project astro

Im building an astro van and its the first one ive done so i have a question about the sliding side door, Im running 20s on it and when it lays the wheel will come above the slide door track, i need to cut out so wheel wont rub it, will door still work ok?

I would also like to add if anyone has any tips I can take the help, the tri-4 link will be in this weekend..

would you just be able to run a higher offset on the back?

i could but then it would look funny, there would be a big gap from fender to out side of wheel only in the back

I narrowed my axle to clear the track, in my opinion if you don't plan on welding the sliding door shut, that's your only option.

can you not put some sort of stopper on it, so it would still slide, just not the full length?like tub out the van, but cut the door so just the skin and some inner structure is left. When you open the door, it would clear the tub and still only slide maybe 12-16 inches, just enough for someone to get in...

I suppose you could cut the track short, but I don't imagine it would be worth keeping as it would probably only slide 10" or less. Cutting the door itself won't gain you anything in respect to tire clearance.

If you're dead set against narrowing the axle or running some super high offset wheels, I'd weld the sliding door shut and just have front seats you can lean forward to let passengers in like in a 2 door car.

Edited: 10/1/2007 2:40:13 PM by dirtyd97

just an idea if its the track in the middle of the body maybe try cutting the hole track out and moving it up /??? i have never built one so i could be way off on this one just a quick idea

Moving up the track is way more intense than any other idea because its not only on the inside but follows through to the outside not saying it cant be done. Narrowing the rear or running a higher offset will look goofy. I would do like mentioned before and put in a stopper and cut off behind the stopper where the wheel can come up and clear then the wheel will look right and will still clear.

I will measure my van up tomorrow, but I really dont think you could limit the track travel enough to clear a wheel tub and have it open enough for 50% of the american public to fit in it. Thats right... I called you fat.