Jacking a door ???

[1976gmc20]

On another website I was advised that the way to fix a sagging door was to open it slightly and then jack it up just a little to "adjust" the hinges. Rinse and repeat until it closes properly.

I replaced the hinge pins and bushings a few years ago and it didn't help much at all. The door won't latch completely resulting in a lot of wind noise (Huh ????? ) on the highway.

So is this an okay idea to try?

[Palf70Step]

Factory hinges for these trucks do not have an adjustment for door sag. Hinges were weled, not bolted like on older trucks where you could adjust them. There are replacement/aftermarket hinge kits to give you bolt on hinges for adjustments, but I think they are pretty $$$.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Factory hinges for these trucks do not have an adjustment for door sag. Hinges were weled, not bolted like on older trucks where you could adjust them. There are replacement/aftermarket hinge kits to give you bolt on hinges for adjustments, but I think they are pretty $$$.

So should I try the careful jacking method ???

[cashforclunkers]

I know an old school body guy, he's 61. The door on dad's 50 olds didn't shut good. He walked over to the wood pile and grabbed a piece of peavey wood (2x2" ash) and put it below the lower hinge and proceeded to slam the door!

Guess what it worked and I've done it a few times since, it does help. Not the right way, just a way

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

So should I try the careful jacking method ???

For these year trucks I have NEVER seen that work. Normally it makes more damage to the sheet metal where the hinges are welded to than helping the droop..

I have see all kind of things done on older styles where the hinges bolt on. The board trick I have used , but not for doors that droop. Normally we use that where the top or bottom are too close. It sorta pushes out the window frame so the door is straight. That was a common p[problem then from people leaning on the open doors. The hinges would hold up, but the window frame would slightly bend in.

[Stormin08]

What indicates the PROPER way to do it ????

Before jacks and other devices, moving metal was just that...whatever moved it.

i have adjusted the upper window structure by hand before, just give it a good yank...

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by Stormin08

What indicates the PROPER way to do it ????

Before jacks and other devices, moving metal was just that...whatever moved it.

i have adjusted the upper window structure by hand before, just give it a good yank...

That's what I'm trying to figure out.

The pickup probably isn't worth cutting off the factory hinges and drilling and bolting new hinges. But it would be a lot nicer pickup if I could get the door to latch completely.

[Stormin08]

i would open your door and lift by hand, better to have an OTHER lift while you watch the hinge attachment point looking for thin door area sheet metal.

once you have decided it is adequate, place the jack under the door rear...the position is key as to how the hinge may then flex.

is the door leaking air down low, or up high ?

you may be able to flex the upper by hand...or better yet REPLACE DOOR SEALS FIRST if they have collapsed.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by Stormin08

i would open your door and lift by hand, better to have an OTHER lift while you watch the hinge attachment point looking for thin door area sheet metal.

Tried that, but of course you can't see doing it by yourself, and not much anyway unless the door is wide open. I was advised to jack the door with only open about a foot.

once you have decided it is adequate, place the jack under the door rear...the position is key as to how the hinge may then flex.

is the door leaking air down low, or up high ?

Everywhere as far as I can tell. It just roars during the few trips out on the highway. It's 25 miles to town and 15 on the highway, which I only do at this point a half dozen times per year. Yesterday I scraped a bunch of mud off the door sill and bottom of the door.

you may be able to flex the upper by hand...or better yet REPLACE DOOR SEALS FIRST if they have collapsed.

You can sometimes get the door to latch completely from the outside.

[special-K]

I'd go ahead and try jacking the door. I've done it before a few times on the '92 I had and it helped pick the door up. I put a 2x4 under the inner door bottom, not the lip of the skin, and using a floor jack have brought the sagged door up

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by special-K

I'd go ahead and try jacking the door. I've done it before a few times on the '92 I had and it helped pick the door up. I put a 2x4 under the inner door bottom, not the lip of the skin, and using a floor jack have brought the sagged door up

Thanks, I will give it a very careful try.

It's pretty much do or die for this pickup. It runs great and I've got the bigger mechanical problems fixed for now, but it's always going to be a junker if the door won't close tight.

[mountie]

A large truck started to back up, as my door was opened, & their plastic fender pressed against my open door, until I SCREAMED at the idiot to stop.

The GM body shop did the "2x4" trick so I could close my door. It worked.
( Then my insurance paid to get my door fixed)

2 other issues to get the door to close nice.... (1) - Check the condition of the lock/latch on the door.

2) - Confirm the pin on door frame is straight & no cracks on body at base of pin. ( I had mine welded at body around base of pin)

[1976gmc20]

Well, finally got around to it and it seemed to work.

