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Door inserts

Jakedog

Sr. Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Messages
807
I'm working on installing the 1 piece door inserts from wild horses and I have a few questions.

1. How much trimming did you have to do to get a good fit?
2. How did you seal off the seams around the inserts?
3. Did the portion of the insert that meets the floor stay flat against the floor? Did you have to use screws to keep it flat?
 

Glass Pony

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 13, 2012
Messages
1,820
Loc.
Sussex County Delaware
1. A good bit especially across the bottom.
2. I didn't seal off anything. May have to remove them someday.
3. Yes, pretty much. That's where some of the trimming was done to get them to lay flat. No screws.
 

Rustytruck

Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
10,875
the part across the floor needs a pad under the insert if your going to step on it.there is quite a gap under neath between the insert and the top of the rocker. the bottom of the insert is held down inside by the floor trim if you are using it. trimming to fit wasn't too bad except around the windshield area and the rear top of the insert at the bed top. Unless you go crazy like I did where I did allot of filling around the insert with Dura glass and bed all the mounting points where you put screws through the insert. I spent 2 months of all my spare time to get what i see as a proper fit and not just good enough. On 2 inserts fixing all the issues that bothered me on a really good pair of one piece inserts. Mine mount solid and can still be taken off if I want to hang the doors on in the winter. was a lot of work but worth it in the end product. I spent 25 years with multi piece poor fitting inserts and when ready to move up I tried to do it really right the second time around. My old inserts were a deturance my new ones are an asset.
 
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Jakedog

Sr. Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Messages
807
I'll renew my membership on here and take pics when I can. They are a pain in the a$$ to get lined up, but I like the look.
I just put the new soft top on yesterday and it looks badass. I still need paint and some bodywork work done but it's coming along.

Thanks for the help.
 

Rustytruck

Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
10,875
yep and they are so much cooler to drive with the heat escaping from the floor boards.
 
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Jakedog

Sr. Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Messages
807
I hate door inserts!
These have been such a pain in the ass to line up. The top portion nearest the windshield is giving me problems. The area in the door insert where the screw is supposed to go through is too far back. It looks like it's in the right spot but there wont be any metal behind it when it does line up.
I'm thinking the best way to remedy this is to attach a piece of sheet metal behind the insert using the bolts from the fender to attach it to the body. I can then attach the insert to that piece of sheet metal.
If you have a better idea please share.

I ended up drilling the holes in the inserts from the back directly in the middle of the washer. The inserts were not dimpled so I figured it would be easier. The fiberglass chipped a little bit but I'm still needing to paint the Bronco so no big deal.
 

Rustytruck

Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
10,875
drilling fiberglass you want to use a brad point bit. you will also want to use a larger regular bit by hand to chamfer the gellcoat so it wont chip later. should use tape over the hole placement mark the hole and drill through the tape.
 
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Jakedog

Sr. Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Messages
807
I have some brad point bits, but I didn't think about using them on the fiberglass. I'll remember that for next time.
 
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Jakedog

Sr. Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Messages
807
The door inserts are installed. I also installed the soft doors. I did a lot more trimming on the inserts than I thought I would.

My floors are lined with a spray in bed liner similar to LineX. I had to trim areas where the floor and inserts meet. If you are considering using door inserts, and you plan to use a bed liner on your floors, just remember that the thickness of the bed liner will change the fitment of the inserts.

Now it's time to take it all apart again and get it ready for the paint shop. Which means removing the door inserts and putting the hinges back on for the hard doors.
The shop will be replacing the left quarter panel, the left rocker panel, and the left door post.
 
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Rustytruck

Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
10,875
Make sure the steel doors are hung when they replace the rockers. You dont want them fitting the rockers to the inserts.
 
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