door gap suggestions please

[mtaqua]

As you can probably tell my by other post I am getting the car back together. Anyways, I have a pretty good sized gap on the drivers side I can't seem to get rid of. The top of the door is pretty close where it meets the quarter panel. The closer to the rocker panels the further the door sticks out away from the body. I loosened the bottom hinge where it connects to the door and pushed the door in as far as I could. Meets up with the rocker quite well up front, tightened the hinge. Then loosened the top hinge where is connects to the door and pulled the top of the door out as far as I could. This closed the gap some where the bottom of the door meets the quarter, but it is still more than I want. So then I put some washers on the top hinge where it bolts to the body, that moved the hinge out a little bit, moving the bottom corner at the quarter in a tad more, but still way to much of a gap. I also tried to "bend" the hinges some, but no joy. Any other ideas?

Maybe move the striker? That will suck, cause I painted over them thinking they were good since I am using the same doors and strikers.

 

[2+2GT]

Align the door to the quarter and rocker. Then align the fender to the door. If you have to move the post, oh well.

 

[mtaqua]

That is what I was doing, but can't close the gap. I guess moving the post is next. I'll probably just get some new ones, they look anodized so I won't have to worry about the paint on the old ones.

 

[horseballz]

mtaqua,
Is there NEW weatherstrip on your doors?
Just askin',
Gene

 

[mtaqua]

yeah, I'll have to double check it. maybe it is causing it to push out at the bottom. I might take the latch out again and see if I can get it to align with the latch out. If so it'll be the striker.

I checked the weather stripping. It was gaped a tad at the bottom, but not enough to cause the problem. Got some new strikers on order.

 

[fwaynedavis]

Door Gaps

I had a tough time on my 65. The info is correct so far though, adjust to the rear quarter first, then match fenders. You may have to shim the hinges to get it right. I had to enlarge the holes in the body to allow the threaded plate that your hinge bolts go to allow more rearward movement. Note that the factory gap between the door edge and read quarter is very small usually less than 1/4"

Be sure you tape up all the edges to prevent chipping, and a plastic bondo applicator works great for setting the bottom gap. be sure the door is set with all the weight of the glass and panels, or you'll be disappointed later.

do your best, but remember these cars had poor alignment when new by todays standards.

 

[mtaqua]

Tape would have been good, I wish I would have done that. I am going back to spray clear on the assembled car, and have some BC left to touch up the chips. Anyways, I took the latch out and it is the striker. My door must have been bad before, same doors, hinges, rockers, and striker. At least I figured it out. Strikers should be here this week, along with an impact screw driver. The reason I left them on to paint is I couldn't get the screws to budge. I've heard of others with the same issue, and were able to remove them with an impact screw driver.