Factory door to fender line up

[chewychevy67]

I took my 67 truck apart 15 years ago and have no other to look at and I'm wanting to line up my front end right now. But before I start I have 1 question. Anyone with a original truck can help me out here. The doors have a slight curve inwards at the front 2" of the skins. Do the fenders lineup smooth with the door at the very edge of the door or do the fenders stick out a bit to line up with the face of the door as if a straight edge was used across the door and fender?

[cj847]

I am no body man or truck expert, but I am going to say the fender should be slightly proud of the door. I know this is correct for the 60-66 models. The main reason is to keep the door from pinching the fender during the opening and closing action.

[70STOVEBOLT]

What do you mean by slightly proud?

[Rods]

The fender meets the the door as you say as if a straight edge is across the door and fender.

However, I always hang the doors first……and then go to the front starting at the core support then to fenders cowl etc…..

Just finished my 67 a few months back so I included some pics when I hung my doors and fenders

Hope this helps

Last pic something look familiar to you?

[Warrens69GMC]

Originally Posted by Rods

Last pic something look familiar to you?

Pretty!!

[cj847]

Originally Posted by 70STOVEBOLT

What do you mean by slightly proud?

I don't have a number. But, as rods stated, hang the door first. Get the gap around the window and the back of the door looking good. Then set the fender with (as close as possible) the same gap as the back edge of the door to cab. Then add spacers as needed for the fender to clear the door + paint when opening and closing. Of course, the less the better for looks. It is only a few thousandths. I wonder if the "slight curve" at the front of the door is a design improvement from the 60-66 model?

[chewychevy67]

Yep. The carburetor! Thanks for the info.

[Already Gone]

Does this help ?

[HO455]

Due to the manufacturing process of the doors the slight curve you see at the edge of the doors is normal. Unlike later vehicles the doors are not a flat plane which then lines up with the flat plane of the fender and cab. You will need to get the best compromise fit of the door to the cab and then to the fender.

The other option is doing a lot of body work to reshape the edges of the doors and fenders which some folks do in the quest of a perfection in the door fitment. The factory was okay with the gaps being sort of constant and the edges being reasonably in line with each other.

[72c20customcamper]

I didn’t try to “fix” the edge curl on the doors or fenders . Yes it’s nice to have laser straight sides . These trucks and even high end cars were not made that way . I just tried getting a nice even gab

[chewychevy67]

I thought they were curved so the moundings wouldn't jam up on the fenders. I assume they were stamped this way and if that's the case what's to fix. Just the way it was.

[cericd]

Originally Posted by 70STOVEBOLT

What do you mean by slightly proud?

The term "Proud" = Taller Than (in this case, it means farther out)

Like "standing proud" is the same as "standing tall". In reference to the original question about fender and door fitment, it's a horizontal direction instead of vertical.

[70STOVEBOLT]

Originally Posted by cericd

The term "Proud" = Taller Than (in this case, it means farther out)

Like "standing proud" is the same as "standing tall". In reference to the original question about fender and door fitment, it's a horizontal direction instead of vertical.

Thanks for the explanation Chris

[cericd]

No problem. I remember being a little confused by that phrase the first time I heard it too but it makes perfect sense once you think about it.