'67 body panel and door fit - NCRS Discussion Boards

'67 body panel and door fit

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  • Scott Marzahl

    '67 body panel and door fit

    This car was in pieces when I bought it so this is why I am asking. I have the door hung, nice straight gap at the bottom of the door, the latch is installed and I have the new quarter panel held in with screws. I have an even gap at the door jam, the body lines are perfect and the curve at the bootm of the door and quarter panel line up great, but the top rear of the door is about 1/4" lower than the rear deck piece. Is this normal? Do I have to build the door up so that this lines up? I have some digital photos if anyone cares to look and comment.

    Thanks.
  • Wayne W.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • April 30, 1982
    • 3605

    #2
    Re: '67 body panel and door fit

    It is common , specially on the LH side for the door to be off in that manner. There are six points that you would like to have line up. Three points on the front and three on the rear. If five of them fit and the other does not, something is wrong, but you have no choice. You must make some adjustments if you get all of them to fit. You can move the door up slightly adjust the side body line and cheat a little at the bottom. You can take a little off the upper area of the deck area at the back of the door if possible. Sometimes this is not possible because of the original pannel thickness. Then add a little onto the rear of the door. The problem being that this makes the door thickness to great. You can then take a little off the inside edge of the door edge to reduce that thickness. Beyond that, there is little that you can do. But remember, they were never perfect and the guy that worked the LH side at St. Louis in 67 was notorious for sloppiness.

    Comment

    • john pickens

      #3
      Re: '67 body panel and door fit

      My 65 roadster has a gap high on the LH vent window /door leading edge
      between it and the new molding of the windshield pillar. Maximun distance
      1/4 to 1/2 inch, enough to see daylight. Rest of the door seems to fit well.
      Is this a door hang issue, could this be a door from another vehicle, or were these
      types of tolerances allowed on a mid 60's assembly line?

      Comment

      • Craig S.
        Extremely Frequent Poster
        • June 30, 1997
        • 2471

        #4
        Re: '67 body panel and door fit

        John - heard a story from George Bartos on that, they used 2X4's to "adjust the door fit" on midyear coupes.....would make the restorer cringe....Craig

        Comment

        • Wayne W.
          Extremely Frequent Poster
          • April 30, 1982
          • 3605

          #5
          Re: '67 body panel and door fit

          The vent window frame is adjustable. Usually you can make it fit fairly well.

          Comment

          • Scott Marzahl

            #6
            What are the thoughts on glassing seams?

            I have my new quarter panel bonded on now. One book I have suggests glassing the seams, the other reference book doesn't make any reference to this process.
            I know the factory didn't do it, but is it better to glass them in?

            Comment

            • Wayne W.
              Extremely Frequent Poster
              • April 30, 1982
              • 3605

              #7
              Re: What are the thoughts on glassing seams?

              Its up to you. Glassing will not show as much later, but is not the way it was done originally.

              Comment

              • Donald O.
                Extremely Frequent Poster
                • May 31, 1990
                • 1580

                #8
                Re: What are the thoughts on glassing seams?

                Scott,

                Here's my $.02
                I recommend it highly. There are alot of complaints, many on this forum, about paint lifting, bubbling,seams popping, etc. Do it once. Do it forever. And yes, this how I did my 67. It now looks as the engineers/designer intended it to.

                The factory didn't because of cost, time and materials.

                on
                The light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

                Comment

                • Mike McKown

                  #9
                  Hey uh, 17357 Donald

                  Have you been an ENGINEER long enough to know that manufacturing PROCESSES and manufacturing TOOLING and manufacturing BUDGETS all originate from ENGINEERING speculation! Many times (I've personally seen this) when the engineering goals are not met in the assembly plant due to poor processes, poor tooling or inadequate budget as established by engineering forecasts, the blame is cast upon the manufacturing entity which is entirely defenseless because for whatever political reason, they accepted this situation into their assembly plant.

                  My whole point is, let's don't be too quick to blame the guy in the assembly plant with the two by four. You see back in the '60's the manufacturing engineers wrote an assembly manual that specified all the tools ( among other things) required to build the vehicle. I believe nowhere in these manuals will you find a tool description for a two by four, a drift pin or a two pound ball peen hammer. But, if you went into any of the Big Three's assembly plants back then, (even now) you will find all three of these tools on the line. 'Nuff said!

                  Mike

                  Comment

                  • Donald O.
                    Extremely Frequent Poster
                    • May 31, 1990
                    • 1580

                    #10
                    Re: Hey uh, 17357 Donald

                    Mike,

                    I have never blamed the guys on the line for any questions on quality, fit, finish, or process used. These were all decisions made by the bean counters and division heads. Their only concern WAS and IS the cost per unit and to get more units out to lower the unit cost. It was not to build a classic sports car or a grocery getter. They were in business to do one thing...to make money. I have been an automotive engineer for 25 years and in the automotive industry for 40 (da*n, am I getting that old?) and have worked for all of the big 4 makers as well as a truck/engine mfg co. and now as a consultant. I do not blame the guys on the line, I know where it lies.
                    Enough soap box

                    Don
                    The light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

                    Comment

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