97+ and Pre 97 Door Panel/Mirror/Wiring compatibility

[slcpunk74]

I have a 97 four door and I have been told that I have the pre 97 hinges and now that I want to paint my jeep I need to replace my doors. I was just going to use the pre 97 doors because I can find them easier then the 97+ and if I do have the old style hinges they would bolt right up... But I was not sure if my 97+ mirrors and door panels would fit up without issue??? I don't mind having the wing window.

What about wiring? I could just take all the wiring from the chassis and just rout it through the new door to my 97+ switch, but what about the door lock/ window for the front doors? Would they just wire up to the 97+ switch no problem?

Thanks guys I am going to give my jeep some long overdue attention and this is the big hurdle I need to get over before I can paint.

Chadwick

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

any door will "bolt" on. the pattern is the same. but you will find the early models have a different latch. youd be better off sticking with a late model door and just bolting it on. nothing needs to be cut. the late model doors are more desirable anyway.

same door features would be ideal, that way they would be plug and play.




(and yay for another 97 with early model hinges. mine is the same._

 

[slcpunk74]

So the 97+ doors bolt up to the old style hinges without an issue? That's what I'm gathering from your post. Just wanted to make sure before I go buy some doors haha I have been one to buy things a couple times before.

 

[slcpunk74]

how much work is it to change the glass and power window system from my doors to a door that might not have anything in it?

 

[sam24th]

Where the hinges are the bolt pattern should be the same. The latch is what is gonna mess you up on if you go with an earlier style door. You would have to change out the latch. Id just go with a latemodel door since itll look better and bolt right up without any problems. As for removing everything and putting it back in a shell, itll ake a lot more work than jsut taking he door off and putting a new one on. The XJs arent as bad as some cars to do when swapping out the window regulators, etc, but if you can just get another latemodel door that would be easiest. Also from the outside I think the latemodel doors and earlier doors are basically identical besides the windows and latches.

 

[VAhasnoWAVES]

for keeping your power accessories, the best bet would be finding a door with the same options and wiring into your jeep. itll take a little time but can be done in a day. doors will bolt right up... but the early models use a striker which is located in a different spot than the latch on the late models (i could have that backwards). all that is invloved is welding or bolting the new latch onto the B (and C for 4 door) pillars.

getting it to line up and seal correctly will be much harder than getting it to simply close.