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Hi, I have a 1965 Corvette coupe that has an A.O. Smith built body. The top of the door does not fit well against the roof and there is about a 3/8 inch, and maybe slightly more, gap all along the roof line to the door. I have pulled the door panels and thought I would take out shims from the top hinge and maybe ad some to the bottom. What I found was there are not shims on either door and they both fit the same way. What can be done to make these doors fit better along the roof line. Do I need to install shims? The car is restored and has already been painted and it has new weather strip too. The weather strip is not holding the door away as I can pass a dollar bill along the top weather strip with no trouble. If this is complex and assistance over the phone is needed I can be reached at my shop 505-247-0053 or I can call you if you give me your phone number. Thanks in advance for any assistance. Rick P.S. this is not my first rodeo so you can talk technical with me.
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Rick Jones
Albuquerque, NM
Member #44319 -
Re: A.O. Smith Door Fit problem
If the door fits at all of the other points but not at the top, you will probably have to bend the door frame to fit. -
Re: A.O. Smith Door Fit problem
If the door fits at all of the other points but not at the top, you will probably have to bend the door frame to fit.Comment
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Had a similar experience when helping ....
a friend with the resto of his coupe. We ended up adjusting the doors to their best fit disregarding the top fit and then made the final adjustment to the top as Wayne Womble has already suggested. I recall reading that is how they did it at the factory.
WayneComment
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Had a similar experience when helping ....
a friend with the resto of his coupe. We ended up adjusting the doors to their best fit disregarding the top fit and then made the final adjustment to the top as Wayne Womble has already suggested. I recall reading that is how they did it at the factory.
WayneComment
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Re: Had a similar experience when helping ....
When we were back east many years ago I met many of the older guys that worked on the 53 to 67's and that was one thing I asked about and they said they had a little guy that did just that, sat in the window and bent the top area inward.This was done after the Corvette was ready for final check out.Comment
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Re: Had a similar experience when helping ....
When we were back east many years ago I met many of the older guys that worked on the 53 to 67's and that was one thing I asked about and they said they had a little guy that did just that, sat in the window and bent the top area inward.This was done after the Corvette was ready for final check out.Comment
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Re: Had a similar experience when helping ....
Very common Final Line door-fit procedure - "reefing" the upper half of the door; be sure to roll the window all the way down first.Comment
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Re: Had a similar experience when helping ....
Very common Final Line door-fit procedure - "reefing" the upper half of the door; be sure to roll the window all the way down first.Comment
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"reefing", I thought that was what they did ....
in the 60's when they snuck out at break time.Comment
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"reefing", I thought that was what they did ....
in the 60's when they snuck out at break time.Comment
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Re: A.O. Smith Door Fit problem
there is a great book out there , unable to remember title but only deals with the midyear and is a must read . It details the poor fit problem and yes the old "reef in" the upper window portion to get a better fit , I personally would be looking at maybe a bit of "reefing and blocking and painting this area again . give it some thought and get some opinions . It would at least be an easy area to spot if needed.Comment
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Re: A.O. Smith Door Fit problem
there is a great book out there , unable to remember title but only deals with the midyear and is a must read . It details the poor fit problem and yes the old "reef in" the upper window portion to get a better fit , I personally would be looking at maybe a bit of "reefing and blocking and painting this area again . give it some thought and get some opinions . It would at least be an easy area to spot if needed.Comment
Comment