Can I get some driver door pictures please

[kev2809]

I'm trying to see if my door alignment is a problem or normal. I don't have any rubber in yet, but it seems both my doors align pretty decent up to about halfway up the door and it starts going in. Now, the driver side "4th door area" was hit when I got it, so I welded welding rods to close the gap, but the passenger side was not. they both have the same gap though. all 3 doors are getting new hinge pins but the only one that is really stiff to open right now and close is the passenger side one (that didn't get hit).

could it just be the strikers that need adjustment.. or is this gap "normal"?

1st 2 pictures are driver side door, other 2 pictures are passenger side

[HO455]

The factory didn't spend much time trying to get the door fitment right. Gaps never seem to be equal around the door. My driver door actually needs to have the window frame repositioned on the lower door.

If I make the body lines match on the lower door the frame barely touches the A pillar. This is something I wish I had caught before the truck was painted. But it wasn't apparent without the weatherstripping.

I recommend putting some masking tape on the body lines to sharpen them. Place tape on the door, fender and the the cab. (See arrows on photo 1) The tape will make it easier to see any misalignment and where to make compromises to get a reasonable fit up.

I'd run out and put some tape on the WMB and some photos to show you better, but it's 25 degrees outside.

[kev2809]

well tbh I could care less if it's perfect. I just want to make sure these doors aren't twisted, or if that's how the top frames really are supposed to be. my actual door gaps aren't bad either, same with the fender gaps. I will check the gaps again once I do all the door pins. but these top window frame areas sit "in" if that makes sense. I could understand the driver side since that area was hit, but it's really weird the passenger front door is the same and it hasn't been hit, unless it's "normal" from factory.

[HO455]

TDo you have the weatherstripping installed?

I don't believe they should be inset as I see them to be. Have you inspected the spot welds that hold the window frames to the door?

It's warmed up to 33 so ran I out and snapped this one.

[CG]

Im too slow I was just typing that about the weather strip haha.

With the window rolled down I would think you should be able to pull the top out a bit.

[BAD1916]

Here pics of my 71. The drivers door is decent but the front passenger door is in at the top of the window frame. The rest of the door fits pretty good. Whenever I get around to painting it I will worry about alignment but I don’t think it’s anything that tha 2x4 method can’t fix.

[kev2809]

^^^ thats kinda how mine is. weird. no weather stripping yet but i wanted to get to a little bit of body work already. its just odd that BOTH sides do it lol

[BAD1916]

Mine still has original weatherstrip on it. For the most part the main part of the door matches up to the quarter and the third door. A 2x4 at the top of the window frame at the jam and gently closing the door to tweak it into the correct angle should work. I’ve had to do that on other cars and it works pretty good. Much easier when it hasn’t been painted yet. The pucker factor definitely is not as high then.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by kev2809

I'm trying to see if my door alignment is a problem or normal. I don't have any rubber in yet, but it seems both my doors align pretty decent up to about halfway up the door and it starts going in. Now, the driver side "4th door area" was hit when I got it, so I welded welding rods to close the gap, but the passenger side was not. they both have the same gap though. all 3 doors are getting new hinge pins but the only one that is really stiff to open right now and close is the passenger side one (that didn't get hit).

could it just be the strikers that need adjustment.. or is this gap "normal"?

1st 2 pictures are driver side door, other 2 pictures are passenger side

That is definitely a little excessive. As some others have suggested, I would roll the window down, insert a board at the top rear of the frame and gently push in on the lower door by the door handle and see what happens. Don't push real hard at first because sometimes they move pretty easy and you can go too far with it.

LockDoc

[kev2809]

got it guys, I'll try the board trick. I think I'll rebuild the hinge pins first and try to get the fenders and door gaps aligned the best I can and see where it sits before trying it!

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by kev2809

got it guys, I'll try the board trick. I think I'll rebuild the hinge pins first and try to get the fenders and door gaps aligned the best I can and see where it sits before trying it!

That would def. be a good idea. Once you get those dialed in you can re-visit the top corners....

LockDoc