67 Roadster Door Gap

[Steve Vaughan]

I would appreciate some advice on how to correct the door fit on my 67 SB roadster. On both the driver and passenger doors the gap between the rear edge of the door and the rear body is nearly zero (at top of door) when car is sitting with all tires on the ground. I have checked and replaced the door hinge pins and bushings which corrected the previous interference fit but has not restored the desired 1/8" gap. The gap at the leading edge of the door is uniform and is about 1/8", so moving door forward on hinges is not a good option. I have noticed that when I put the car on the lift (lift on frame rail behind front wheel and just in front of rear wheel) the rear door gap opens up to a very nice uniform 1/8" gap. I have throughly inspected the frame and found no weakness or even significant rust in the frame rails or kick up junction. My current idea on the casue is the #3 rubber body mounts are compressed which might allow the body to hinge at that mount. I am considering tring to replace this mount (with minimal lift (>1/4") of body and insertion of new rubber mount.

Has anyone else experienced a similar door fit problem and solved it?? Is it possible that the #3 mount could really be the cause? Can the mount be replace with the minimal lift I am considering?

[Mike M.]

Re: 67 Roadster Door Gap

mmy guess is replacement of all body mount cushions and re-shiming at all points will correct the door gap problem you are encountering although when i first read your post i'd have bet the farm on a severly rust-compromised frame.mike

[Wayne W.]

Re: 67 Roadster Door Gap

Add shims to the mount at the rear of the door and or remove them from the rear mount.

[Larry Sherman]

Re: 67 Roadster Door Gap

Steve, I do know that on a C3 body , if you can get the front of the door gap right, then all you have to do to get the rear gap correct is to lift or lower the rear shim points till the rear gap is correct. Suspect it's just this simple with the C2 also. Larry

[George C.]

Re: 67 Roadster Door Gap

Steve,

Last winter I lifted and blocked the body of my 65 roadster about eight inches above the frame and changed all the mounts and shimms. I did it this way so I could change all the brake lines and clean and repaint the frame at the same time. Some of the prep work included removing the bumbers and brackets, the steering column, the clutch linkage and the radiator hoses. If you want to go this route let me know and I will give you a more in depth explanation. It really was not that difficult and I am very happy with the results.

George
#36809

[Steve Vaughan]

Re: 67 Roadster Door Gap

I appreciate the advice, after removing all body mount bolts I have successfully lifted the body about 1/4" and removed the shims and cushions on the #3 mounts. I am now waiting for new cushions/shims to arrive to reshim and hopefully solve my door gap problem. I was very pleasantly surpoirized that all 8 body mount bolts removed without much difficulty, even though one of them was rusted to about 1/2 original diameter. Penetrating oil was key.