Door alignment? Gaps are off here
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 878
Likes: 2
Door alignment? Gaps are off here
My doors don't align very well so i snapped some pics. Will check and see what my hinges and bushings look like. It doesn't look like the car has been hit as i see not frame repair. I'm thinking adjustments worn parts. Thoughts?
Last edited by LoneStarV; Jul 1, 2013 at 05:35 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 13
From: Mascoutah IL
They actually don't look that bad... I "think" 3/16s" was the standard (max allowed) when they left the factory... You were lucky if your new corvette had good door gaps... Vettes you see now with perfect gaps have been massaged and massaged to get them that way... Can't tell from your pictures, but looks like they need to close a little more which is a door striker adjustment... Do the doors have new weatherstrips??? The door gap on the driver's door, front near the top is "typical"... Need different angles to get a better view...
Rogman
Rogman
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
They actually don't look that bad... I "think" 3/16s" was the standard (max allowed) when they left the factory... You were lucky if your new corvette had good door gaps... Vettes you see now with perfect gaps have been massaged and massaged to get them that way... Can't tell from your pictures, but looks like they need to close a little more which is a door striker adjustment... Do the doors have new weatherstrips??? The door gap on the driver's door, front near the top is "typical"... Need different angles to get a better view...
Rogman
Rogman
I think the striker looks like it needs move inward a little. 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 878
Likes: 2
The gap between the driver door and the front fender is pretty wide. I have a geek friend of mine who has a good eye for that kinda stuff i'll have him look it over and see if it can be adjusted bit. Looks like i was expecting too much on how the gaps should look. Thanks guys.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 140
From: Western New York
I agree with Rogman on this one, too. Your door gaps look OK to me. I went out and looked at my door gaps. I've had the car since 1974 and I'm the 2nd owner. My gaps are original and have never been touched and they don't look any better than yours. I think the one thing that accentuates the gaps on yours is your shiny paint. That blue with the clearcoat is so perfect it makes those gaps stand out. Back in the day, the original paint didn't look like yours so no one noticed the gaps. Don't get your pants in a bunch over it. Life's too short.
Duane
Duane
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 5
From: N.Richland Hills Texas
Mine were WAYYyyyy off.. I was advised not to adjust them until new frame to body mounts were installed.... After that they lined up better... Not perfect.. But considering they were all hand made... Much better ...
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,364
Likes: 1,588
From: los altos hills california
I disagree on the opinions here. This doesn't look all that great. Here's my original, sorry no closeups immediately available. I have some on some device around here, have to look.
I do agree on the striker which should be a simple adjustment. But it may be the case that it moves in too close to the rear edge when it is pulled in, in which case the door needs to move forward and it stops being simple. A measurement along the "beauty line" comparing the width of the door vs. the width of the opening there would give us a little science here.
I do agree on the striker which should be a simple adjustment. But it may be the case that it moves in too close to the rear edge when it is pulled in, in which case the door needs to move forward and it stops being simple. A measurement along the "beauty line" comparing the width of the door vs. the width of the opening there would give us a little science here.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 878
Likes: 2
I disagree on the opinions here. This doesn't look all that great. Here's my original, sorry no closeups immediately available. I have some on some device around here, have to look.
I do agree on the striker which should be a simple adjustment. But it may be the case that it moves in too close to the rear edge when it is pulled in, in which case the door needs to move forward and it stops being simple. A measurement along the "beauty line" comparing the width of the door vs. the width of the opening there would give us a little science here.
I do agree on the striker which should be a simple adjustment. But it may be the case that it moves in too close to the rear edge when it is pulled in, in which case the door needs to move forward and it stops being simple. A measurement along the "beauty line" comparing the width of the door vs. the width of the opening there would give us a little science here.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,364
Likes: 1,588
From: los altos hills california
Was your car painted recently with the doors removed? When I painted mine I drilled some guide holes and got my original alignment back in a jiffy.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 13
From: Mascoutah IL
I disagree on the opinions here. This doesn't look all that great. Here's my original, sorry no closeups immediately available. I have some on some device around here, have to look.
I do agree on the striker which should be a simple adjustment. But it may be the case that it moves in too close to the rear edge when it is pulled in, in which case the door needs to move forward and it stops being simple. A measurement along the "beauty line" comparing the width of the door vs. the width of the opening there would give us a little science here.
I do agree on the striker which should be a simple adjustment. But it may be the case that it moves in too close to the rear edge when it is pulled in, in which case the door needs to move forward and it stops being simple. A measurement along the "beauty line" comparing the width of the door vs. the width of the opening there would give us a little science here.
LoneStar--I want to say my '73 gaps were close to 5/16 to 3/8s on that gap at the top between door and front fender... I added glass to the entire front lip of my door to bring these gaps down...
After adding glass...
You can put a lot of time and effort to adjust by a 1/32 or 1/16 of an inch... Always make very minor adjustments... You'll be surprised at how a small change on the front gaps will affect the rear, bottom and top gaps... It truly is a science and labor of love to get the gaps looking nice... Then you drive around the block, go over some speed bumps, flex the frame and 6 months later the gaps are off again... Never ending pursuit with these beasts...
Rogman