suggestions?

[cbooher_16]

hey everybody i need your help once again. bought some new doors for my 83 and have tried to get the driver's side door aligned for 2 days now. i'm pretty sure the cab has been hit but this is the closest we can get it. everywhere else is aligned bout perfect. any help would be Greatly appreciated!!! thanks

[RenoJason]

Need a little more info. Do you have your door striker and latch installed? Do you have an original door jam rubber or new one installed? And have you ever had the front group of off the truck?

[cbooher_16]

yeah everything is on the truck the rubber, striker, and latch. yes we've had the front clip off the truck. we put the cab on then bout a month later put the front clip back on.

[turp mcspray]

I would give the door a "twist". Put a 2x4 behind the upper frame, and push in on the bottom. It is very common to have to do a little tweaking like that.

[cbooher_16]

yeah we tried that a few times just gonna make sure there isn't another way to do it. thanks for your help!!

[LONGHAIR]

If people had any idea what actually happens to a car when it's in the bodyshop....

[cbooher_16]

i thought my dad was crazy doing that to my new door!! guess we'll try a little harder tomorrow

[RenoJason]

Does your door feel like it is spring loaded when you try and close it. If so bring the front edge of the door out until the the door want to latch properly and the back edge of the door is where you want it. Then adjust your fender and hood to the door.

[cbooher_16]

the door will latch and yes after it is latched it feels like its spring loaded. the door matches up good everywhere now just the side where the door handle is, sticks out. we are gonna have move the front fender up maybe an inch.

[RenoJason]

Ok, your door is not latching all the way closed. Witch means two things. The door is not fitting the opening correctly. And also it sounds like the front of your door is hitting the jam too soon. To fix bring the front edge of your door out by adjusting it on the hinges, door side. Forget about the fender fit right now and get your door closing and fitting the cab properly. Then fit the fender to the door.

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by RenoJason

Forget about the fender fit right now and get your door closing and fitting the cab properly. Then fit the fender to the door.

There is one big flaw in this logic. If you push the front of the door out to the point where it "fits" (closes easily) and then you adjust the fender out to meet it.....what about the hood? You can't make it wider to close that gap.

It is very hard to tell it the provided photo, but it could be several things.

1)Fresh seals are always a problem. Fit the doors with-out them.

2)Fit the door to the opening w/o the latch either. Once it fits by holding it in with your hand, install the latch. Be sure that it is closing to the second catch.

3)Twists in panel like doors are pretty common, don't be afraid of a little violence, but be careful about where you push. You don't want to dent the outer skin while twisting it.

4)Even though the door gets installed first, it is not set-in-stone. After the clip is installed, the door may have to move again.

[RenoJason]

All very good points. So far from what he has said about how the door is latching it sounds like it is binding up on the A- pillar. The door also may be too far forward on the A-pillar causing a bind also. If you can fallow LONGHAIR'S advice and remove the seals, it will make it easier.

[GruntMoanCough]

Judging by the pic posted, looks to me like Mr. Mcspray's advice is the route to take, gotta kinda overdo it to allow for spring back. I have done this many a time on these doors. Also, have you replaced the cab corner?