The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Barn Door Or Clam Shell

Which do you prefer and why??

I agree with Joe; but, the end-gate (clam shell) door is a conversation piece.

Well how about this!
Im looking for a burb and i would prefer a clam shell, but a barn door would do too.
Why not have both? Just take a burb or panel with barn doors and cut just below the glass, weld the top 2 pieces to make a 1 piece and make the glass a 1 piece also. make it so it flips up just like a clam shell. Then you have the lower doors to swing out, like their supposed to.
And Wa-la! A Barn Shell!

I noticed an oddity on my '52 Burb...the diamond shape metal covers (with hole in the middle) on the outside rear door frames are from a clamshell rear set (cable guides) up ...but I have a barn door truck. Were all AD Burbs setup to be either?

all panel bodies of any year are setup to accept either door option

Bill

It depends on how you are going to use your suburban. If you plan on going in and out of the back with large objects...barn doors. If you plan to have seats in the back and only put small items such as picnic baskets, tool box etc....clamshell tailgate. I like the look of the clamshell tailgate and the lift gate window for better viewing, ventilation (caution if you have your tail pipe coming out the rear) I like the clamshell tail light too.

To answer you other question on if you can mount either style doors, a simple answer is yes....but there is some problems if your Suburban came with a clamshell and you want to convert to barn doors. There is no reinforcement for the door checks. The problem with converting from barn doors to clamshell is there is no support for the lower hinges (important) and you will have to find tailgate retractors and cables as well as other pieces to complete the conversion. You will have to cut the lower body panel to allow the hinges to go through too. You can purchase the body plugs from several vendors to close off the barn door hinge holes. ......g

I prefer the barn doors though I like the clam shell window. I'd like to have a tailgate to use on one of my projects, and I keep thinking it will appear one of these days...

I'll agree with Joe also. I used my burb for camping alot and the barn doors make it easier to get in and out. I have a newer Blazer with the tail gate and it is a reach to unload stuff from the back. JMHO

Jim

Looks - Clam Shell
Function - Barn Doors

A few years back someone here was going to build barn door bottoms with calm shell top, did it get done? I never heard anymore about it but I think that would be the best!!!

Hmmmm...Another Project...You need to work on that TM2c

Buddy in AK

TooMany, that would be a "best of both worlds" kind of thing...if anyone has ever done it, I want to see pictures. That said, my Panel is a deluxe with the stainless trim around the barn door windows, so I guess the barn doors get to stay unmolested.

I always thought that hatch over doors approach seeming odd on Astro vans. I never owned one and have no experience with them.

My '55 1st has the stainless around the barn door windows.

I've got a better set of doors that don't have the stainless, and I've been wondering how to move the trim from one set to the other.

Steve,

We moved the Suburban rear-window trim to a non-trim door by making a template from the trimmed door and using the template to drill and form holes on the non-trim door.

Restoration Specialties sells an exact replacement clip for attaching the stainlees strips to the doors. I sent them one of my old ones.

Tim

Thanks Tim! That's information I'll use!

i would like to see that

When i get my hands on a burb with barn doors, im going to do that!
Anyone have one they want to sell?

what year burb are you looking for?

Im looking for a 47-55 chevy/GMC burb, but i will consider any, nothing newer than 55 2nd series.
Thanks

oh ok well if you want a 60-66 suburban that rj has a few for sale?