Anyone have an L300 sliding door extension to fit wider tires?

sck_nogas

sck_nogas

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Now that my 1991 Delica L300 2" lift kit is installed, I'm looking at larger and wider tires, but know I need to get an extended door hinge for the rear sliding door. I can get them from stores overseas, but due to COVID the shipping rates currently are insane.
Have already sent emails to Rising Sun, Amazing Auto, DelicaWorks, TxT3, Coombs, GoodKarrma, DelicaUSA, Glenn Shelly, RightDrive.CA... etc...
  • @stevenlee (Rising Sun) can get one, but it would take a couple months to arrive. (Bummer, cuz he's my parts HERO!)
  • TxT3 can get one, but it would cost more for shipping, though sooner.
So, anyone have one available? New or Used? If not, then I'll have to go with TxT3...
 
I'm pretty sure you can just add some spacers to the stock hinge as an intermediary. I'm surprised shipping prices for even the hinge are high. I've been shipping a ton out of Japan and even with 2-day shipping I'm rarely spending over $30 for something of that size/weight.
 
natematos said:
I'm pretty sure you can just add some spacers to the stock hinge as an intermediary. I'm surprised shipping prices for even the hinge are high. I've been shipping a ton out of Japan and even with 2-day shipping I'm rarely spending over $30 for something of that size/weight.
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The price for the hinge is $132, and then add the bank fees and shipping (but not import duties/tariffs) the price is another $100 more.

As for adding some spacers, if I put some spacers on the stock hinge (68401L) then when the door is closed, the back of the sliding door will stick out the same depth as the spacers that I used, right?

143_2503P3JA1T.png
 
I've bought a LOT from overseas and never been hit with import tariffs for anything coming direct to my door. Idk, $100 for shipping is high, but not outrageous when there's no other option to get one.
 
You can add spacers behind the rail to get a little extra clearance. If you put them on the hinge I don’t believe it will shut right
 
13mclean said:
You can add spacers behind the rail to get a little extra clearance. If you put them on the hinge I don’t believe it will shut right
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Sorry, this is what I meant, thanks for clarifying!

Depending on your POV it may actually be the better option too. The aftermarket hinge requires some cutting in to the door itself to get it to work. Spacing out the rail gets you more space without chopping things up.
 
I found the door hinge extension super finicky. You’ve really gotta dial it in to have it close well consistently. Also, be prepared to cut into the door and the panel
 
Hmmmm. Good points... Now you got me thinking if I really need the door hinge extension...

My plan for new rims & tires is similar to Nenw's setup.
Getting 6 tires/rims means the rear spare and front spare will match, and I can rotate all 6 tires to get more even wear. Plus, if I have more than one blow out while offroad/overlanding, I have options. :)
 
13mclean said:
You can add spacers behind the rail to get a little extra clearance. If you put them on the hinge I don’t believe it will shut right
Click to expand...
Well, I got the new wheels & tires, but changed my plan slightly...
Total Cost for 6 tires and wheels including mounting was $1,395.69

BEFORE with 235/75R15 tires on OEM wheels
Tires & Door - 1.jpeg​
AFTER with 31x10.50R15 tires on 15x8 wheels
Tires & Door - 3.jpeg​
But, the issue is that sliding door does rub against the tire, as I mostly expected...

Clearance before (fully open)
Tires & Door - 2.jpeg​
​
Clearance After (as it bumps into the tire while opening)
Tires & Door - 4.jpeg​
​
Downward view of tire and door...
Tires & Door - 5.jpeg​
​
So, y'all think I can get away with putting a few washers/spacers behind the rail to get a little extra clearance and be ok?

How many have others done?
 
Judging from that overhead shot, the rear of the track needs to be shimmed at least 3/4" to clear the interior door panel.

Have you seen this guy's L300? @lai00715 on Instagram. He has a custom track (or maybe sourced from a mysterious aftermarket source in Taiwan?) That gives him at least an inch past the exterior body panel.


Screenshot_20201021-174944~2.png

Link to original images:


If you look at his buddie's grey L300, he's got exactly the same track on his.
 
sck_nogas said:
Hmmm, wonder if I can use some 6mm standoffs to extend the rail 19mm temporarily...

They'll arrive on Friday, so will let you know. :)
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One concern I have is the track currently sits on a 'shelf' in the van wall, thus giving it support. The standoffs alone might not be sufficient for the downward weight of the door, possibly causing track to bend down.

Maybe a metal or PVC wedge from X" width to 0 ", the length of the track, slipped into the space behind the track would give it more backing and allow for more fastening options to prevent any in/out and downward bending of the track.

Also, you're going to need at least one longer screw where the spacing/shimming is going to happen.
 
If you can sit tight a few weeks I may have a spare extended hinge to sell you. Getting one from Evan Y. And apparently fts sold it to him as a 2 set since the vans there come With dual sliding doors. I can confirm on having two parts soon. Will hit u back.
 
Nenw said:
If you can sit tight a few weeks I may have a spare extended hinge to sell you. Getting one from Evan Y. And apparently fts sold it to him as a 2 set since the vans there come With dual sliding doors. I can confirm on having two parts soon. Will hit u back.
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That sounds reasonable. Thanks.

My plan for now is to just "adjust" things to hopefully let my sliding door open enough to let me use the back. :)

Eventually, will need a "real" solution.
 
sck_nogas said:
That sounds reasonable. Thanks.

My plan for now is to just "adjust" things to hopefully let my sliding door open enough to let me use the back. :)

Eventually, will need a "real" solution.
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Same. I haven't been able to fully open my door for weeks. I haven't yet but I should try to space things out a little from behind. I was surprised though how much the geolanders that were on there were way wider at the bubble than the falkens. I could barely open the door before, now it will squeeze along the tire.

I was with Nick McClean and messing with his sliding door and I'm just not thrilled on the extended slider solution but it's the best there is right now.
 
Sputnik said:
Judging from that overhead shot, the rear of the track needs to be shimmed at least 3/4" to clear the interior door panel.

Have you seen this guy's L300? @lai00715 on Instagram. He has a custom track (or maybe sourced from a mysterious aftermarket source in Taiwan?) That gives him at least an inch past the exterior body panel.
Click to expand...
I think there are some guys in Taipei who may have been making those tracks custom. I've seen a few while over there. I haven't been able to confirm yet if anyone is still producing. Gimme some time on this. They are pretty fricking wide though, I think for most of us we need like 30% of those. You can sit a soda can on top of those. It's for those 12.5" wide wheels on big offsets.

80EAF142-27CA-4F04-BF55-3DB21EC61618.jpeg1CE5885E-5430-4776-B145-E93960828D2A.jpeg
 
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Well, it's hella-janky, more like ⅛ assed. There is so much more to do before it's ½ assed...
Tires & Door - 4.jpeg
But, I can now open my sliding door! It brushes the tire at full open, but you can get in the back somewhat easily.

I used some stainless steel 10mm m6 coupling nuts and 18mm m6 coupling nuts
Tires & Door - 1.jpeg

Put some washers on the first bolt...

Then an 18mm riser on the second
Tires & Door - 5.jpeg

And 2 washers and an 18mm rise on the third
Tires & Door - 2.jpeg

And since I did not have short enough bolts, I used some shorter standoff risers to shorten the bolt
Tires & Door - 3.jpeg
But, it works and supports the door when open. Will do it right when the better options appear.
 
Ahhh I was about to pull the trigger on the same setup. Does it run to the point of keeping the door from opening entirely or is it more of an annoying rub that slows it down on the tracks?
 
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