door alignment advice 67
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 4
From: Richmond VA
door alignment advice 67
I received my car from paint about 4 weeks ago and everything was going along fine. I had a new top installed last week and now my doors are hard to shut. I did notice that the body shop did not install the wedge shims. What is the proper way to align the doors? should it be done with the top on...off? Where do I find this information? I am not so sure I trust the shop now. Especially if they left the shims off. They do beautiful paint work otherwise.
thanks for the help.
thanks for the help.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,351
Likes: 2,724
From: Close to DC
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
Here is what I think you can do and come out possibly better. Lay your top back, and look at your door alignment. Gap should be 1/8 to 1/4 verticle space, horizontally the body lines should match. Get your door panels off, I know that's no fun, but it's a must. You will have to play with the shims in some fashion to get these alignment results. When I put my doors back on I made a carpet lined support/cradle from 2x6 about 75% the length of the door and deep enough to support the door so that it didn't fall over. Place everything on a hydraulic jack and lift the doors into place, then slip the shims in. It's going to take some juggling around but you can do it. The vent window frame is adjustable after you get the door set, (see AIM book). Next I would try to put the top up and see how things fit. A range of adjustments are available with the top mounting bolts and the latches. According to a well respected restorer, a frame should be adjusted on the car first without the fabric. Hope this helps. 
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,593
Likes: 173
From: Clayton NC
Could it be that just the bottom of the convertable top weatherstripping is hitting the top of the door? If so just adjust the two bolts per side to raise the conv mech up a 1/8th or so. These bolts are located behind the panel that is directly behind the seats on each side.. Dave..
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 4
From: Richmond VA
the alignment wasnt that good when I got it back originally. We kind of rushed because we had other tasks lined up that needed to take place. I had to get the new top installed and the new motor in so we thought we would tackle the touch up and alignment after these. The bad part is that it chipped the paint at the rear of the door and he has to take the door off and start over. The new top tightness really made the difference here.
My question is; what is the proper procedure to align the door? These are really the first cars that I have noticed the shims and the wedges that are required for alignment...just a little different. Is there a booklet, manual with pictures that I can see? Or does someone have any tricks, instructions or short cuts?
My question is; what is the proper procedure to align the door? These are really the first cars that I have noticed the shims and the wedges that are required for alignment...just a little different. Is there a booklet, manual with pictures that I can see? Or does someone have any tricks, instructions or short cuts?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 33
From: ct
It sounds like you are talking about the shims in the rear of the door. Those are not for alineing the door. They are there to help the door lines stay when the body flexs. You must aline the door at the door hinges without the rear shims. I would have the top up. Then once you get your door gaps right install the rear shims so that they just touch when the door is closed. Was the body off the frame? If it was then you may need to shim the body a little differant so you can open the gap at the top of the doors.Take some shims out at the rear mount and maybe add some at the mount just in front of the tire. This is why I do not paint the cars with the doors off. The bodys where painted with all the body parts on and lined up when they built the car. There is a reason for that. It is way to easy to chip paint when alineing the doors. hoods are easy if they where fit to the car before painting but doors can be a real PIA.
Last edited by aworks; Nov 21, 2004 at 04:18 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Originally Posted by tdelph
My question is; what is the proper procedure to align the door? These are really the first cars that I have noticed the shims and the wedges that are required for alignment...just a little different. Is there a booklet, manual with pictures that I can see? Or does someone have any tricks, instructions or short cuts?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 33
From: ct
You can get the manuel on ebay. It is for your year car and covers full size chevys, novas,and corvettes. It is a good book to have. But alining the doors is common sense. Put some masking tape on the front side of the door to help from chipping paint. There are six bolts on each hinge. keep the bolts just snugg enough so you can move the door. Get your lines the way you want and tighten the bolts. I like to close the door on the striker and then tighten the bolts. It is hit or miss. Once you get one done the other side will be easyer.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 437
Likes: 54
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Originally Posted by tdelph
where is the Chasis Service manual located? I assume this is different than the assembly manual...right. Does all of the Vette supply houses sell this manual?
thanks
thanks
Dave
Last edited by Dave McDufford; Nov 22, 2004 at 07:10 AM.
