Door Opening Restraints

I put a square chunk of that open cell white foam stuff in either door by hinges for a temp stop.  

Bruce- I think I remember someone using door limiting straps out of a Suzuki Samuai? I wrote it in my notebook, so give me a little time and I'll find it. Al

We use VW Beetle door stays on the Speedster and Spyder, cut down and redrilled for the length of the door opening.  We also use Porsche 914 door stays on the GTS, with a custom laser cut arms to match the swing of the GTS door.  

Both work great for limiting the doors opening, as well as holding them open.  I've retro fit them onto our own earlier cars (PITA but possible) but never retro fit them onto someone else's brand.

Quite a while ago, I got a pair of door limiting straps for a Jeep CJ.  About $15 bucks.

 

Each comes with two metal ends that mount with two screws each into the door or door frame.  Been on there for 18 years now with no problems.  

I installed them on my Cobra. I wasn't about to pay the $80, the going price from Cobra aftermarket dealers, for two pieces of leather 1 1/4" wide, stitched onto to straps. I found the S/S straps at West Marine and found a leather worker/artist type guy that had a small shop on Bainbridge Island and he made up the straps for me for $25 for the pair. So for less than $25 I had some nice functional door restraints. BTW I got the correct length by measuring the ones on a friends Cobra.

 

I haven't gotten around to making some for the Speedster yet but have inquired at a local saddle/leather shop and they'll make them up for around $20-25 for both straps out of either tan or black leather and the eye straps from West Marine will cost about $9 for the four needed. I just need to figure out the length.

 

 

 

 

This is type foam I used - it came from a large flat TV shipping box.  It's temp for takes 10 minutes and works great.

 

On my '02 JPS, the only clever touch was how John Steele did this. He cut off the bump stops on the rear suspension, and glued them in the door jams ahead of the doors.

 

It was really slick.. for the doors. Some bump-stops in the suspension would have been nice though. With John, you can't have everything.

I use a small rubber bump stop "block" inside of the door jamb, as forward edge of the door turns inward it rests against the rubber stop this way there is no visible limting strap

 

I don't have to worry about this.

 

I can park in the farthest corner of any parking lot, and when I come back to the car there's always an SUV parked on either side of me, within about eight inches.

 

 

I use a rubber bumper from Lowes and two sided molding tape strategically placed in the door jam to keep the door edge from making contact.  2.15$ total cost.

 

I have leather strap ties on mine.

I use a small piece of foam pipe insulation.  Cut a 3 by 2 inch piece with the adhesive on the 3 inch side so it can stick to the body.  The foam and the arc of the the cut foam cushion the door from making contact.  Easy as pie and cost pennies. Can't be seen on dark colored cars.

Thanks guys! I knew you'd come up with some clever suggestions. I think I like the "Rubber Baby Buggy Bumper" concept the best.

On another note, Prank Payne and I went to the L A Roadster Show at Pomona Fairplex last weekend. I'd guess there were 2000 or so Hot Rods to look at. All different kinds and all beautiful with lots of clever and innovative mods. I bought a pass to park Rhonda in with all the cars so I wouldn't have to walk 1/2 a mile in from general parking. I found a nice spot next to a Ford Shelby Cobra replica. As soon as I got out of my car there were 6 people asking me questions. I guess not many of our cars show up to this event. Later that day when I was getting ready to leave a guy came over and told me that he thought the Cobra owner was mad at me and had moved his car about 100 ft. up the line. He said that all day he watched people come over and look at Rhonda and didn't talk to the Cobra owner or look at his car much.  Jeez...I don't know if I should be happy or embarrassed. Anyway, it was a great day (hotter than heck though) and we had a good time.

Rusty...sorry you couldn't make it. It would have been fun to have you and your car there as well.  The Grand National Show is next Jan. Maybe we can meet up at that one along with any others that may have an interest.......Bruce

Bruce, I wouldn't worry about the Shelby built Cobra replica owner and his 'better than thou'' attitude, most of the guys I've met in the Cobra world that own Shelby built Cobra replicas are that way. They are like the snobbish 'Vette owners(or Porsche....LOL)

 

"I'm better than you and my Cobra is better than yours because it's a genuine Shelby (replica)  Cobra"...LOL

 

Shelby builds replicas now and has since the late '90's using Mex made 'glas bodies or Kirkham(Utah) aluminum ones...but they do carry the genuine Shelby vin tag...yet they really are not any better than any other makes in 'glas, just cost way more, at least IMO having seen quite a few of them.

That's funny........They are like the snobbish 'Vette owners(or Porsche....LOL) Does that include 356 owners too?

I experienced the same thing on Sunday.  The local airpark had a 'vintage car and plane day', and I was parked near a Cobra replica.  The guy didn't move his car, but people were looking at mine and not at his.  I actually had people taking photos of mine.

 

The general public know a neat car when they see one, and Speedsters fill that bill.

 

That's pretty hilarious, a replica owner being snobbish about his replica being "more authentic" than someone else's replica.  I can't stop laughing about it. The last car show I was at/in a couple of the Cobra replicas actually attracted more attention than the original Cobra did because their cars were set up so much nicer.

That's funny. I've experienced this as well before.

Best story: I was parked at the P car picnic, next to an original  redone Speedster (gorgeous car!) And a Carrera GT, both owned by the same guy. He wasn't a snob at all. He commented though that more people were checking out my Spyder. He has almost a million worth in the two cars next to me.

Real one next to my speedster.  Check the guy out staring at my driver door...stood there for 20 minutes.  The owner of the real one was all over my car and chose to park next to it.  He was fascinated.  Not a rude word spoken by any of them...

Excellent, Todd. We have a lad in town with a real convertible and a real coupe. He loves my car. He's spent mega bux restoring both of his but I've yet to see either on the road. I should get over and give him a visit.

I used the Suzuki Samuai end pieces, had them chromed, with pieces of seat belt straps.

Michael- did you describe this in a thread (with pics?) a few years ago?

Probably.