it was there.
Since your car doesn’t have them do you worry when driving it?

must be a north thing. all the snow/ice? yeh I drive 5mph all around and fret and worry like you wouldn't believe. I may give it up. to stressfull.

especially when I rip down the quarter at 115mph + with no roll bar etc. its so friggin scary and nervy I'm smiling ear to ear!

forgive me, just funnin' ! weld some more in there if you like it. me, I'm making a mailbox out of mine, the youngsters on these Kansas country roads like to drink koolaid and turn mailboxs into tuna cans with a ball bat at 2am. lol

See my signature.....none of my cars had em.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

so are you guys saying that they offer zero practical margin of safety for side impacts?

Uh, YES

Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's

Does it really matter much on an old car with no air bags, no side curtains, no ABS and not much of any other safety features? Think about it.

But if you really want them you better put in the rest of those safety features.

[JUDGE3]

decided to continue my rant......I lived the 70's 80's era of the big heavy doors on gm cars. so many drivers doors sagged in no time and began the infamous gouging out the door post. friends with grand prixs etc. I didn't know why at the time other than the big doors. but it was the WEIGHT in the doors causing it. those hinge bushings were not designed for that much weight.

quick story....went to Pontiac to buy a used 78 trans am back in 1980. I was 18. dad talked me into ordering a new 1980 trans am I didn't want. big mistake. 301, nuf said. anyway that 1980 drivers door same thing. hinge sag in no time. so that's my pet peeve.

I sold the 1980 trans am 3 or 4 years later and went right back into a ram air 3 original 4 speed Judge! yeha, power again! I drove it as my daily driver.

[unruhjonny]

from what I recall reading, the crash bars were added because the 1970 Firebird brought in much larger doors than had been used in the past;
if I recall correctly, the smaller doors didn't require the crash bars, but the larger doors needed them for side impact protection...
I believe that the doors increased by something like 8" from 1969 to 1970...

i get pet peeves, and opinions, but it seems like this thread had been reduced to nothing more than scoffing...

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

i get pet peeves, and opinions, but it seems like this thread had been reduced to nothing more than scoffing...

I would call it more like common sense. I don't see anyone throwing hammers.