Side skirt ripping; suggestions?

[outlawjay]

Hi all.

I just picked up an all stock 92 GT with just 96k on it(yup, I know these car's miles roll over, it's really 96k). So my current problem is where the end of the side skirt gets pulled back by the corner of the door, it is causing a rip. I have tried putting a new door latch striker bushing on. That didn't help raise it high enough.

Thoughts?

And... the whole car

 

[VibrantRedGT]

Two tone forest green, always like that color GT. When you get it painted you'll appreciate that color even more. Shave some of the molding off so the door clears. From the pics it looks like the molding is high not the door being low. Probably why the door bushing didn't fix the issue.

 

[outlawjay]

Thanks! I love the color, and paint will be on soon. I've been collecting parts for a few weeks; headlights, fog lights, tail lights, trim pieces, etc.

This is my second 92' and my earlier one had this same problem. Never really fixed it, but pushing it down worked on that one. This piece is on the brink of breaking off. I don't want that.

 

[MFE92]

How are the door hinge pin bushings?

 

[outlawjay]

They seem a little loose. If I remember correctly, does the fender need to come off to replace those?

 

[MFE92]

Not if you have a helper, a dremel w/ cutoff wheels, and do both upper and lower at the same time.

 

[outlawjay]

Looked up the door hinge repair kit on LMR and then looked at my car. I'm missing the the hinge roller on the bottom! So that will be the first order of business.

 

[MFE92]

That doesn't support the door though, or affect its alignment, it just operates the detent that helps keep the door open.

 

[outlawjay]

I purchased the parts needed. Thanks for the help. I would rather not remove the fender or my apartment complex will put a tow sticker on my car. With the dremel method I guess you mean cut the old ones off, install the new ones. But it still looks like I would still have to take the fender off. I have done this project many years ago and I wound up installing the upper pin up-side down, with the cotter pin on top.

 

[MFE92]

I purchased the parts needed. Thanks for the help. I would rather not remove the fender or my apartment complex will put a tow sticker on my car. With the dremel method I guess you mean cut the old ones off, install the new ones. But it still looks like I would still have to take the fender off. I have done this project many years ago and I wound up installing the upper pin up-side down, with the cotter pin on top.

I just did the same thing with one of mine. I didn't remove the fender, but I held the door up and open with a jack, and since nobody was around to help, I tied the window frame to the garage ceiling to stabilize it. Then I used a dremel with a flex extension and cutoff disc to cut out the pin, drove it out with a variety of punches and extensions, then stuck the new bushings in place and mounted the pin upside down. It's the 3rd time I've replaced door hinge bushings on this car and I've never removed the fender. It's a PITA no matter what.