Getting my door open

[graham2306]

I wrapped my 90 round a tree in January and bust off the passenger side door handle, except for the lock bit.  I can't get the door open!  I've got a new door and new handle but I can't get the old one open.   I know all I really need is a 13 year old 'chav' with a motoring related ASBO but I can't find one locally, so do any of you guys have any ideas about how I can get it open.

I did think that as I don't need the old door anymore I could just take the grinder to it, but that seems a little extreme and I do need all the door furniture to go on the new door.

Any ideas?

Graham

[phoenixmad]

wont the door lock open from inside
if not get the good old grinder to the out side of the door thats what i would do

[graham2306]

No can't shift it from inside or out.  can't get to the lock plate to try flicking the latch, think I'm going to warm up the grinder.

Graham

[90Adam]

Could you take the door card off from the inside and have a go at the lock from inside the landy? if you still cant get to it you can take the metal plate off the inside of the door and get at the lock that way.

But the grinder would be much more fun!

[TechnoTurkey]

Loosen the hinges off on the a-post and see if that helps - it might just be too tight after the impact to open.

[graham2306]

I can't get the door card off without damaging it, with the door closed I can't get to much of it because of the dashboard and seatbox.  I've tried loosening the hinges on the A post but I can't shift the b**gers at the moment, new bolts have just arrived in the post.  I'm off for another go now before I take the grinder to it.

Thanks, keep the ideas coming.

Graham

[Muddy]

I have found hinge bolts need drilling out 9 times out if 10.

[graham2306]

With a bit of messing about I managed to get the top edge of the door card off.  Then with a long screwdriver a couple of cable ties and a bag tie I managed to pull the lever on the back of the latch and got the door open.  The bolts came out OK except for the bottom one, but that didn't matter too much as the corner of the door was so rotten that I just pulled it off and got the bolt out of the hinges.

Had to stop transferring bits from the old door to the new one as it got dark, but should get it finished tomorrow.

Thanks for all the ideas, and getting the door card off a bit worked.

Graham