Door Reassembly. On-car or off-car??

[ozstang65]

Hi Everyone, I'm nearing the point of door reassembly on my '65 coupe and I'm wondering if it's easier to reassemble the glasss/locks before or after I bolt the door to the car.(I personally think it's going to be a nightmare either way!)

Hints and tips from anyone who has attempted either way will be appreciated.

 

[silverbluebp]

I did mine with the doors back on the car. I was able to access everything without flipping the door around/over.

 

[limey66]

I'd suggest you get them mounted on the car - the added weight of glass, locks, regulators etc. will make it a lot harder to hang the doors.

 

[67CoupeDriva]

Do it on the car. It's no easier either way, but hanging it will be when it's empty.

 

[eleanor_350]

I did this job last summer and I would for sure do it after the door has been mounted. The bare door is akward enough to try to line up on the car without scratching anything. I can't imagine trying to mount a freshly painted door with all the internals in it.

I put about three layers of masking tape along the inside and outside edge of the window slot before installing the glass, vent window, and regulator. It was thin enough to not get in the way, but also gave me enough cushion to protect from scratching the paint.

Get someone to hold the glass while you hook up all the rollers. It will save a lot of frustration. I did it myself and just about the time I'd get the last roller lined up another one would fall off the track. It took several rounds of this before I got them all in.

Getting the glass all lined up is a time consuming process. I had to readjust mine several times.

 

[19simmons65]

Has anyone seen a good online resource with pictures for door reassembly? I'm all about proper preperation. I like to review all the step in a process before a start a project.

 

[ozstang65]

Thanks for the responses. seems like the consensus is to do it on the car. For those that have done it on-car, has there been any noticable 'droop' in the door once all the gear has been reassembled. I've got new bushes and pins in my hinges so I don't relly see it being a problem for me.

Has anyone seen a good online resource with pictures for door reassembly? I'm all about proper preperation. I like to review all the step in a process before a start a project.

The only book I've seen with good exploded diagrams is the '64 1/2 to '73 Restoration Guide. No description but the pics make it a bit easier to understand. I'm going for electric windows in mine, but at this point i'm not sure what gets replaced and what gets kept.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Door installation is awkward and alignment is a PIA. I assume the pro's use a door holder like this one: NorthernTool Door Handler. Attaching the door handle prior to installation might help to give you something to hold on to.

Accept the fact that you may have to install the fenders twice to get proper door and glass alignment.
.

 

[67CoupeDriva]

I did not have to realign mine, but I may have been lucky. I'd not put the fenders on (if you haven't already) until you get the doors together, just in case. It is a pain, but it's more tedium than anything else. Not rocket science, but a fair bit of trial and error. I actually did not use any special tools, but a few playing cards taped together to ensure a (mostly) consistent gap. Adjusting the windows is similarly trial-and-error, and one word of caution about the vent window frames...start with them adjusted as far OUT as possible and work them in until they are not too tight. I had to replace one of my frames because it was broken (not sure how but it looks suspicious). Man, was I glad to get that loose frame fixed, amazing how little things like that will bug you.