Door alignment questions - Lateral-g Forums

**scherp69** · #1 06-10-2010, 09:30 PM

A buddy of mine came over today and we tried aligning the doors on my 68 Acadian (Nova) Unfortunately we hit some issues. We started with the passenger side and I got the quarter/door gaps to 1/8" and the body lines matched up nicely and thought it was good. Then I realized some other issues.

Gap to quarter panel. It's about 1/8"

The top part of the door is hitting the screw along the frame

I didn't take a picture of it, but the gap along the bottom is between 1/4" and 1/2". I know I can fill it in, but that's a lot to fill in isn't it? If I try and move the door down, the body lines won't match up. What about if I cut into the quarter panel along the gap and welded it back in place about 1/8" back?

The passenger side wasn't a whole lot better. The gap with the quarter panel was tight and the body lines match up pretty good.

Along the front/top of the door, I have a gap that's about 1/4" to 1/2".

The rocker gap is good, but it's sunk in at the front. I kept trying to adjust it, but when I align the door to the quarter, this happens.

Any suggestions?? I've also post this in my thread build. Thanks in advance.

elitecustombody · #2 06-10-2010, 09:35 PM

has the car been in any accidents? what was replaced besides the quarters?

**scherp69** · #3 06-10-2010, 10:02 PM

I think the car was in an accident before I got it. I replaced the driver's side cowel panel as it was a mess. Parts of it were crushed in. Everything was aligned with these doors before I parked it. I drove the car for about 8 or 9 years before it was parked and I didn't have any accidents with it. Everything was aligned then. Since parking it, I have replaced the quarters, put in deep tubs and new outer wheels houses. I'm wondering if I messed up the quarter install. When I installed the quarters, I had the jack stands under the rear end and under where the front wheels would be. The first 6 pages or so of my build thread show the inner wheels house and quarter install. I'm not by any means expecting a perfect car, I just want to get the doors so they look good. If I can make things work, I'll be happy.

J2SpeedandCustom · #4 06-13-2010, 09:45 AM

It doesn't appear to have the door seals and roof rail seals in? The front part of the door just needs to be pulled out. Did the door sit off the car and maybe get dropped bending the front edge in?

**scherp69** · #5 06-13-2010, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J2SpeedandCustom

It doesn't appear to have the door seals and roof rail seals in? The front part of the door just needs to be pulled out. Did the door sit off the car and maybe get dropped bending the front edge in?

None of the seals are in yet. I haven't gotten those yet. I guess I should. It's possible that the doors did get bent. They have been sitting in the garage for some time and I've had to move them a few times. It's very possible that when I was moving them, although I tried to be really careful, that the end got hit or dropped.

**GregWeld** · #6 06-13-2010, 04:00 PM

Mike --

You could fix this the way Boyd Coddington built cars.... His shop would just skim over it with some mud -- then cut the door gaps with a razor knife...

elitecustombody · #7 06-14-2010, 08:11 AM

Looks like you'll have to use a porta-power and a good tram gauge ,I'd try to locate symmetrical points on both sides of the car and take measurements,especially the door opening, compare the measurements between both sides,push,pull, shift hinges and doors around, I'd also make sure your previous cowl repair is within specs,it's possible that this is the culprit of your problem