Need some hinge advise....1966

[Michael G.]

Good day all,

Mounted the doors back onto the roadster after almost 3 years. Of course hinges taken apart new bushings and pins. Drivers side top hinge received one shim, lower hinge none.....however after tightening bolts door sticks out approximately 1/8" at bottom. Transition starts at style line and progesses further outward down the door. Not sure yet what to adjust to get "acceptable" fitment. I'm sure some of you have came across this.....need some help, what was your fix? . Thanks in advance.

[Michael G.]

Re: Need some hinge advise....1966

Com' on.....know someone has dealt with this.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Need some hinge advise....1966

Mike - looks normal factory. Coupe Vert, how does the top look, back adjustments at the latch??? How do those margins look. Take data, gap measurements front back mark them down on the photo then post. Was the car ever hit in the front end?

By the time you go get that I'll have a picture posted with tool to fix it - a 2lb hammer!

[Wayne W.]

Re: Need some hinge advise....1966

I would try, another hinge, take the hinge off and bend the flange, or shim the hinge so that it closes farther and pulls the door in. That would mean adding shims to the rear most bolts.

[Michael G.]

Re: Need some hinge advise....1966

Mike - looks normal factory. Coupe Vert, how does the top look, back adjustments at the latch???

Believe me Ron....not acceptable, images don't really grab the "out of alignment" from style line to bottom of door. Prior to tear down door had acceptable gaps merging with front/rear fenders within reason.

Please forget that hammer!

[Rich P.]

Re: Need some hinge advise....1966

Michael,

Wayne gave you some good advice I have shimeed the door like he said with sucess. I also noticed It looks like from the picture that the door is hanging down about a 1/4", that can cotribute to the door sticking out on the bottom. Another thing I have done to get a door to pull in is to evenly grind material of the mounting surface of the lower hinge. Finally I would check both mounting surfaces of the lower hinge and clean them with a roloc cookie (scotch brite wheel) to make sure that prime/paint biuld up is not a problem.

Rich

[Michael G.]

Re: Need some hinge advise....1966

Michael,

Wayne gave you some good advice I have shimeed the door like he said with sucess. I also noticed It looks like from the picture that the door is hanging down about a 1/4", that can cotribute to the door sticking out on the bottom. Another thing I have done to get a door to pull in is to evenly grind material of the mounting surface of the lower hinge. Finally I would check both mounting surfaces of the lower hinge and clean them with a roloc cookie (scotch brite wheel) to make sure that prime/paint biuld up is not a problem.

Rich

Rich.....Not understanding shim the door....if the door was was shimmed additionally door would stick out further? Wayne......I'm assuming your speaking of shimming the hinge at the door post? Wouldn't that alter the two mounting points where hinge is screwed into the jamb facing? Could you be more detailed in your response?

[Rich P.]

Re: Need some hinge advise....1966

Michael,

If you take a 1/8" shim and put it under the 2 rear most mounting bolts it will cause the hinge to be canted in twards the center of the car that when it is closed will also bring the door in further. Rich

Added: you are shimming the door matting surface not the jamb post mount.

[Wayne W.]

Re: Need some hinge advise....1966

Rich.....Not understanding shim the door....if the door was was shimmed additionally door would stick out further? Wayne......I'm assuming your speaking of shimming the hinge at the door post? Wouldn't that alter the two mounting points where hinge is screwed into the jamb facing? Could you be more detailed in your response?

Like Rich said. You shim the two end bolts. That lets the hinge come further in and brings the door down with it.

[Stephen L.]

Re: Need some hinge advise....1966

Did you mix the hinge pieces vs original location. You may need to relocate the hinges to a different location for better fit.

I had a similiar problem. Kept track of the shims but not the hinges and found that I had to start from zero to get the correct spacings etc. Evidently all the hinges were not exactly the same in my case......

[Wayne W.]

Re: Need some hinge advise....1966

Did you mix the hinge pieces vs original location. You may need to relocate the hinges to a different location for better fit.

I had a similiar problem. Kept track of the shims but not the hinges and found that I had to start from zero to get the correct spacings etc. Evidently all the hinges were not exactly the same in my case......

I would say that's an understatement.

[Tom K.]

Re: Need some hinge advise....1966

when you say 'SHIM THE REAR BOLTS', are those toward the front of the car or rear?

[Rich P.]

Re: Need some hinge advise....1966

when you say 'SHIM THE REAR BOLTS', are those toward the front of the car or rear?

Twards the rear of the car. if necessary you could put 1/16" shims under the center bolts and 1/8" shims under the rear bolts. That would bring the door in close to a 1/4"

Rich

[Michael G.]

Re: Need some hinge advise....1966

Twards the rear of the car. if necessary you could put 1/16" shims under the center bolts and 1/8" shims under the rear bolts. That would bring the door in close to a 1/4"

Rich

Rich,

Your method sounds interesting.....you're saying by placing the shims were indicated will kick the door in at the bottom (per my posted image)?

I'll be giving this method a try.

[John H.]

Re: Need some hinge advise....1966

you're saying by placing the shims were indicated will kick the door in at the bottom (per my posted image)?

I'll be giving this method a try.

Michael -

Yes, it will - it's the same technique used to bring down the front edge of a trunk lid by shimming between the hinge and lid inner panel at the rearmost hinge-to-trunk lid bolt.