Ever had to shim EBody door hinges?

Posted By: moparmedic

Ever had to shim EBody door hinges? - 02/16/15 06:28 PM

I have a 73 Challenger that was bought as a project. I noticed that the doors aren't aligned very well and when I went to adjust the passenger side there were washers used as shims behind the hinges on the door side. Same on the driver's door. I have built a few E Bodies but never had to use shims there or on any hinges on any mopar as far as I can recall.
I was looking for major frame damage that would cause alignment issues but nothing looks scary to me. The car has had some bumps and bruises in its life and the roof had a lot of work done to it.
Anyway just wondering if any of you have had to shim your door hinges?
Thanks!

Posted By: MoparforLife

Re: Ever had to shim EBody door hinges? - 02/16/15 06:56 PM

Are you sure that someone didn't shim the hinges rather than replace worn hinges or bushings??

Posted By: RTDaddy

Re: Ever had to shim EBody door hinges? - 02/16/15 07:06 PM

Quote:

Are you sure that someone didn't shim the hinges rather than replace worn hinges or bushings??

Sounds like the hinge pins/bushings are worn. Put a jack under the door and GENTLY raise the door and see if there is a lot of slop visible in the bushings.

"IF YOU'RE UNDER CONTROL, YOU AIN'T GOING FAST ENOUGH."

Posted By: moparmedic

Re: Ever had to shim EBody door hinges? - 02/16/15 07:22 PM

Hinges seem tight.
I have only messed with the passenger side. As you tighten the lower hinge up against the body without shims it pulls the door forward and down in back and opens up the door gap a little wider than it should which is weird. I may need to get this on a frame rack and make sure the foundation is straight. I think I will try a different set of hinges first though.

Posted By: 5carguy

Re: Ever had to shim EBody door hinges? - 02/17/15 01:25 AM

You are right to try different hinges.That should answer some questions.

Posted By: screamindriver

Re: Ever had to shim EBody door hinges? - 02/17/15 04:39 AM

There should be plenty of adjustment there if the hinges check out and the body is straight...Something to look for : The factory shot sealer between the body and hinges as they were installed..The sealer sometimes locks the cowl backer plates in it's original position and wont let the plates move even when you loosen all the bolts..You'd need to take the door/hinges off and clean the sealer out of the adjustment holes on the cowl to get more travel out of them...

Posted By: moparmedic

Re: Ever had to shim EBody door hinges? - 02/17/15 05:02 AM

Good point, I'll check that out.
Thanks.

Posted By: moparmedic

Re: Ever had to shim EBody door hinges? - 02/18/15 04:22 PM

I was able to get the passenger door lined up properly. I don't think it was a frame issue at all but I do think this car must have had a door gap issue from the factory. The driver's side also had a bunch of shims on the lower hinge which I removed and the door aligned just fine without any shims. Weird...Just someone who didn't know how mopar doors are aligned I guess.
So problem solved.

Posted By: 71birdJ68

Re: Ever had to shim EBody door hinges? - 02/18/15 05:02 PM

A warning about using washers for shims. I saw this one time, and the result was the sheet metal started to bend, and sink inwards on the body. It isn't designed to have that much stress in a small spot like washers, it need the whole hinge to speed out the weight.

Posted By: Silver70

Re: Ever had to shim EBody door hinges? - 02/18/15 06:39 PM

Are the quarter panels original? If someone replaced them without using the doors to line them up, that could make a big mess.

Posted By: moparmedic

Re: Ever had to shim EBody door hinges? - 02/19/15 06:08 AM

I took all the washer (shims) out.
The quarters are original. This is an incredibly solid non rusty original car.
I did find a welded spot on the frame forward of the shock tower so I am convinced that it has been hit and pulled back into shape. I hung all the sheet metal back on it and everything lines up but it will get a trip to the frame shop for good measure.