If you measure the window dimensions in the sliding door you can tell of
the 2 doors it is. The 80-84 slider door has the exact same size window
as all year vans have on the driver side. The change is the window is
about 1" smaller front to back on the 86-91 slider door.

The critical stuff is the latching mechanisms. They are very different
and the parts of the latches on the door itself have to match up with
the mating parts on the van. That is what keeps you from mixing doors.

That custom painted door you posted a photo of is from a later van as
the seller well knows. The slider door handle is longer on 80-84 doors
so the recess for your hand to operate the handle is smaller on the
later door to match a smaller handle. Look at the latch on that seller's
door and look at your own door to see the obvious difference.

Mark

Steve Williams wrote:
> Everyone, I'm sorry for my questions about '84/85.  I do trust your
> expertise.  It's just that it's hard to sort out all of the voices.
>
> List member Jeff suggested I call Jason (Jay?) in Sacramento.  Jay sent
> these pictures of a door he has for sale:
>
> http://mira.sbw.org/photos/20141010/
>
> Can we tell by looking it's the right door?  I'm glad to drive two hours
> each way to pick it up, but I'd rather not find out it's different from
> my door.
>
> Would it help to post pictures of my door?  Can someone briefly describe
> one or two key differences between the earlier and later doors for me to
> look at?
>
> Thanks, all!
>