Doors are a Pain - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

nroden · 07-06-2002, 12:10 AM

Learned somthing new. That it takes about 5 or 6 hours to get doors on my truck. They are a pain. Once we thought we had them aligned they'd hit in another spot. Part of it may have been that we pulled them together where they were coming apart at the bottom seams and used boddy filler. We finally got them where they shut properly.

They look pretty good other than on the passenger side the door sticks out a little farther than the cab corner which we replaced. Its probably becaused we used the cheaper corners made by Tri-Plus which I believe is made in Taiwan. This is what most of the parts vendors use I believe, including Ron Manes where I got mine. My brother had had the same problem when he replaced his cab corners on his 89 Silverado 1500 2wd, of the door sticking out and its still like that today. His cab corners weren't GM either.

So they may not look perfect but they're not bad. They close very nicely now with the new hinge pins, bushings, and friction pads. Like opening and closing doors on a new vehicle, but better. About 10 years from now when I have a good job and am out of college, have money to have my own place with a nice shed, I will do a more complete restore and be sure just to get whole new door skins.

Next thing: Finish up the back of the cab and put the bed on! (then rear bumper, tailgate, and take it to KS for its paint job.)

**PICKMUP** · 07-07-2002, 10:08 PM

Did you align the doors up with the cab first & then align the rockers up with the door...before you welded the rockers on???

Longhorn Man · 07-07-2002, 10:15 PM

I found them to only be a pain when dropped on your foot.

Actually, I think the best way to install tehm, is using a jack instead of a helper, once you get it all sitated, the jack will hold it still instead of whining that it is getting tired, or wanting a smoke break.
I just got mine out of storage...it is much nicer than I remember, no holes at all. It DOES have smome rust, but just not as bad as I remembered it.

Longhorn Man · 07-07-2002, 10:16 PM

And then the underside looks worse than it actually is...

jeepbut · 07-07-2002, 10:39 PM

Is that the Caddy engine in the back of the GMC?

Longhorn Man · 07-07-2002, 10:42 PM

yep, my storage unit with all my stuff is on the other side of town. I had to go 1/2 way there to get the 425, so i kept going and grabbed my door and engine stand.

nroden · 07-07-2002, 11:22 PM

Yes, we did line up the rockers.

We finally did end up useing the 12-ton jack from the shed. It helped a lot! At least they're finally on there good and work.

Dandeluxe · 07-07-2002, 11:25 PM

andy, what kind of a digital camera is that u have? those pic.s are clear .

Longhorn Man · 07-08-2002, 12:01 AM

Just a Hewlett Packard HP315. Mine was given to me, but I think they are fairly cheap.

Bamm · 07-11-2002, 01:57 PM

A good way to line the doors up easily is before you take them off (assuming that they closed good to begin with) is to drill two 1/8" holes in the hinges to use as pilot holes. Then when you get ready to put them back on, two 16 penny nails will line you up and get you real close.............JB

07-06-2002, 12:10 AM	#1
nroden Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 1,098	Doors are a Pain Learned somthing new. That it takes about 5 or 6 hours to get doors on my truck. They are a pain. Once we thought we had them aligned they'd hit in another spot. Part of it may have been that we pulled them together where they were coming apart at the bottom seams and used boddy filler. We finally got them where they shut properly. They look pretty good other than on the passenger side the door sticks out a little farther than the cab corner which we replaced. Its probably becaused we used the cheaper corners made by Tri-Plus which I believe is made in Taiwan. This is what most of the parts vendors use I believe, including Ron Manes where I got mine. My brother had had the same problem when he replaced his cab corners on his 89 Silverado 1500 2wd, of the door sticking out and its still like that today. His cab corners weren't GM either. So they may not look perfect but they're not bad. They close very nicely now with the new hinge pins, bushings, and friction pads. Like opening and closing doors on a new vehicle, but better. About 10 years from now when I have a good job and am out of college, have money to have my own place with a nice shed, I will do a more complete restore and be sure just to get whole new door skins. Next thing: Finish up the back of the cab and put the bed on! (then rear bumper, tailgate, and take it to KS for its paint job.) __________________ Nick Rodenberg 72 Cheyenne 10 V8 350/TH350 white/ochre/white/ochre, ochre/saddle interior Retired and in the dry... still runs. I now drive Red '01 Ford Focus... better MPG!!!

07-07-2002, 10:08 PM	#2
PICKMUP "Trucks with Class" Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: OLYMPIA, WA, USA Posts: 8,144	Did you align the doors up with the cab first & then align the rockers up with the door...before you welded the rockers on??? __________________ Email: frankeham@comcast.net Phone: 360-956-7170

07-07-2002, 10:15 PM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	I found them to only be a pain when dropped on your foot. Actually, I think the best way to install tehm, is using a jack instead of a helper, once you get it all sitated, the jack will hold it still instead of whining that it is getting tired, or wanting a smoke break. I just got mine out of storage...it is much nicer than I remember, no holes at all. It DOES have smome rust, but just not as bad as I remembered it. Attached Images

07-07-2002, 10:16 PM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	And then the underside looks worse than it actually is... Attached Images

07-07-2002, 11:22 PM	#7
nroden Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 1,098	Yes, we did line up the rockers. We finally did end up useing the 12-ton jack from the shed. It helped a lot! At least they're finally on there good and work. __________________ Nick Rodenberg 72 Cheyenne 10 V8 350/TH350 white/ochre/white/ochre, ochre/saddle interior Retired and in the dry... still runs. I now drive Red '01 Ford Focus... better MPG!!!

07-07-2002, 10:39 PM	#5
jeepbut Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: Corpus Christi, Tx. U.S.A. Posts: 271	Is that the Caddy engine in the back of the GMC?

07-07-2002, 10:42 PM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	yep, my storage unit with all my stuff is on the other side of town. I had to go 1/2 way there to get the 425, so i kept going and grabbed my door and engine stand.

07-07-2002, 11:25 PM	#8
Dandeluxe Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: st.louis mo. Posts: 717	digital camera ? andy, what kind of a digital camera is that u have? those pic.s are clear . __________________ 1969 cst swb 350/400 th . DANNY C . ["]FRIENDS DONT LET FRIENDS DRIVE F@RD$!! 1969 cst swb corvette hugger orange with 400 hp sbc I started out with nothing and i held on to it

07-08-2002, 12:01 AM	#9
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Just a Hewlett Packard HP315. Mine was given to me, but I think they are fairly cheap.

07-11-2002, 01:57 PM	#10
Bamm Cowboy Fan for Life!!!!!! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Amelia, Virginia Posts: 2,921	A good way to line the doors up easily is before you take them off (assuming that they closed good to begin with) is to drill two 1/8" holes in the hinges to use as pilot holes. Then when you get ready to put them back on, two 16 penny nails will line you up and get you real close.............JB __________________ 1967 ShortBed Fleetside 3/4 Drop 350/700R4 Tilt wheel 18 x 8 Torque Thrust II's Future mods: All new gauges & wood bed My Zip is 23002 I ship UPS, USPS

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