adjusting the doors
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: Jackson, MS USA
adjusting the doors
I am getting ready to put paint on the '69, and noticed a big problem with the door alignment. The latches are out, and there is no weatherstrip, and this could be effecting what I am seeing. However, the door, at the bottom, is in too far. Looking down the car, you can see alot of the area to the rear of the door, at the bottom. At the top, the body lines seam to match up. Can this be adujusted out? I went to a show today, and the C3's I looked at, the body lines matched at the top and bottom of the door.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: Jackson, MS USA
Yeah, sorry about the descript. I would take some pics, but the car is Jackson, MS, and I am in St. Louis, MO, it takes me a few minutes to get out to my garage. Actually the car is at buddy of mines shop, and I hope he has battened down the hatches, it could get ugly there after midnight. let me try one more time on the descript. The lower rear corner of both doors seem to be to far in, ie closing to far into the jamb. as I said, the latches, striker, and rubber are not mounted yet. However, it seems excessive. You can see a good portion of the rear door jamb at the lower corner of the door. When I line the top portion of the door (top corner) with the body lines coming from the rear quarter, the lower part of the door is WAY to far in. The passenger side is more pronounced than the driver side.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Key all adjustments off of the front of the door. Are the top and bottom of the door and fender flush? If they are, you (your body-shop) will need to build up the lower edge at the quarter panel...We do it all the time...... 
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: Oreland PA
I would first put in the weather strip. This will affect how the door lines up. I would also install the latch. Once this is done you can loosen the bolts on the door side of the hinge to move it in and out. Meaning flush with the quarter and fender. If the door is not square in the opening, loosen the hinge pillar side bolts to align this. Remember the gaps on these doors were not that great so it may never be perfect unless you do some bodywork. if you are just moving the bottom of the door our loosen the lower bolts only. If you loosen the uppers and lowers all at once you will really be messes up. Doors can be tricky.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: Jackson, MS USA
Thanks for the help guys. It is a unique prob, that I have not seen on other vettes. The problem is not with the gap at the bottom, as this is uniform. The bottom corner of the door shuts in too far. I will try the fixes suggested. Thanks again.
