...

Go Back   Lateral-g Forums > Lateral-G Open Discussions > Open Discussion
User Name
Password



Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-15-2017, 04:12 AM
67blackbird 67blackbird is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Augusta
Posts: 18
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default Firebird body bend!

All, just picked up my 67 Firebird convertible from the shop. My drivers door no longer opens. It has been perfect for the last 23 years. Now the door unlatched, but the door hits the door frame. It is clear to me that they opened the door when that car was on a lift and the body is bent.
Any way to get it back? I can jack up the front, and put stands under the rear of the subframe, let the nose down and see if it bends back. Or am I making it worse?
Car does have Competition Engineering subframe connectors, put in back in 94.
Maybe it needs to go to a frame shop?
This is pretty irritating
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-15-2017, 04:54 AM
Tinker's Avatar
Tinker Tinker is offline
Lateral-g Supporting Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 264
Thanks: 102
Thanked 75 Times in 48 Posts
Default

This would get me fired right up. Sorry to hear you're story. Does the bottom of the door hit the sill or the back of the door hit the quarter panel? This definitely determines which way it is bent. Is it just the drivers door? It might not be the frame, just some careless mechanic hanging on the door causing it to sag. I hope you get to the bottom of this and get it remedied.
__________________
Chris
1969 Firebird: injected Pontiac 462ci, T56
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-15-2017, 05:14 AM
Tinker's Avatar
Tinker Tinker is offline
Lateral-g Supporting Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 264
Thanks: 102
Thanked 75 Times in 48 Posts
Default

One more area to look at is your torque boxes. Since they are only spot welded on. One of mine was separated from the firewall, so when on four wheels door gaps were perfect, but when on jackstands placed on the frame behind the firewall, the drivers door actually rubbed the front fender when trying to open it.
__________________
Chris
1969 Firebird: injected Pontiac 462ci, T56
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-15-2017, 07:43 AM
dhutton dhutton is online now
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Mountain Springs, Texas
Posts: 1,857
Thanks: 985
Thanked 448 Times in 247 Posts
Default

If that did happen I would suspect some serious rust in the rockers.

Is it hitting on the top or the bottom of the door?

Don
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-15-2017, 07:18 PM
67blackbird 67blackbird is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Augusta
Posts: 18
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

Door is hitting the rear quarter panel, just driver’s side. Not sure how one would even begin to fix it, as you can’t open the door!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-15-2017, 07:21 PM
67blackbird 67blackbird is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Augusta
Posts: 18
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

Door is hitting the quarter panel, or on the bottom. I don’t know how we’d go about fixing it, as I don’t want to force the door open...
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-15-2017, 07:28 PM
dhutton dhutton is online now
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Mountain Springs, Texas
Posts: 1,857
Thanks: 985
Thanked 448 Times in 247 Posts
Default

Post a picture of the whole door.

Don
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-15-2017, 07:57 PM
out2kayak out2kayak is offline
Lateral-g Supporting Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Leo, IN
Posts: 437
Thanks: 4
Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts
Default

Yikes!

Can you lift the body in the middle of the car with a floor jack and a bit of wood to the point where the body is back in the correct position (doors / door jams)?

I'd think that something is seriously rusted through if they can bend the body like that unless it fell off the lift, but what do I know... If, by lifting it with the floor jack can get the body back in position, get everything up on jack stands, level everything out (per the frame alignment manual) and do a bit of reinforcing.

Just my thoughts. YMMV.

__________________
-- Joe
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-15-2017, 09:02 PM
Spiffav8's Avatar
Spiffav8 Spiffav8 is offline
Lateral-g Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 4,716
Thanks: 548
Thanked 444 Times in 209 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 67blackbird View Post
Door is hitting the quarter panel, or on the bottom. I don’t know how we’d go about fixing it, as I don’t want to force the door open...
A picture would really help.
__________________
Curtis
Pilots: We're not better than you, just way cooler.

NO ONE IS COMING. IT'S UP TO US.

http://www.navysealfoundation.org/
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-15-2017, 09:38 PM
67camaro496 67camaro496 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Waco,Tx
Posts: 33
Thanks: 1
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Does the right door open and shut fine? Are all the other gaps and sheet metal alignment ok? Why did you have the vehicle at the shop?
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:47 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright Lateral-g.net