Fixing body lines on my 70 c10

[dmw319]

First, the back corner of my hood on the drivers side sticks up a little high. I tried greasing the hinges, and I can push it down manually just slightly, but it is still a pretty sizeable gap. Do I need new hinges or is this something I can make an adjustment to?



Second, the passenger side door pops with the back side of the front fender whenever you open the door. How difficult is it to adjust? I assume I just need to loosen the bolts on the door hinges and re-align? Was thinking it might be a good time to replace the pins as well. Does that sound about right?



Thanks yall!

[Derek.Matirne]

To me, it looks like your door is too far forward. on the bottom... The hood thing I would really like to know what causes that, I have had that same problem over the years and could never figure it out.... The hinge seems to be in good shape, so I was always at a loss.

[snipescastle2]

I have a similar issue with the hood on my '71, and I believe it's because the hinges are worn out, or at least one of the pivot points, allowing the hood to kick up I the back.
With regards to the door to fender clearance issue, I believe you will have to loosen the fender and pull it forward somehow (small bottle jack pushing the core support forward might do it) the hinge pillars (cab side) allow up and down movement the door side of the hinge allows in and outward adjustments.
So, that being said,I think loosening the fenders and pulling/pushing them forward might do the trick.
Ben

[Security guy]

I've got the same problem with my hood.. It's been a while, but I think of you loosen the hinge bolts and have someone put pressure up on the hood, then re-tighten the hinge bolts, it will close a lot better.. I think... I just haven't had time to mess with mine..
Another thing to check (for your door gap) is the mounting bushings for your radiator cradle and cab bushings.. If they are worn bad, it may cause the cab or front end to be tweaked on the frame.. check all your mounting points..

[jeh]

Looking are the picture you posted, if you follow the gap down to your rocker panel it looks like the door is to far forward.

[hugger6933]

Loosen the bolt on the hood hinge at the fender. Raise the hood up all the way then give a little extra nudge once it is open all the way then tighten the hood hinge bolts back up then shut the hood and go for a ride.
Now the door needs to go back a touch, you may have had the door get caught by a big wind or something to move a little out of adjustment. If you cant get the door to go back [and it is a job with the fender on cause the bolts are almost impossible to get to without the special wrench and not many people have that in their tool box] try to move the fender forward just a bit.
Ok the bolts on the door move the door in and out in the door opening. The body side hinge bolts move the door forwards and back in the door opening.If you were in a super bind and can no other way short of taking off the fender move the body side bolts, you might "cheat" a little and loosen the door side and place a shim there and tighten back up that will move the door backwards a little[well the shim amount.]. Jim

[dmw319]

thanks yall. just never adjusted these before. it was a lot easier on other cars ive done.

[summitflier]

The door shims seem to be the "right" fix, and the easiest I would say.

[OddBall2]

I repair all door gaps by aligning with the back edge first because it a fixed point.both are simple fixes just takes a little patience.

[CABLESCUM]

Same issue, mine was about an inch up.

Read Hugger6933 post and tried that, couldn't budge it. So, I shut the hood then pushed down both sides. I had my kid push down on the rear corner as I raised it...then tightened the bolts(once on each side). REAL close to straight now. I reckon I'll buy new hinges.


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[CABLESCUM]

Same issue, mine was about an inch up.

Read Hugger6933 post and tried that, couldn't budge it. So, I **** the hood then pushed down both sides. I had my kid push down on the rear corner as I raised it...then tightened the bolts(once on each side). REAL close to straight now. I reckon il buy new hinges.


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[dmw319]

updating an old thread. new hinges fixed the hood issue.

still haven't fixed the door adjustment, and the door pops the front right fender everytime I open the door. one of those things I keep meaning to fix but never do! which bolts do I need to loosen on the door to adjust it back some?

[NorCalC20LWB]

Assume you're happy with the hinge quality then? Where did you get them, I have the same issue.

[dmw319]

Originally Posted by NorCalC20LWB

Assume you're happy with the hinge quality then? Where did you get them, I have the same issue.

just a NOS set from the forum here.

[Barnfind46]

Like the others said,Make the door fit the cab first. Your lower hinge may need to go back. The door edge needs to be even with the front edge of the rocker. Then the fender gap should be consistent from the top to the bottom. If the door hinges are worn the door will droop down and throw the alignment off too. In some cases the fender will need to come off to adjust it right but shims can be put between the hinge and door for an easy fix. I am not a big fan of the shims.Be patient and it should all work out.Good luck!

[Problems]

As Oddball says you need to set the door gap to the cab not the fender. Your door and fender are too close but from the picture no one can tell whether your door needs to go back or your fender needs to go forward. If your door gap is good to the cab you need to actually move your fender forward to stop the pinching.

[dmw319]

Originally Posted by Problems

As Oddball says you need to set the door gap to the cab not the fender. Your door and fender are too close but from the picture no one can tell whether your door needs to go back or your fender needs to go forward. If your door gap is good to the cab you need to actually move your fender forward to stop the pinching.

gotcha. ill take more pics and mess with it and report back!

[rockyrivermark]

one other thing to consider is the condition of the door hinge bushings/pins. very easy to replace those and cheap. If they have slop it will make aligning everything a real hassle.
RRM

[dmw319]

Looks to me like there isn't room on either side for it to move?

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[my kids toy]

open the door and lift the back end of the door up and down, if you have slop/play then one or 2 of the hinges is worn out, if you have slop/play you will be able to see which hinge pin is moving with the slop so then it would need to be fixed or replaced.
if the bottom hinge has slop in it that could cause the drop of the door and why it is hitting the fender.

[GMCGrim]

In regards to the hood hinges I would send them to Wilson Antique Auto parts and get them rebuilt. It's a better way to go than buying the repop junk. You will never have another issue with your hinges after that. Before I restored my truck my hood was doing the same thing.

[dmw319]

Originally Posted by my kids toy

open the door and lift the back end of the door up and down, if you have slop/play then one or 2 of the hinges is worn out, if you have slop/play you will be able to see which hinge pin is moving with the slop so then it would need to be fixed or replaced.
if the bottom hinge has slop in it that could cause the drop of the door and why it is hitting the fender.

thanks! ill give this a try

[special-K]

It could be your rocker panels were replaced and they didn't get the opening correct. Get the door adjusted well o the cab, then see what the fender needs.

[NorCalC20LWB]

GMCGrim, could you post a link to Wilson Antique Auto? Did a search and couldn't find it, but did come up with this one: http://www.hoodhingerepair.com/ Is this it? Having my truck painted right now so would be a good time to have the hinges repaired.

[sick472]

When I purchased my 72, the doors fit tight at the lower back corner and tight to the lower section of the fender. The PO had put cab corners and rockers OVER the old rusted out ones which closed in the door openings. The doors had to move/rotate to even get ithe door to open and close. I hope that is not the case with your truck! It kinda looks like it from the pics.