SUICIDE DOORS

I ,after failing to find any pre '80 GM pick-up door hinges, bought an Autoloc "suicide door kit". Has ANYONE successfully installed one of these kits? Tough to do on a vehicle with a vertical curve to the back door edge. Although what comes in the kit is good enough quality, it's about as complete as sending someone a short block when they wanted a crate engine.
C'mon guys! Any input? Huh? Please?

my truck is at the shop right now we are finishing up on suicide doors via autoloc hinge kit and latches. it is a tacoma and we have ran into a few problems but fixable. seems to be a strong set up on the kit. just need to brace the hell out of everything around it to prevent any flexing. dunno how it would hold up on the larger doors of your truck. good luck bro. l8tr

I USED SUICIDEDOORS.COM KITS THEY WHERE AWSOME.HEARD ALOT OF THE KITS NEEDING TO BE REINFORCED ALOT

Thanks for the quick response. Freddie: have you any pictures of your ongoing installation? I assume your 'flex' problem revolves around the fact the siamese hinge assembly is difficult to mount solidly. The kit and directions totally ignore this part of the conversion. I do like the way the hinges are tied together thus assuring both hinges are on the same plane. I consider the Autoloc kit about a 25% assist in the overall job. A good way to fail installation and turn the vehicle into a scrap yard queen. I haven't got the guts to make the first cut. I will FIRST be obliged to ascertain how the hinges (and square tubing) can / will be mounted. I'm sure as hell not going to have bolts or threaded rod sticking through my quarter panels, eh?

Edited: 10/27/2005 10:28:31 AM by Darthvagrant

I was looking for the truck door hinges for a conversion on a car. I wish I'd have kept looking. The AutoLoc hinges have a steel bolt fit tightly in a steel hole, and absolutely no means of lubricating them. Not a matter of "if" they'll sieze up, but "how soon". The instructions that AutoLoc DOESN'T supply can be found on a competitor's site:http://www.suicidedoors.com/howto.phpAutoLoc could spend less time on the fancy paint job (which will be ruined during installation anyway) and address some installation instructions. It makes me wonder if AutoLoc even expects an installation attempt with their kit.

the autoloc kit is definatlly no the best quality. you are going to have to cut the tubing off those hinges to mount them anyway so that is a waste of time they do it like that for square door hot rods. just make sure and align everything perfectlly. then you have to reweld a piece of tubing to both of the hinge pockets and try and tie it into the floor inside your piller for strentgh. then strengthen the door and everything else. you should have spent the money and got the complete kit from suicide doors.com. much better kit, i used it on my ride, it has pressed in bushing and is self lubtricating, works great. and the reasont he directions are hard to comprehend is because it is completely different for every vehicle. you have to use a little mechanical engineering and alot of mechanical no how. if you are doubting yourself already then it is probably not the best project for you to attempt. good luck.

I've also heard that the autoloc kit is shit.I'm doing my astrovan right now and have used the suicidedoor.com kit.It is absolutely awesome.I've finished one door with no sag(because i braced everything with 1/8 inch and angle) and even if there was the hinge pockets on the door side have an adjustable plate behind so you can make up for minor sag.Even the striker plate is adjustable.I know i sound like a posterboy for suicidedoors.com but the kit is phenomenal.It is expensive but great.If you're scared to do the doors just have some balls and do it or pay the 2500 for someone else to.check my pics

I've also heard that the autoloc kit is shit.I'm doing my astrovan right now and have used the suicidedoor.com kit.It is absolutely awesome.I've finished one door with no sag(because i braced everything with 1/8 inch and angle) and even if there was the hinge pockets on the door side have an adjustable plate behind so you can make up for minor sag.Even the striker plate is adjustable.I know i sound like a posterboy for suicidedoors.com but the kit is phenomenal.It is expensive but great.If you're scared to do the doors just have some balls and do it or pay the 2500 for someone else to.check my pics

Darth. Just finished up on the suicide hinges truck is finally up and going again should have pics up within the next few days also a suggestion is that the bolts that come in the autoloc kit suck major ass and are hard to tighten as they need to be i recommend some stronger bolts with a real bolt head instead of that phillips crap provided. i found that they will strip the heads very easily during the adjusting process.

Yeah, Fred-I hear 'ya. ALL of the bolts furnished in the AutoLoc kit are grade two. Nothing of less than grade five should EVER be used on any automotive application. There is NO SUCH THING as a grade two bolt on ANY OEM assembly. Their grade two bolts and steel (hinge) pins in bushingless steel holes say it all. Grade two? Maybe to put a basket on your bicycle..AutoLoc? AutoGet a clue! !