It took several tries and a lot more jacking than I expected, but I didn't quite turn the truck over - LOL

[mountie]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

Well, finally got around to it and it seemed to work.

It took several tries and a lot more jacking than I expected, but I didn't quite turn the truck over - LOL

Cool...... Now, take a careful inspection of your door latch/lock. ( An uneven door can tweak the latch metal )

If the door does not close as it was new, it will continue to be a problem later.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by mountie

Cool...... Now, take a careful inspection of your door latch/lock. ( An uneven door can tweak the latch metal )

If the door does not close as it was new, it will continue to be a problem later.

Well I didn't exactly get this pickup New

I bought it from a neighbor for $800 after a divorce; it had no rear brakes and 4wd not working, bed was full of greasy crap, cab was full of dog hair, and of course the door didn't close all the way. Later I discovered it was missing a motor mount bolt! And oh yeah, one headlight was missing the adjusting bolts and it was just hard screwed into the sheet metal and pointing at a crazy angle.

I'm sure the latch and striker need replacing. It's a work in progress

Mostly I use it to haul firewood, and trash to the dump.

[mountie]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

Well I didn't exactly get this pickup New

I bought it from a neighbor for $800 after a divorce; it had no rear brakes and 4wd not working, bed was full of greasy crap, cab was full of dog hair, and of course the door didn't close all the way. Later I discovered it was missing a motor mount bolt! And oh yeah, one headlight was missing the adjusting bolts and it was just hard screwed into the sheet metal and pointing at a crazy angle.

I'm sure the latch and striker need replacing. It's a work in progress

Mostly I use it to haul firewood, and trash to the dump.

Man-o-man.... I wish I had property & a worn truck like that, I could stitch back together. .... paint it up nice with some Porch & Deck paint!!!

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by mountie

Man-o-man.... I wish I had property & a worn truck like that, I could stitch back together. .... paint it up nice with some Porch & Deck paint!!!

Well, it's never going to be a show truck, that's for sure

As soon as we get some decent weather, I'm going to rattle can gray primer the hood and the top of the cab.

You should see the fire trail that I cut up on the hill behind the house. That x-cab long bed IFS pickup should never be able to handle that, but with careful driving it does okay. It sure keeps you awake trying to wind between the trees!

[mountie]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

Well, it's never going to be a show truck, that's for sure

As soon as we get some decent weather, I'm going to rattle can gray primer the hood and the top of the cab.

You should see the fire trail that I cut up on the hill behind the house. That x-cab long bed IFS pickup should never be able to handle that, but with careful driving it does okay. It sure keeps you awake trying to wind between the trees!

You gotta post a photo of this truck!!!!

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by mountie

You gotta post a photo of this truck!!!!

I don't think we have ever taken a picture of it. No working camera right now.

It's just a generic 1989 K1500 x-cab long bed, dark blue sides and light blue hood/cab top/tops of fenders and bed rails. Typical 1989 paint failure. Somebody clobbered both sides turning too tight before I got it.

[Palf70Step]

Glad it worked for you. MMy friends that tried it always failed, Metal cracked around hinges. I guess theirs were more gone or they gorilla'd it too much. Glad to worked.

[61_FL_Apache]

I had taken my daughters 2000 Camaro to a body shop for this issue. The doors are fiberglass and the steel hinge was pushing into the glass causing the door to sag. The body shop guy comes out with this straight piece of steel. it had a hook on the end which fit on the striker pin and several inches back there was a bolt or something sticking out that fit into the latch. The door was about 8" from being closed and he lifted up on the lever lifting the door far past where it should be and then let go. The door came back down where it was where he started.

He said on metal doors that tool works great, but on the Camaro, the fiberglass was already damaged. I made a big metal shim that fit between the hinge and the door which gave the hinge a larger surface area on the door and it worked perfect. The door was level and closed like new.

Glad you got your door issue resolved!

[1976gmc20]

Thanks, everyone!

I'm looking forward to going to town in a couple days, and seeing how much quieter it is on the highway without all that wind noise from the door not being closed tightly.

I guess if I just keep pecking away at things, it will eventually be a somewhat nice pickup

[mountie]

1976gmc20,

Your welcome !! We like projects as this. Keep us up-dated!!

[1976gmc20]

One problem: now I have all these "new" rattles that I couldn't hear before with the door going clunk-clunk-clunk-clunk down the gravel road

[Grumpy old man]

This tool hooks into the door latch and you rest the end on the door frame latch and lift . They work .

https://www.autobodytoolmart.com/cha...r-p-11508.aspx

This is another type but the picture gives you an idea how it works .

https://www.autobodytoolmart.com/ste...5-p-11726.aspx