Manual to Power Door Conversion...

93 LX

Founding Member
Jun 2, 2000
3,081
3
0
Norwalk, CA.
Yes, another door question! :D

I need an 86 Convertable door but I came accorss a 83-84 T-Top Mustang today in the boneyard. The door is perfect in everyway with the exception of being a non-power anything door.


Can this door be converted to power using the internal parts from my current door? If so, what pitfalls am I looking at? If someone has done this can you help me so I do not make 2 doors useless? :shrug:

thanks..
 
I'm actually in the process of writing up a power to manual how-to with pics, and i would bet you can just follow directions in reverse and go the other way with it. It's basically a process of drilling out 3 rivets that hold the manual guts in and that's it...they come right out with some fiddling around with it. Then you just put the power guts in, rivet them in, bolt the power motor on and do the wiring harnesses (which is something i can't help you with). It's really a LOT easier than it sounds. You're gonna need one of those Big Daddy rivet poppers though, which not many people have access to. You could golt them in, but i'd stick with the rivets.
 
i thought it was something like that. figure the doors are the same but need conformation on this. I also think i would need to make a hole in the non-powered door for the wires. I was looking at the 86's wiring and much it is runs just under the door panel to the switches and such. The real issue i can see may be with the door lock. Getting it positioned correctly would be the hard part unless non-powered doors already have the hole for the rivit. Ill check my 82 and see if it has the hole.
 
To answer your questions. YES. Many people have converted non-power doors to power or vice versa.

The T-top door will be a perfect fit for your vert with the exceptions of the window glass and possibly the mirror. Take those parts along with the power parts from your vert and you are in business!

Good luck and have fun!
 
Well if you're going from an old door to a newer door, all the holes are "still there"...just like the engine bay got more and more holes as the years and models changed. I ended up doing 2 door swaps because i wasn't happy with the first set, and the 2nd swap was to '91 doors and all the same holes were there that were in the '84 doors that i tried first. I'm almost certain that all the holes to run the wiring is there and i believe the hole for the lock rivet is too...i'll double check it for you and see what i can find out.
 
Awesome this information makes me feel better about picking up the doors, that is if they are still there. I how so at least. Anyway I have seen other t-top cars without power so now i can put them on the radar as keepers. LOL

Thanks...