Help With Door Alignment - My New Paint is Chipped

[AU Doc]

I'm hoping someone can shed some light on my door alignment issue. I just bought this car, and it's got fresh paint on it (about 4 weeks old), and I've got an issue with the driver's door alignment. The gap at the front looks about right to me, but it rubs just a bit on the fender when I open the door - and now I have a chip in my new paint :banghead:
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I guess I could pull the fender forward a bit, but that's going to open the gap up. Any suggestions? I have very little experience with body work.

[Rod]

there needs to be more bow in the fender ....from the pic it looks like the door sits out more than the fender.....but...the fender line is higher on the fender than the door...I would remove a shim from the top of the fender to create more bow and lower the body line...its takes a long time to learn how to set 1st gen panels...tough to diagnose on the web

[rickpaw]

There should be a bolt at the bottom of the fender. You can loosen that bolt and pull the bottom of the fender out slightly. That will move the fender out slightly and open up the gap. I'd try that first.

Good luck.

[AU Doc]

Thanks guys! This is one of those things I would gladly pay a "pro" to do - along with wet sanding the car, but finding one locally is always a crap shoot.

[Z06vet]

If you remove a shim from the top of the fender, pay close attention to the short gap at the base of the windshield pillar. This is another tough area that tends to do the same thing that happened with the chip at your body line. Since its already painted, you may have to play some give & take on the gaps and live with it to keep it from chipping other areas. Take you time and watch closely before you open the door all the way after making an adjustment

[AU Doc]

Thanks again for the advice everyone!

The gap at the top seems pretty tight. So while I think removing the shim would align the fender better, as vet said I'm afraid I would run into a different issue with rubbing at the top. I think I'll try moving the bottom of the fender out a bit to see if I can get the door to clear. Hopefully it will be a temporary fix until I can find someone in the area to wet sand and align the panels for me.

[HandOverFist]

Was this car painted in pieces or together? That should have been caught before it ever went in the booth.

[AU Doc]

It was painted together. I bought the car a couple weeks after it was painted. They put in some patch panels and replaced a quarter, and that seems to be well done (I have some in-process photos showing the cutout panels, fit up, and welding). I'm guessing this was an existing issue that got overlooked because it didn't include rust.

But I agree, it should have been fixed before it was painted.

[icemanrd19]

you sure thats not some door sag with all the hardware back into the door? It looks to me that the door needs to come up a 1/16 of a inch.

[dhutton]

Post some pics of the door to rocker and door to quarter gaps.

Don

[AU Doc]

I appreciate any help you guys can offer! I won't hesitate to tear apart an engine or a transmission, but I'm hesitant to start tweaking body panels because the "oops," tends be more expensive and not something I can fix at the house.

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The door does sag a bit when it's opened. Meaning I have to pick up on it to get it to close if I'm closing it easily.

[Protour_Pinto]

Where are you located?

[hotrodneb]

Hard to be certain from pics....to me it looks like remove a shim from the top. That would move the top of the fender down (needs) and bow the center out a touch (also needs)

[dhutton]

Top of door is flush with top of quarter panel so I think the door is ok. I would try lowering the top of the fender as suggested above.

Is this a repop fender? I have had to cut and reweld the rear brace on some repop fenders to get the shape to match the door.

Don

[HandOverFist]

I appreciate any help you guys can offer! I won't hesitate to tear apart an engine or a transmission, but I'm hesitant to start tweaking body panels because the "oops," tends be more expensive and not something I can fix at the house.


The door does sag a bit when it's opened. Meaning I have to pick up on it to get it to close if I'm closing it easily.

Possible the hinges are worn?

[ccmc]

Put painter's tape on the edges of the door and fender when you are making adjustments. It will help to keep from chipping paint off.

[dhutton]

Possible the hinges are worn?

Missed that. Yes the bushings are worn. Should have been replaced before the car was body worked. Not sure if they are causing the issue though.

Don

[ccmc]

Remember that you set the door alignment to the rear quarter and door sill area, then you adjust the front fender to the door.

Shims in the top and bottom of the fender will bow or flatten the fender. Add shims to the top to set the fender height and add to the bottom to flatten the curve, remove from the bottom to add more curvature. Pull the whole fender forward to give a larger gap between the fender and the door.

Rick

[AU Doc]

Sorry for the slow replies on my part! I've been out of town.

If I'm following along correctly, it sounds like I need to rebuild my drivers door hinges to start with. I suppose I knew this but was dutifully trying to ignore it hoping it would just go away :pat:. Has anyone done this with the door on the car? I don't relish the idea of taking my door off and then having to get it aligned again. Even marking the hinge position before I take off the door only got me close the last time I tried this.

Next, sounds like I need to try removing a ship at the top. From what you guys are telling me that will do two, both of which I seem to need. Bring the body line on the fender down a bit and provide a little more bow in the fender to help the door clear when it's opened.

Thanks for all the help :worship:! I'll keep you guys posted on how it turns out.


I'm located near Auburn Alabama. I'm sure there are good body shops in the area, but figuring out which is which and finding the ones with experience working on classic cars is tough. It tends to be a pay your money and take your chances sort of deal. If anyone knows of someone in my area, I'd be glad to pay them a visit!

[hotrodneb]

I guess rebuilding the hinges while ON the car IS possible....BUT you will have a greater risk of paint damage in the attempt than the R/R of the door.

[AU Doc]

I was afraid of that :)