58 door adjustment

[Eric S.]

Aloha All,

My passenger door, lower rear and bottom rear portion stick out. Exactly, how in detail do I fix?

I do not want to strip paint and do not like method of building material up on body to match door. Other than taking body apart, is there any adjustment fix?

Thanks,
Eric

[Dan H.]

Re: 58 door adjustment

Eric, when new, 58 and 59 doors would not match at the lower rear corner area. Nature of the beast. Many people fixed them, but it is not original. Just the way it was made back then.
Dan

[Richard M.]

Re: 58 door adjustment

Yes the lower rear door gaps on the C1 cars have a "feature", where they all seem to stick out some. I've been able to adjust some to get them better, but not always easy on a finished car. I've had most success when prepping for paint. Sometimes it takes adding material to the hinge pillar and shaving some of the body corner and door itself. Don't try to get it perfect because it won't look right.

You may have a little bit of adjustment by re-adjusting the door hinges, but you have to remove the door panels to gain access to the bolts on each hinge where they attach to the door.

There is also a bit of adjustment of the hinge at the hinge pillar. Loosen the large phillips screws, then loosen and adjust the bolts holding the hinge to the pillar.

Do all of this with a helper, and put protective tape at the door edges and body edges where they meet. Also be careful of the stainless body side cove molding when you open the door. It can get ripped out if your door adjustment is too far forward.

Rich