Top front door gap on a 66 convertible

[Jim S.]

After some consideration and eyeballing , I decided my front top door gap is unacceptable .

I figured that either adding a shim at #1 mount , and or removing one at #2 mount would do the trick .I also did some archiving for tips and confirmation.
I came across this post and it has me baffled. I can find no place where the radiator support connects to the frame ! So before I start , and or ruin something, can someone tell me what I am missing ???

Thanks,

Jim


Russ Steinhaus (5540)
Extremely Frequent Poster


Join DateApril 30th, 1982Posts1,430

Re: 67 Roadster door gap

If your door gap and height is good at the rear (but wide at the front top) then you would add a shim at the number one body mount. (convertible) However, if you are going to add or subtract shims at the number one mount you need to have the radiator support to frame mount bolts loose as the front end will go up or down depending on whether you are adding or subtracting shims at #1. If you are removing shims at number one then be sure you remove two at the rad. support to allow the front to come down. You may or may not need to replace one of those two when you are done adjusting the door gap. PS If you do add a shim at number one mount, then the rear of your door will drop making it necessary to readjust the door which will return the rear of the door height and gap to where it was before you started while closing the too wide of a gap at the front top of the door.

Last edited by Russ Steinhaus (5540); March 5th, 2016 at 09:34 PM. Reason: addition

[Douglas L.]

Re: Top front door gap on a 66 convertible

You can see where the frame mounting point is for the radiator support in this picture:

[Jim S.]

Re: Top front door gap on a 66 convertible

Hi Douglas,

Thanks for the pic .

I think I may have it now . I originally thought that that location was the #1 body mounting position , and I could not figure out where else the radiator bracket attached in that area .

So if that doesn't count as a body mount , #1 is the one just forward of the curve in on the frame. Then the explanation above begins to make sense.



Now as long as I am here, any other suggestions or tech tips on how to reduce the top front door gap , or does Russ' post pretty much cover it all ? For example: Wouldn't added shims to the Radiator mount area raise the front end more than shimming #1 mount , thus addressing my problem more efficiently ???


Thanks ,
Jim

[Jim S.]

Re: Top front door gap on a 66 convertible

OK.

I loosened #1,#2,#3 body mount bolts and the "Radiator to frame" mount bolts. Now what is the best way to raise the body to insert an additional shim between the body and the frame at the #1 Mount position ??? Any helpful hints from those who have gone before me ??

Jim

[Jim S.]

Re: Top front door gap on a 66 convertible

Found something interesting in the 66 AIM , UPC -1 ASM - G3 !

How would one go about installing the #2 shims described ??

Jim

[Russ S.]

Re: Top front door gap on a 66 convertible

Very easy. Just loosen the #2 and 3 body mounts (conv) and the radiator support to frame and use a pry bar at the #1 mount to raise the bird cage up enough to add or subtract shims.

[Jim S.]

Re: Top front door gap on a 66 convertible

Hi Russ,

Thanks for responding.

I did in fact loosen the #1 #2 and #3 and the radiator mounting bolts. I can jack up the Bird Cage easily enough with a floor jack and a small piece of 2" x 4" to install the #6 shims between the bird cage and the frame . Having done so, and adding 4 additional #6 shims (as shown in AIM), I was still not thrilled with the top door gap.

It was then that I saw the AIM page showing two different shims and two different locations for raising that area . It was the #2 shims that go in between the bird cage and the body I am having a problem figuring out .The AIM shows 2 in the picture , but calls out for (approx 4) in the description . Close inspection of that area on my car reveals none . Are we talking about the same shims ?

Jim

[Russ S.]

Re: Top front door gap on a 66 convertible

The shim that goes between the birdcage and the firewall bracket is a different shim than the one that goes between the birdcage and the frame. If you add a shim in the #1 mount to close the upper front door gap, you have to re-tighten the #2 mount down in order to check your results.

[Jim S.]

Re: Top front door gap on a 66 convertible

"If you add a shim in the #1 mount to close the upper front door gap, you have to re-tighten the #2 mount down in order to check your results. "

Russ ,

All Other details aside That"s a big one , and good to know !!


I could not figure out why the added shims seem to make no difference in the gap once I lowered the body , or why the door did not seem to dip and need re-adjusting as you stated above !

Now that I have re-tightened #2 it all works as stated !

So now, any great secrets and or hints on how best to re-align the doors would also be greatly appreciated !!

Thanks a bunch ,


Jim

[Russ S.]

Re: Top front door gap on a 66 convertible

Now the rear of your door should be low and I would guess that the top rear door gap is too close. I would first loosen all except one of the bolts on the lower door hinge. I use only one or two of the bolts for adjustment until I am done, then tighten the rest. Close the door carefully and then loosen the remaining bolt and retighten. If it doesn't relocate satisfactory, re loosen and add a shim between the inside back edge of the door to raise it(between the door and the sill) and re-tighten bolt. If after this the gaps aren't right on the front and rear top of the door, with the bottom hinge bolt tight (one or two bolts) loosen all the top hinge bolts and move door up or down as needed from the rear. You may need to re-adjust the bottom hinge again after adjusting the top one. I am sure others have their own methods but this works well for me.