Thread: Door Alignment

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O.K. Guys,

I really need your help!!!! I am building a '35 Five Window Coupe and it has me majorly perplexed! My problem is with the Door Alignment. I have replaced the Door Hinges and pins with the original type (Wecott's-not Hidden Hinges).

The Door gaps are fine around the front of the Door and the first half of the top of the Door. If you look at the back of the Door where the Body lines are, I have about a 1-2" sag (depending on which side you look at).

I know they talk about placing shims under the Body mounts on the '29-'34 Roadsters, but they say the Bodies on the '35's and up were more rigid, and do not recommend ships (even if they did, I can't imagine putting 2" of shims under the Body!).

Anybody out there have any experience or knowlege on this issue?

Thanks for listening and the replies,
Craig

In the old days us old body men would adjust some of that out by tweaking the bottom hinge. If u are not squeamish put a piece of metal about the size of a body work dolly into the open bottom hinge and GENTLY push the door in direction of closing it but dont actually close it. Do this a little at a time so u can see how much it is moving. It will move the sagging door up towards the top and forward, if u are careful.

Ives,

Thank you very much for the reply. I have already bent the Door Hinges in order to get the Door gaps proper on the front side of the Door (which really wasn't that much, just the bottom Hinges) so that is what is maddening-the front Door gap and the first 12" or so of the top Door gap looks great, it's the rear of the Door that sags in relation to the Body.

Somehow the cowl has to be raised, but I do not know how. I have thought about cutting the Cowl away from the Body but that seems very extreme and I am looking for a "Master" who has experience with this problem-I am certain that others have also seen this problem.

Thanks again,
Craig

this is not easy but i have been called master at this ?shim the cowl up or back of the body down. things can go bad fast so go slowly.take a cut off. cut lose what stops rocker. bracse etc. from getting the belt line to match. make sure. door laches are out they can pull door up or down.when you get it were you like it. look at door gaps the roof lines and rocker gaps if lines not rigth tape line on the door so gap looks good .and sand edge of the door so it looks good .bending hinges is not good it will put door in binde and makes gaps door to cowl off try to get it to line up. if you need the door up or down make shims and put behind the hinge . if door needs to go up make thin shim s.the bottom hinge or reverse.this technique. building up or sanding door edge is common.it is easy on glass body hope this helps. if you put the body in binde it will crack so if so if it has rockers you will have to cut them lose. go slow do not get nuts with off

i do not know if it will get bad down the line you will have to pre fit it all. but if it gets bad .its is what it takes to make it rigth . you can take some shim out of cowl and try 0.30 shims where you bolt doors to hinges.this will not be alot at cowl to door air gap will move up or down the belt line you have to try to balance this with you 1inch at you cowl to frame shinms or you can call me and i can try to help you

there is very little to no room in the door opening for bending hinges. all early fords with the hinge riveted to the door align with cowl shims. i learned this when i was young working for a bodyman who had been at it since the late 30's. a little shim goes a long way. this how ford did it at their factory. another hint. if you door sticks out at thr bottom, you can cut the pot weld on the cross brace and twist the door to fit and reweld. almost every 35-40 i do needs this.