Date:         Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:30:49 -0500
Reply-To:     Paul Guzyk <paullist08@GUZYK.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Paul Guzyk <paullist08@GUZYK.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fitting 88 slider to 84 van... differences in years?
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>Completely? Does this mean that the later door's rear (center) rollers
>won't fit the earlier rail, or that the later rail won't fit the
>earlier body? This is the one thing that would stop me fitting a later
>door to my earlier van.

not sure about the center rollers, they should be the same, I've never tried fitting older door on newer van.

>
>> 84 and older have a crappy rear latching system and the outside handles tend to break off.
>
>My 84's door hasn't had any problems with the latch (though it's a
>total pain not being able to flick the lock knob and slide the door
>shut to lock it). Not that I used the van for long before the trans
>gave up and it was off the road.
>

The main difference is the rear latch in center of the door (on the C pillar?)  84's and earlier have a crappy little stub perpendicular to the body, 85's and newer have a meaty stub at a 45 degree angle which make it much easier to open and close the door.

85's and up also allow you to lock the door before closing it, a nice convenience.

I think the windows are slightly different sizes too between old and new style sliding doors.