Differences in door shells?
 

Anybody know what differences there are in the door shells used from 1972-1975 and those used from 1976-1983?

Various sources indicate that door beams were added to US cars in 1973 but looking at the part numbers in PET doesn't support that.

JR

Yes, US cars had door beams added beginning with the 73.5 CIS, possibly with the early 73's also but not too sure. They are definitely there on the 73.5's and later cars.

I don't see beams in the doors of either of my US '74 targas (manufactured in '73.. Maybe I am looking for the wrong thing. What would they look like?

It looks like a metal girder that is glued to the door skin about half way up the inside of the door.

Nothing like that on mine.

borrowed pic...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1303180416.jpg

My bad...just looked at both 74s...both have the beam...although not the same size as the one in the photo.

I'm looking for info about differences other than the door beam. I'm considering putting doors from a '72 on to a Euro '77, neither of which had door beams. I'm pretty sure the window frames are an easy swap, as are the handles, locks and window regulators, but I'm wondering if there are any other differences that I don't know about.

Thanks,
Jeff

You should have very little problem with the switch. IIRC, there are some minor differences in the mounting of trim pieces on the interior that you may need to deal with as well as a bit of tweaking of the door mounting itself to get the gaps correct (very common as they are all hand assembled) but other than that, nothing major.