S1 aluminium doors

[mat]

I have a set of aluminuim S1 doors and am looking at putting them on a S2. On facing them up to the shell, they look fine, but the hinge fit causes interference between the leading edge of the door and the trailing edge of the front wing, despite moving everything (hinge plate and door plate) .
It looks like the 'captured' plate in the door is set further along the door panel than later doors. Is this the case? I would like to use them, but dont want to continue if it is not achievable.

Thanks
Mat

[phil Laing]

I'd also be very interested in the answer to this as I am about to do the same. I haven't tried to line everything up yet, as I am still replacing rusted sills

[johnny 48]

But why ?
I assume there is a reason /are some reasons to go to so much trouble?
Like replacing smashed or rusted 'standard' doors ?
Or "I just want to". Either of these reasons or any other reasons are good reasons. But why ?
For the same reason why I'd like to put aero-headlight-covers on my Zagato (but won't, due to cost!); which is "because I want to (because it will look better)". Not that anyone would "notice" alu vs. steel doors !

[Huib Geurink]

John, my friend. People would notice. Alu doors crack more easily. Steel doors can be made to close like vault doors if properly adjusted. Beats me why anybody would want to replace solid steel doors with flimsy alu doors.

[Bart Verbeek]

I think the lack of rust is the main reason.
Lack of rust on the outher door panel that is,
because the rest of the door is still made of rustable metal.

[Jay Hinton]

To my way of thinking, its nearly always weight. Lift the hood of a S1 Fulvia Coupe equipped with a alu hood, then lift a S2 steel hood, and the difference is very obvious. That difference would be the most important consideration, as weight in a Fulvia Coupe is simply everything. Esp. when its going to retain its 1300 cc engine. Perhaps not everything that can be lightened is the desired goal, but think back to what the real Lancia factory decided upon with the Series One cars, they made wonderful choices.

My 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX turbo has a alu hood, I really like that its there. Has Alu lower control arms too. Wish the doors and trunk were of the same material. Subaru issued a statement that the next generation WRX would not have either alu hood or control arms, due to the rising cost of that material. These cars don't have any problems with horsepower or torque, yet the response and handling still benefit from the use of these lighter materials.

[Walter van Gruythuysen]

With the hood and the trunk I agree. There is a small weight difference and they are easy to install. The doors are much more complicated to adjust in a proper way and the weight difference is maybe 5 kilo's per door.

That can be achieved by a low calory diet for the driver as well.

Walter

[phil Laing]

Great Guys,
Everyone commenting on why the doors should or shouldn't be removed, but no one has answered Mat's or my question. LOL

In my case, I live at the coast, the water's edge is aproximately 10m from my garage, so everything and I mean everything rusts especially both of the Fulvia's. If I clean a part to bare metal, I have to prime it immediately as if I leave it overnight, there are signs of rust the following morning. (maybe I shouldn't collect Lancia's)

So my reason is so that I won't have any more rust on doors, bonnet or boot!!!!! A great start don't you think?

So what is the answer, I haven't checked my doors yet but am really interested to see if there are any problems in changing from steel to alu.

Phil
Check out my cars at the "Members pages/Laing Garage" on www.lancia.za.org

[william]

You are right when you speak about zagato doors. outer skin alu, inner frame steel. Not very good. But the Coupé doors (and bonnet and hood) are 100% alu and therefore much lighter than the steel doors and not prone to electrolitical corrosion. Only prone to cracking as Huib pointed out.

[mat]

Some interesting comments, thanks.
My reason to explore the change is that my steel doors, which like Huib says, shut with the best noise, have rusted . I have started to repair them, but have a nice set of complete alu ones (from a coupe, so all alu).

The steel ones are heavy and will, as always, rust again, so hence the idea, but I do agree they don't shut half as well as steel ones.

I will measure the plates this weekend and post my findings, but as Phil comments, has no one been down this route before? Surely?