70 Corvette Door Alignment

[Dennis Voiro]

I'm in the process of inspecting a 70 Coupe and one thing that concerns me is the driver door. It is not properly aligned. You can close the door but must lift up slightly for it to latch. The car had a frame off restoration about 8 years ago and appears straight and solid.

Other than needing to be adjusted, what else should I look for to make sure that there is no rust or structural damage causing this?

Anything else I should look for while inspecting the car?

Thanks,

DV

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 Corvette Door Alignment

Dennis,
With the door almost all the way closed, just before it engages the latch, lift on the rear of the door. If there is a noticeable amount of movement (lift hard -- you are trying to lift the weight of the door) it is likely the bushings in the hinges (two in each hinge) are worn.
If this is the case, it is not too difficult to replace them.
DO NOT ADJUST THE HINGES TO COMPENSATE FOR WORN BUSHINGS.
Replacing the worn bushings (I believe bushings are still available from Chevrolet parts, but others will comment on this) will bring the door back into factory alignment if no one has adjusted the hinges in an effort to compensate. If Bubba has made an adjustment, your work will be compounded because not only do the bushings still have to be replaced, but the mal-adjustment has to be corrected.
Some folks like to boast that the hinges have been replaced. Unless the wear has extended past the bushings (unlikely, but it does happen) there is no need to replace the whole hinge. As with the mistaken efforts to adjust out the wear mentioned above, replacing the entire hinge only compounds the work necessary to remedy the problem.

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 Corvette Door Alignment

Dennis,
With the door almost all the way closed, just before it engages the latch, lift on the rear of the door. If there is a noticeable amount of movement (lift hard -- you are trying to lift the weight of the door) it is likely the bushings in the hinges (two in each hinge) are worn.
If this is the case, it is not too difficult to replace them.
DO NOT ADJUST THE HINGES TO COMPENSATE FOR WORN BUSHINGS.
Replacing the worn bushings (I believe bushings are still available from Chevrolet parts, but others will comment on this) will bring the door back into factory alignment if no one has adjusted the hinges in an effort to compensate. If Bubba has made an adjustment, your work will be compounded because not only do the bushings still have to be replaced, but the mal-adjustment has to be corrected.
Some folks like to boast that the hinges have been replaced. Unless the wear has extended past the bushings (unlikely, but it does happen) there is no need to replace the whole hinge. As with the mistaken efforts to adjust out the wear mentioned above, replacing the entire hinge only compounds the work necessary to remedy the problem.

[Gary S.]

Re: 70 Corvette Door Alignment

My friend recently had no difficulty getting new bushings from the local Chevy dealer for his 73.

Gary

[Gary S.]

Re: 70 Corvette Door Alignment

My friend recently had no difficulty getting new bushings from the local Chevy dealer for his 73.

Gary

[Steve Pettit]

Re: 70 Corvette Door Alignment

Dennis,

Good advice that probably just saved me from another "self-induced bubba".

Thanks
Steve

[Steve Pettit]

Re: 70 Corvette Door Alignment

Dennis,

Good advice that probably just saved me from another "self-induced bubba".

Thanks
Steve

[Joe L.]

Re: 70 Corvette Door Alignment

Terry and Dennis-----

The hinge pin bushings are GM #9721917 and are still available from GM for $0.74/each. Find a dealer that has them in stock, though, since they are supplied in a package of 20 and a non-stocking dealer will want you to buy the whole package.

If you need the hinge pins due to any wear found on them, those are still available, too, under GM #20046147 for a current GM list of $3.67/each. These pins are longer than required and must be cut to length.

[Joe L.]

Re: 70 Corvette Door Alignment

Terry and Dennis-----

The hinge pin bushings are GM #9721917 and are still available from GM for $0.74/each. Find a dealer that has them in stock, though, since they are supplied in a package of 20 and a non-stocking dealer will want you to buy the whole package.

If you need the hinge pins due to any wear found on them, those are still available, too, under GM #20046147 for a current GM list of $3.67/each. These pins are longer than required and must be cut to length.

[Craig S.]

Re: 70 Corvette Door Alignment

Joe - even in the quantity purchase price, this has to be one of the better deals going still....Craig

[Craig S.]

Re: 70 Corvette Door Alignment

Joe - even in the quantity purchase price, this has to be one of the better deals going still....Craig

[Terry M.]

More on Door Alignment

Dennis, in re-reading your post I failed to entirely address your question. There is a possibility that the hinge pillar can be corroded enough that the mount for the hinge is weakened. I suppose one could do the same lift the door test with the door slightly more open and look to see where the movement is. Or get someone else to lift and use a light to see where the movement is. If at the pivot point of the hinge the problem is the bushings, but if at the hinge mount -- run don't walk away from the car. Repairing the hinge pillar is a major task, and you have to love the car a whole lot to justify it. There are people on this board who have done that, so if your further inspection indicates where the play is -- let us know.
I have done a couple of the bushing changes -- never on a Corvette, but the basic GM hinge is very much the same for almost all the GM line. If you decide it needs bushings I can offer more advice. If it needs the pillar, others can offer their experiences.

[Terry M.]

More on Door Alignment

Dennis, in re-reading your post I failed to entirely address your question. There is a possibility that the hinge pillar can be corroded enough that the mount for the hinge is weakened. I suppose one could do the same lift the door test with the door slightly more open and look to see where the movement is. Or get someone else to lift and use a light to see where the movement is. If at the pivot point of the hinge the problem is the bushings, but if at the hinge mount -- run don't walk away from the car. Repairing the hinge pillar is a major task, and you have to love the car a whole lot to justify it. There are people on this board who have done that, so if your further inspection indicates where the play is -- let us know.
I have done a couple of the bushing changes -- never on a Corvette, but the basic GM hinge is very much the same for almost all the GM line. If you decide it needs bushings I can offer more advice. If it needs the pillar, others can offer their experiences.

[Dick W.]

Re: More on Door Alignment

Another point to consider. The car is a body off restoration. It is a possibility that the shims have fallen out, or even it may not have been shimmed properly. Door alignment can be accomplished by adding/removing shims at the hinge pillar and at the mount in front of the kickup.

[Dick W.]

Re: More on Door Alignment

Another point to consider. The car is a body off restoration. It is a possibility that the shims have fallen out, or even it may not have been shimmed properly. Door alignment can be accomplished by adding/removing shims at the hinge pillar and at the mount in front of the kickup.