Gotta have more gap...

Gotta have more gap... - 12/01/11 10:16 PM

At the top of door where it meets the cowl... I need to widen the gap a bit but I don't know what I'm doing wrong. My last attempt I loosened all the bolts and then wedged a couple of stir sticks in there keep the gap but that still didn't work.

Attached picture 6945616-gap.jpg

Posted By: 70_FJ6_RR

Re: Gotta have more gap... - 12/01/11 10:27 PM

Is it an original door or aftermarket? Are the hinges original? It should line up with + or - gap width. You may need to shim the body side of hinge or drill the hinge to door holes a tad. If orig parts, it should line up. If they're repops, goodluck.

Posted By: SeventySatellite

Re: Gotta have more gap... - 12/01/11 10:39 PM

It's all original but I don't remember what the gap was like before I started taking the car apart years ago.

Posted By: 70_FJ6_RR

Re: Gotta have more gap... - 12/02/11 05:18 AM

If you pull the fender off, it would be easier. Line up the bottom front of the door to the rocker front edge, then the top front of the door to the cowl and the rear to quarter height, with a 3/16" gap at the top front and the rear quarter edges, then snug the bolts. Also loosen the striker to line up the rear of the door. You can spend 5 mins to 5 hours to get doors perfect. Take your time! This pic is the only one I could find showing the fender to cowl gap. I spent quite a few hours line'n up the doors on this on! It's always a bad spot on these cars cause of the lead seam.

Attached picture 6946352-6310Jeffspics299.JPG

Attached picture 6946352-6310Jeffspics299.JPG

Posted By: Kern Dog

Re: Gotta have more gap... - 12/02/11 06:00 AM

Theres plenty of adjustment in the hinges, as the threaded bolt plates onside the doors allow it. I like to use 3/16" paint sticks as a guage. Unfortunately, some of our cars will never have perfect, uniform gaps without welding and or grinding edges.

Posted By: b54406barrel

Re: Gotta have more gap... - 12/02/11 08:42 PM

Quote:

At the top of door where it meets the cowl... I need to widen the gap a bit but I don't know what I'm doing wrong. My last attempt I loosened all the bolts and then wedged a couple of stir sticks in there keep the gap but that still didn't work.

Based on what I see there, I'd pull the fender in a little & then see what your hood gap does, then bring the door out a little. This won't go over big here but back when I repaired these when they were new, Chrysler products had some of the worst 'gap issues' of the big 3. Typical is my 6bbl car, door aligned perfect but when the rocker was formed, it was crooked. You can put your pinky in at the back of the bottom edge & your thumb at the front!

I almost sectioned it when I last repainted it but figured hey, it's stock!

Posted By: BarrsRestoration

Re: Gotta have more gap... - 12/03/11 03:30 AM

Quote:

Quote:

At the top of door where it meets the cowl... I need to widen the gap a bit but I don't know what I'm doing wrong. My last attempt I loosened all the bolts and then wedged a couple of stir sticks in there keep the gap but that still didn't work.

....... This won't go over big here but back when I repaired these when they were new, Chrysler products had some of the worst 'gap issues' of the big 3.........

X20

That is one of the biggest trouble spots on B-body panel alignment. It would help if both panels were the exact same width in that area.

Posted By: SeventySatellite

Re: Gotta have more gap... - 12/29/11 04:30 AM

Quote:

You may need to shim the body side of hinge or drill the hinge to door holes a tad.

I went ahead and shimmed the body side and it's all good now.

Posted By: sthemi

Re: Gotta have more gap... - 12/29/11 06:45 AM

I too spent many nights on each door on my RoadRunner.

Try removing the inner splash shield in the fender so you can access the hinge bolts with the door closed.

Loosen em up, open the gap and lock it down thru the fender splash shield opening.