Will doors off a 01-03 F150 work on a 97-98 F150? I know they've got the different door handle setup but I've never seen the 01-03 doors without the door panels. I'm looking to repaint my 1998 and it has those dreaded door cracks. Would rather have the later model doors repainted than that block adhesive setup fix. Anybody know?

 

they are exactly the same.

 

Meaning...they will eventually crack too?...or they fit exactly the same?

 

Actually I've made sort of a unscientific study on the subject. For example I'll walk around the parking lot when I go out to eat and look at the doors on F150s. For the most part you don't see the cracks or even the beginning of cracks on the later model F150s of this style. On the pre 1999 version it's always there in some form. Can't say that I've really seen it on 01-03 models.

People will come up to you and ask why are you looking at my truck? And I proceed to tell them that I'm looking for the door cracks associated with 1997-1999 F150 doors and show them What I've found. Most people have no idea what I'm talking or that the problem even exists. Actualy noone who has ever come up to me knows what I'm talking about. The general public is unaware of this.

Anyway I found two doors off an 02 White XL that an older gentleman has used on his farm. Truck has nearly 200k miles on it, motor just died, and not a single sign of those cracks. My original 98 has 99k and you start to see the cracks coming thru. Actually they're still faint enough that you probably wouldn't notice unless you were looking; however I will not paint over the problem. The doors are $100 for the pair and have no damage or body work of any kind. So I will go with these nstead of that dubious repair. Cheaper to prep and paint these used doors than do that repair anyway.

Thanks for info Raptor.