Vanagon Slider Door Hinge Extension

So here we have a neat Vanagon Westy with a sliding door that can't get past the wider wheel/tire combo. No problem though.

The customer provided a new hinge mechanism with an extended arm. The parts didn't come with instructions, but I was linked to A Samba article which detailed the whole modification and install. As most things go, it wasn't that simple.

First off, we have a discrepancy in the bolt pattern of the NEW hinge. Of the three bolt holes, only 1 was in alignment at a time. I'm no vanagon expert, so maybe someone can tell me if we are dealing with a difference and vehicle year/date, or if the aftermarket part is simply wrong?

The other crucial conflict with the aftermarket part, the diameter and machining of the pin which is supposed to be carried in the slider mechanism was different to factory, and non compatible. At this point what I was given seemed unusable and still left was the more involved work of altering the factory latch plate ON the vehicle itself.

SO NOW, before crossing any bridges which couldn't be walked back over, let's check in with the customer. With our situation outlined, the solution was determined: CUT STUFF. I was assured that after 4 years of waiting, there was no time like the present. BUT we don't just grab the cutoff wheel and ripping.