Passenger door adjustment help please!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Charleston South Carolina
Passenger door adjustment help please!
Hello again all,
Hope this message finds you well!
Had a question pertaining to my 1974 passenger door.
I removed the door to have one of the hinges rewelded - as it had rusted through.
I have since reattached the door but the gap at the top side nearest the engine seems too large, no matter what I do.
I have messed with different shim distances, loosened the bolts and had a friend pull the door up while I tightened the bolts back down - then the door was too high and wouldn't latch, loosened them again and held the door to where it should latch - thought I had it but then when I looked from the back of the Vette the door sort of pops up a little bit.
Could the door be warped and I just need a new one?
Anyone else encountered this same struggle?
Thanks!
Hope this message finds you well!
Had a question pertaining to my 1974 passenger door.
I removed the door to have one of the hinges rewelded - as it had rusted through.
I have since reattached the door but the gap at the top side nearest the engine seems too large, no matter what I do.
I have messed with different shim distances, loosened the bolts and had a friend pull the door up while I tightened the bolts back down - then the door was too high and wouldn't latch, loosened them again and held the door to where it should latch - thought I had it but then when I looked from the back of the Vette the door sort of pops up a little bit.
Could the door be warped and I just need a new one?
Anyone else encountered this same struggle?
Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
You are not alone with this issue many including myself struggled to get the doors realigned once removed. I have done it often enough on mine that I kind of have a feel for what to do. When you said that your hinge needed to be welded did you mean the hinge itself or where it mounts to the door? Did the door fit (hang) correct before the work? When I align mine I use a two blocks of wood 1x2 (actual ¾ x 1 ½) lay them at each end of the rocker panel so they lift the door ¾ of an inch high and cover with a towel. My car does not have carpet or sill plates on it so take that into consideration if yours does. Sit the door on them and start from there. Any chance of a photo?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Charleston South Carolina
Hey Roco71,
Thanks for your response!
I am fairly new to this forum, I took pictures last night but I don't have a URL - they are just on my computer so I do not know if I can load them...
But the gap at the top of the door (nearest hood) is almost 3/4 of an inch - which I know is way too big.
The area that was welded was where the bracket mounts INSIDE the door - the area where the four bolt holes are located. I realize that will probably set the door somewhat askew... potentially.
As far as I know the door fit correctly at one time - this car was my mothers first car and she passed away last year. I am 24, and ever since being a kid that hinge has been broken - so I dont know that I have ever personally seen the door working perfectly - but the lines were better than they are now...
Any ideas?
Glad to hear there is hope!
Thanks!
Thanks for your response!
I am fairly new to this forum, I took pictures last night but I don't have a URL - they are just on my computer so I do not know if I can load them...
But the gap at the top of the door (nearest hood) is almost 3/4 of an inch - which I know is way too big.
The area that was welded was where the bracket mounts INSIDE the door - the area where the four bolt holes are located. I realize that will probably set the door somewhat askew... potentially.
As far as I know the door fit correctly at one time - this car was my mothers first car and she passed away last year. I am 24, and ever since being a kid that hinge has been broken - so I dont know that I have ever personally seen the door working perfectly - but the lines were better than they are now...
Any ideas?
Glad to hear there is hope!
Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Hey Tyler
With the door and pillar hinge bolts all loose (really loose) can you position the door on the car to where it is close? The gap you are describing will require the front of the door to come up.
With the door and pillar hinge bolts all loose (really loose) can you position the door on the car to where it is close? The gap you are describing will require the front of the door to come up.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Someone can correct me, but I think it goes this way:
In and out (tilt) of the door within the opening is with shims on the hinges. Adding or removing as required.
Up and down within the door opening (high or low) is on the hinges inside the doors.
Forward and backward within the door opening is on the hinges on the door posts.
In and out (tilt) of the door within the opening is with shims on the hinges. Adding or removing as required.
Up and down within the door opening (high or low) is on the hinges inside the doors.
Forward and backward within the door opening is on the hinges on the door posts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Someone can correct me, but I think it goes this way:
In and out (tilt) of the door within the opening is with shims on the hinges. Adding or removing as required.
Up and down within the door opening (high or low) is on the hinges inside the doors.
Forward and backward within the door opening is on the hinges on the door posts.
In and out (tilt) of the door within the opening is with shims on the hinges. Adding or removing as required.
Up and down within the door opening (high or low) is on the hinges inside the doors.
Forward and backward within the door opening is on the hinges on the door posts.
Yes you are correct.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
My guess is that the welding job warped the door's hinge area. Too large a gap will be impossible to correct until that is corrected...which might be as simple as bashing it in, then shimming it back out for the correct fit.
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: Rockford MI
If the back of the door is lined up with the rear quarter panel and the bottom of the door is parallel with the rocker panel, it doesnt seem that there is much more you could do. Pictures of the front and rear of the door would help.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Put some carpeting or any other soft material on a floor jack and carefully position the door to the body..... then tighten the bolts lightly to be able to move it around for its best fit.....then finish it off...the Jack will help locate the door.......
