If you grab the bottom of a Dodge or Chevy slider door, you can move the door a few inches. Any extension is going to increase the load on the mechanism, that's just physics. There was no 'magic design' to the slider extensions in the 70's, they were just a few inches longer- about 4" if I remember.
That said, the track and mechanism can handle the load ok as long as the area isn't rusted out.
I finished my home made slider extension and it's working great! I had to make a new hard nylon glider piece because the old one was worn pretty bad and causing some binding. Once i got everything tweaked and adjusted, it's working really well. I cleaned all of the old hardened grease & grime out of the top and bottom tracks and that REALLY made a huge improvement in the way it all works...Easily operates with one hand & a gentle pull.
The stock Chevy extender is 5 1/4 inches. I found one at the junkyard off a conversion van. It's exactly twice as long at 10 1/2 inches. I found it by chance. I was at the junkyard for something unrelated.
After I thought about it, it made sense. A lot of these conversion vans were sold off the lot with flairs. Some with running boards. If they had a sliding door, it had a longer extender.
The stock Chevy extender is 5 1/4 inches. I found one at the junkyard off a conversion van. It's exactly twice as long at 10 1/2 inches. I found it by chance. I was at the junkyard for something unrelated.
After I thought about it, it made sense. A lot of these conversion vans were sold off the lot with flairs. Some with running boards. If they had a sliding door, it had a longer extender.
Great info, Tom. Now find me an extension for a '75 Ford.
1975 Ford E-150 shorty (sold) 2016 Ram Promaster shorty 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit 5.7l 1984 Ford E-150
My Vanagon came with the longer extension and it is broken. I have a spare one but it is smaller, is there a way to move the track or something to allow the smaller extension to fit?
I have a 1975 Chevy G10 and my extension is 10 1/8" center line to center line. However, mine is not functioning correctly. It delivers the door to the rear locking pin about 1/2" to low. Can't seem to adjust it to correct this problem. May be the nylon block (although it looks good) or the arm is a bit bent. Any ideas. I'm getting frustrated with this issue.
Last edited by BillRussell; December 05th 2018 4:42 pm. Reason: added more info
SUNSHINE VANS-VAN DIEGO ADRENALIN BY THE GALLON & CHASIN RACIN ONE FOR THE DIRT & ONE FOR THE STREETS '93 CHEVY G30 454 4X4 SPORTVAN EXT 146" WB '92 CHEVY G30 454 BEAUVILLE EXT 146" WB