Door Gap
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 0
From: Hampton Georgia
Re: Door Gap (fontking1a)
I wish you were one of my customers.Whenever I try to tell them that these cars were never perfect,even from the factory.When they were brand new ,they were wavy and the body alignment would not do well under the "ball bearing" test. :seeya
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: Door Gap (es)
It's most likely just GM's wonderful fit and finish. I had similar gaps on my 76. The top was 1/2" and the bottom 1/8" at the front. The fit of the door and sid window to the rest of the body, windshiled, and t-tops is good so the door was aligned properly. My car didn't have a lot of rust except for the floor pans where your feet go (probably from salt & water during winter time in Indiana).
The front ends of these cars are just bonded on, and my car seems to be structurally OK, I concluded it is just the fit of the front end panels. If that is the case - well, you have 2 choices. Remove the front end and realign (or buy a new one) -- yuk :U , or customize the front fenders to eliminate the gap. I had to "feather" the back edge of the fender by grinding down the fiber glass, apply a piece of fiber glass to the inside & outside of the fender, fill in with a long strand fiberglass type of body filler, grind/sand a consistant door gap, and finish off the body work by using a finer body filler.
Took me several weeks working on it after work. Not an easy job, but doable if you have done fiber glass work before. I know have a consistant 1/8" gap all the way down the door. The "bent" look of the car is a thing of the past. Thank goodness. :D :D
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/greatwhite/
The front ends of these cars are just bonded on, and my car seems to be structurally OK, I concluded it is just the fit of the front end panels. If that is the case - well, you have 2 choices. Remove the front end and realign (or buy a new one) -- yuk :U , or customize the front fenders to eliminate the gap. I had to "feather" the back edge of the fender by grinding down the fiber glass, apply a piece of fiber glass to the inside & outside of the fender, fill in with a long strand fiberglass type of body filler, grind/sand a consistant door gap, and finish off the body work by using a finer body filler.
Took me several weeks working on it after work. Not an easy job, but doable if you have done fiber glass work before. I know have a consistant 1/8" gap all the way down the door. The "bent" look of the car is a thing of the past. Thank goodness. :D :D
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/greatwhite/
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Hey guys I own a 79 and this reply is for you who are interested in door gaps. The bevel in the middle of the door will make it virtually impossible to alleviate the entire problem it's the design of the body that has created this issue and will always remain. You can like some of these guys are saying shave the doors in the front to change the profile a little and do some minor adjusting to the door hinges to correct the issue it depends on how technical you want to get..just shining the hindges is good enough .These cars were produced with this flaw due to like I was saying the design of the body and if you find one that looks perfect then it is because some one took the time to change and alter the specifics discussed . body shims can work for you to but I suggest you be careful..And as the individual who has mentioned the frame being bent... That's a bunch of hogwash....
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
It's most likely just GM's wonderful fit and finish. I had similar gaps on my 76. The top was 1/2" and the bottom 1/8" at the front. The fit of the door and sid window to the rest of the body, windshiled, and t-tops is good so the door was aligned properly. My car didn't have a lot of rust except for the floor pans where your feet go (probably from salt & water during winter time in Indiana).
The front ends of these cars are just bonded on, and my car seems to be structurally OK, I concluded it is just the fit of the front end panels. If that is the case - well, you have 2 choices. Remove the front end and realign (or buy a new one) -- yuk
, or customize the front fenders to eliminate the gap. I had to "feather" the back edge of the fender by grinding down the fiber glass, apply a piece of fiber glass to the inside & outside of the fender, fill in with a long strand fiberglass type of body filler, grind/sand a consistant door gap, and finish off the body work by using a finer body filler.
Took me several weeks working on it after work. Not an easy job, but doable if you have done fiber glass work before. I know have a consistant 1/8" gap all the way down the door. The "bent" look of the car is a thing of the past. Thank goodness.
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/greatwhite/
The front ends of these cars are just bonded on, and my car seems to be structurally OK, I concluded it is just the fit of the front end panels. If that is the case - well, you have 2 choices. Remove the front end and realign (or buy a new one) -- yuk
, or customize the front fenders to eliminate the gap. I had to "feather" the back edge of the fender by grinding down the fiber glass, apply a piece of fiber glass to the inside & outside of the fender, fill in with a long strand fiberglass type of body filler, grind/sand a consistant door gap, and finish off the body work by using a finer body filler.Took me several weeks working on it after work. Not an easy job, but doable if you have done fiber glass work before. I know have a consistant 1/8" gap all the way down the door. The "bent" look of the car is a thing of the past. Thank goodness.
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/greatwhite/
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
