Door End Cap Retainer Question and Sagging Trunk Springs

[Dan D.]

My 57; Question on how these door end caps retainers are installed. I believe the intent is to prohibit the end of the weatherstrip from getting cremated when you close the door. (To late - weatherstrip is already damaged)! There is a depression in the door jam, but it is not wide enough for the retainers to fit into. Not sure they are suppose to go in there either, but I have no idea how else they could go. A photo of one installed would be a great help.

Also, which is right and left? The bags were marked, but I removed them and did not keep them separate (my bad). Photo below.

Second question - how hard is it to replace sagging trunk springs. It does not look easy. Car is completely together.

IMG_0881.jpg

Appreciate your help.

I will post a couple of pics of the car soon. Car was re-painted over the winter and it looks really nice. Returned the car to its original color - black with silver coves.

Dan D.

[Rod K.]

Re: Door End Cap Retainer Question and Sagging Trunk Springs

Dan, haven't installed these on my car yet but the AIM shows them retained by the screw which attaches the top of the door window trim end piece with the bend towards the front of the car and the chamfered corner inboard and hanging down prior to forming to capture the W/S.

As to the trunk springs: no, it's not hard to replace them. IIRC, I think I had to compress them slightly and grab the shaft with needle nose vice grips or similar to take the load off the nut, then remove the nuts and the springs. Have you tried adjusting the nuts to see if you have enough to overcome the sagging, or add a spacer on the screw shaft to shorten the spring? They're behind the rear panel in the trunk so any mods would be out of sight when finished.

Hope this is of some help.

[David S.]

Re: Door End Cap Retainer Question and Sagging Trunk Springs

Dan, haven't installed these on my car yet but the AIM shows them retained by the screw which attaches the top of the door window trim end piece with the bend towards the front of the car and the chamfered corner inboard and hanging down prior to forming to capture the W/S.

As to the trunk springs: no, it's not hard to replace them. IIRC, I think I had to compress them slightly and grab the shaft with needle nose vice grips or similar to take the load off the nut, then remove the nuts and the springs. Have you tried adjusting the nuts to see if you have enough to overcome the sagging, or add a spacer on the screw shaft to shorten the spring? They're behind the rear panel in the trunk so any mods would be out of sight when finished.

Hope this is of some help.

Hi Dan I tried to attach a few pictures that may help
from my 57 5 star bowtie
Dave

[Dan D.]

Re: Door End Cap Retainer Question and Sagging Trunk Springs

Rod and Dave,

Thank you so much. This is much appreciated.

Rod, I am going to order new springs, and do as you did. I assume you tied the trunk lid in the fully open position.

Dave, the pics of your bootie car are perfect. I would not have done them correctly without these pictures. I am now going to go out and work on it.

Dan D.

[Rod K.]

Re: Door End Cap Retainer Question and Sagging Trunk Springs

Dave, any idea why the chamfer is oriented opposite on L & R doors? Assemblers option? I'd go with the L door orientation to reduce chances of the retainer grabbing the WS, right door opposite. JMTCW.

[David S.]

Re: Door End Cap Retainer Question and Sagging Trunk Springs

Hi Rod
Looking for like pictures of another very original car I owned.
I did have it judged in Ma. back a few years
Was very original Arctic blue car still with an original soft top.
Its problem was painted an ugly gray over the blue. If not for that it was an easy bowtie car
Trying to find pictures of the Weather stripping.
Dave

[Dan D.]

Re: Door End Cap Retainer Question and Sagging Trunk Springs

Rod, I have no idea what the chamfers do. I'm just going to put it together, it will never be judged anyhow. The concern I have is, will the retainers hit the door jam and damage the paint. I guess I will see.

Dave, I would love to see the pictures of your other car if you can find them.

Dann

[David S.]

Re: Door End Cap Retainer Question and Sagging Trunk Springs

Rod, I have no idea what the chamfers do. I'm just going to put it together, it will never be judged anyhow. The concern I have is, will the retainers hit the door jam and damage the paint. I guess I will see.

Dave, I would love to see the pictures of your other car if you can find them.

Dann

A few more pictures from an unrestored 57
Disregard the ugly gray paint

[Dan D.]

Re: Door End Cap Retainer Question and Sagging Trunk Springs

Hi Dave,

Very interesting. Looks like they were not that all fussy on just how consistent they were in installing these things. But this tells me what I need to know.

I see the rear run screws on your second set of pictures are slotted head, and may be smaller that 1/4-20. I see why they went to the larger Phillips head and large star washers. The slot leaves an open area into the door. Does that mean the second set of pictures was an earlier car?

The gray does not look all that bad to me. But I know what you mean. My car was re-painted gray too. It is now back to its original black with silver coves. What a difference in how it looks. The Onyx black with silver coves is just stunning.

Dan

[David S.]

Re: Door End Cap Retainer Question and Sagging Trunk Springs

Hi Dan & Rod
Both cars are considered late because they both have the under dash and door reinforcements.
Black bowtie car was built about 6/20/57 other about 7/29/57
Dave

[Dan D.]

Re: Door End Cap Retainer Question and Sagging Trunk Springs

Okay, installed them as indicated - no problem. They do not hit the jam paint, but they don't clear by much either. I guess a miss is as good as a mile.

The slotted head rear run screws on Dave's car seem strange to me. It looks like the screws have moved too, judging by the rust marks on the slots.

The Philips head screws with the large star washers are common on my doors. They are used several places in both doors.

Dann

[David S.]

Re: Door End Cap Retainer Question and Sagging Trunk Springs

Okay, installed them as indicated - no problem. They do not hit the jam paint, but they don't clear by much either. I guess a miss is as good as a mile.

The slotted head rear run screws on Dave's car seem strange to me. It looks like the screws have moved too, judging by the rust marks on the slots.

The Philips head screws with the large star washers are common on my doors. They are used several places in both doors.

Dann

Sorry Dan for letting those last few pictures get by me.
I was not thinking
No slotted head bolts or screws on these cars.
See attached pictures from the bowtie car.
Sorry Dave

[Dan D.]

Re: Door End Cap Retainer Question and Sagging Trunk Springs

No problem Dave. Love to see the details of all these cars, and compare to my very non-original car.

Your car has more of the push-in metal fasteners than I have seen. Have not seen 4 of them running down the length of the door.

Great pictures Dave.

Dannn

[Dan D.]

Re: Door End Cap Retainer Question and Sagging Trunk Springs

Dan, haven't installed these on my car yet but the AIM shows them retained by the screw which attaches the top of the door window trim end piece with the bend towards the front of the car and the chamfered corner inboard and hanging down prior to forming to capture the W/S.

As to the trunk springs: no, it's not hard to replace them. IIRC, I think I had to compress them slightly and grab the shaft with needle nose vice grips or similar to take the load off the nut, then remove the nuts and the springs. Have you tried adjusting the nuts to see if you have enough to overcome the sagging, or add a spacer on the screw shaft to shorten the spring? They're behind the rear panel in the trunk so any mods would be out of sight when finished.

Hope this is of some help.

Trunk Springs Rod,

I have ordered new 57-60 springs. However, looking at the CC offerings, it looked to me like 61 springs are larger and stronger. I thought about buying these instead, but the towers are different and it looked to me like they probably would not work, so I did not buy them.

So I was just wondering if anyone has tried the 61 springs in older cars? Just wondering if they would have been a better choice.

Dann