C4 door question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Rowland Heights California
C4 door question
My 96 doors are kind of hard to close. I have to make sure to shut it kind of hard to shut it closed. Is that just the way C4's are or is it just mine? It bothers me a bit because when someone else hops in the passengers side, I always have to tell them that the door on their side is open because they didnt close it hard enough.
I like the C5's doors because they are sooo smooth and feels so light. I might try some WD-40 on the hinges.
I like the C5's doors because they are sooo smooth and feels so light. I might try some WD-40 on the hinges.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,121
Likes: 9,436
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
on both of our C4s a coupe and vert the doors are real easy to close. is the weather striping were it belongs and nothing is in the way of the doors from closing. and I always use white gresse on the door hinges and latches
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Franklin Ohio
I put some new door weatherstripping on my 88 Corvette. The doors were harder to close at first until the weatherstripping started settling in. How new is the weatherstripping on your 96 Vette? Perhaps, it has become loose. You might check that out..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 881
Likes: 24
From: Coquitlam BC
My guess is that your door hinge pins are a bit worn. Open your door and grab it at the bottom and lift up. If it wiggles a bit then your hinge pins are worn and that's your problem. Slamming your door will only cause your latch mechanism to wear out faster. You might need to replace your hinges or their hinge pins.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Rowland Heights California
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Rowland Heights California
My guess is that your door hinge pins are a bit worn. Open your door and grab it at the bottom and lift up. If it wiggles a bit then your hinge pins are worn and that's your problem. Slamming your door will only cause your latch mechanism to wear out faster. You might need to replace your hinges or their hinge pins.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,261
Likes: 9
From: sonoma ca
I ll try that, and see if my door hings pins are worn, by lifting up on the door like you say. If it does not wiggle and is secure and tight then I m good with the hingles? I hope its not cause then the wife will think my car is just an old piece, but I know I just need to restore a few things. Other than that I see people just staring because they like it as they pass me when I m driving slow.
Nut Job
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 363
Likes: 12
From: Monticello Florida
I ll try that, and see if my door hings pins are worn, by lifting up on the door like you say. If it does not wiggle and is secure and tight then I m good with the hingles? I hope its not cause then the wife will think my car is just an old piece, but I know I just need to restore a few things. Other than that I see people just staring because they like it as they pass me when I m driving slow.
1) Don't think of the vettes (a '73 and a '96 in my case) as old pieces of $#!+. Rather, think of them as "classics." i.e. think of them in the same way as you think of me and the music I listen to.
2) Women tend to think of their husbands in the same way as they think of the children. i.e we require constant supervision and our time needs to be filled with something constructive. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop," so a hobby: keeps us at home in the garage and away from our deadbeat friends, gives us something constructive to do, etc.
3) A hobby that keeps us in the garage provides the best of both worlds since it keeps us at home but not hogging the television so that they can't watch the shows/movies they want to see.
4) While our hobby isn't cheap, has she priced a round of golf or an hour of flight time in a Cessna 175 lately?
5) The Corvette is a hobby but it has a practical side too. Can a set of golf clubs or a tennis racket get you to work and back when needed?
I'm sure other forum brethren can provide more virtues of the Corvette hobby if you need them...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Rowland Heights California
It sounds like your wife needs some "education." It takes awhile but here are talking points I kept repeating to my wife until she was properly indoctrinated:
1) Don't think of the vettes (a '73 and a '96 in my case) as old pieces of $#!+. Rather, think of them as "classics." i.e. think of them in the same way as you think of me and the music I listen to.
2) Women tend to think of their husbands in the same way as they think of the children. i.e we require constant supervision and our time needs to be filled with something constructive. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop," so a hobby: keeps us at home in the garage and away from our deadbeat friends, gives us something constructive to do, etc.
3) A hobby that keeps us in the garage provides the best of both worlds since it keeps us at home but not hogging the television so that they can't watch the shows/movies they want to see.
4) While our hobby isn't cheap, has she priced a round of golf or an hour of flight time in a Cessna 175 lately?
5) The Corvette is a hobby but it has a practical side too. Can a set of golf clubs or a tennis racket get you to work and back when needed?
I'm sure other forum brethren can provide more virtues of the Corvette hobby if you need them...
1) Don't think of the vettes (a '73 and a '96 in my case) as old pieces of $#!+. Rather, think of them as "classics." i.e. think of them in the same way as you think of me and the music I listen to.
2) Women tend to think of their husbands in the same way as they think of the children. i.e we require constant supervision and our time needs to be filled with something constructive. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop," so a hobby: keeps us at home in the garage and away from our deadbeat friends, gives us something constructive to do, etc.
3) A hobby that keeps us in the garage provides the best of both worlds since it keeps us at home but not hogging the television so that they can't watch the shows/movies they want to see.
4) While our hobby isn't cheap, has she priced a round of golf or an hour of flight time in a Cessna 175 lately?
5) The Corvette is a hobby but it has a practical side too. Can a set of golf clubs or a tennis racket get you to work and back when needed?
I'm sure other forum brethren can provide more virtues of the Corvette hobby if you need them...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Rowland Heights California
My guess is that your door hinge pins are a bit worn. Open your door and grab it at the bottom and lift up. If it wiggles a bit then your hinge pins are worn and that's your problem. Slamming your door will only cause your latch mechanism to wear out faster. You might need to replace your hinges or their hinge pins.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: Exeter RI
My drivers door was out of alignment by about 1/4" so closing it felt a bit like an uphill battle. It wasn't loose however, the previous owner was a big guy with back problems, I suspect he pulled on the door getting in or out.
I adjusted the door following this procedure and it opens and shuts perfectly. The whole process took maybe 40 minutes going slow.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=206&TopicID=2
I adjusted the door following this procedure and it opens and shuts perfectly. The whole process took maybe 40 minutes going slow.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=206&TopicID=2