Adjusting the shape of the doors

[Bill Stuck]

The doors do not fit properly against the body.   The left door –when in its in the best position has contact at the bottom and about 1/4 space at the top of the rear door jam ( where hinges go ) and at the front is flush at the top and about 1/2 inch out at the bottom.  I thought about putting a rod with a ternbuckle accross the middle on the inside frame from the top rear to the bottom front — by tightening it slightly — I am pretty certain it would reshape the door sufficiently.

The doors have sat wrapped up for 25+ years — so that may have created the re-shaping — or they may have been slightly off when made.  In either case —I need to correct it .

ANY OTHER IDEAS??? 

 

[edward ericson]

Warped fiberglass? I think the wrapping combined with heat to pull it out of true. The trick will be to get it wrapped and put under pressure and heat enough to “unwarp” it back to how it should be, preferably in less than 25 years. This is my theory. How you do it is a subject for someone who has actual knowledge.

[Larry Murphy]

 Bill,  Lay both doors on a flat surface and notice how they compare. Are they both shaped the same or does one seem to be more warped than the other?

 Would it be possible to loosen the bolts that hold the scuttle to the top of the body side and shift the side panel slightly toward the inside of the car? It  may be necessary to slot the holes to accomplish this and it may be possible to shift the bottom of the body side panel toward the outside as well. The previous owner/builder may have drilled the holes slightly off from where they should be located.

 Do some careful checking before you try to warp the doors,they may not respond well and would be difficult to repair or replace.

[Scott A Chynoweth]

Bill;I had one rear fender that was twisted badly from having somthing leaning on it for 25 years.

I went for broke and took my heat gun to it,figured I had nothing to loose.Fiberglass is afterall a plastic,and will respond to heat(this you know)I heated the fender from the inside while having my hand on the outside feeling for the heat to come through.Once it was heated enough I pulled the fender a bit past where it needed to be and then hit it with a rag soaking in Ice water to instantly cool in place.

It is however a slow proccess but worked.

[Dan Rosa]

My .02 cents less than a penny  I think i would try heat i have seen body shops use heat on plastic and it works,, fiberglass I don’t know,, but if it was mine, i would try it like oldbuzz said  “slow process but it worked ”   Dan R

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