Door Gaps
Just dropped my 66 convertible body back on restored frame and shimmed based upon the original number and my door gaps on both doors are extremely tight. I also had to replace the radiator support with a new one from Coffman's Corvette and does not have any shims to the frame. How can I fix this?
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Re: Door Gaps
Jim, depending on the number of shims at each mount you can fix it as least 3 ways.
Are the door gaps even top to bottom at the front and rear of the door. You said they are tight but not that they are uneven top to bottom.
You can add shims to the #2 and 3 mount to push the center of the car up which should open up the top of the doors gap.
You can remove shims to the #2 and 3 mount to lower the center of the car which will open up the bottom of the doors gap.
You can do one side one way and the other side the other way.
The #4 mount can be shimmed the most to open or close up the gaps.
Of course none of the bumpers can be installed when this is all going on.
The gap at the front of the door is the important one so be careful and do it first.
Its usually a case of the gaps being tight at the bottom and wide at the top. So line the door up with an even gap and see how the rear gap is.
How does the rear of the door line up now and how does it shut. You will get to know the latches real well.
The Body and door skin alignment come into consideration about now. Do you have plenty of door hinge shims and do you know about using a two bolt door shim made out of 6 hole regular shim by cutting it into thirds top to bottom. You can put a two bolt shim in the front holes of the hinge and in the back of the hinge to make the door angle in or out at that hinge. I know that sounds goofy but it works. A full shim moves the whole door skin out but not a two bolt shim.
The last resort is make the door fit by sanding the edges to make the front and rear gaps even.
Remember Midyears rear door bottom and the fender probably did not line up before and probably dont now so that can be one of the live with it things.
I hope this helps.
Fogaley@sbcglobal.net Scott -
Re: Door Gaps
Scott,
Thanks for your response however, I have some questions. The doors are surprisingly even top to bottom around the entire doors, DS and PS however, the gaps are really tight. Before body drop and shimming, the gaps were again very even but a reasonable gap, now not so reasonable. When you mention the body mounts, I'm not sure which ones you are referring to? I have a convertible and the 1, 2, and 3 mounts are in the birdcage, are our references to the mounts the same as mine? Also, all the body lines seem to be lining up very well at this point, I'm not sure if I should just let the painter take care of this or not?Comment
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Re: Door Gaps
I am not surprised to see threads about door gap problems on a '66. I have a 1966 never damaged convertible I purchased in used in early 1967. I remember soon after I purchased the car, the door gaps changed a lot when the car was on a lift.
This car has been parked since the early 1970's and the door gaps at the top have closed about 1/2 of what they should be. I am now working on getting this car back on the road and recently had jack stands under the a-arms and at the rear of the car. The pass. side door was almost stuck when closed. I think I will have to replace body mount rubber.
KenComment
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Re: Door Gaps
Jim, the gap at the bottom of the door cant change. The door sill will not let it change so the gap you have now is what you had before, at the bottom at least. Now if the door is raised or lowered that could change gap but not much.
Yes our body mount numbers are the same with #4 being behind the tire.
The radiator support should be bolted down to fit the doors.
A good body man that understands Corvette Convertibles is gonna change what ever you have done so let him, just make sure the fit and gaps are what you want. You are paying the bills so make sure you know how you want the body to be after its painted cause then its too late
to change anything.
The headlight pods
The hood
The deck lid
Are other places to spend some time, headlights for sure, the whole look of the car revolves around the headlights, gaps and fitment.
Since its a Convertible, how about the hardtop.
When all else is done the hard top has to fit and latch down, some of that is body work. So does it fit.
You have a swirling vortex of things that touch each other and the Corvette will look great if you and the bodyman/painter do your jobs.
Scott
Also since its a convertible how about the deck lid springs. It might have to pass a PV and lots of the will not.Comment
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