Are the doors supposed to "flex" when they close? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Gibson · 04-11-2014, 08:55 AM

Hey guys,
Is the window frame of the door supposed to "flex" a little bit when the door is closed, or should the door be exactly the same profile as the body contours?

Here is why I ask:
I'm in the process of hanging new door shells (GM, according to the guy who bought them for me) with new hinges. I have the fenders off, and I have yet to install the glass and stuff into the door shells (wanted to do some test fits first). I took out the door gasket so that I could just have the door sort of "float" in the space without having anything resisting it. The issue I'm having is that even though the gap looks fine along the back edge of the door next to the B pillar, and the gap looks fine down where the bottom corner of the windshield and front door edge line up, the top of the door seems to be "inset" a bit. Almost like the door shell is not quite the same curvature as the body. I can push on it and get it to kind of flex and line up, but that just seems wrong.

Do I have something shimmed incorrectly? Shouldn't it match up exactly with the door opening?

cory d · 04-11-2014, 09:22 AM

the doors fit like poo on most of these

*gmachinz* · 04-11-2014, 09:42 AM

No, there is always a slightly bigger gap at the top than at the bottom. I think it was at best hit or miss when it comes to aligning it from the factory. Then, if its A 4x4, cab flex adds even more of an issue to it. I always spend a considerable amount of time aligning the panels up and its always off somewhere. In the end, I focus on gaps between fenders to hood and the entire bodyline going down the side-those are the real critical areas imo.

Gibson · 04-11-2014, 04:00 PM

Cool, I'll just get them as close as I can then! Thanks guys!

Keith Seymore · 04-13-2014, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmachinz

No, there is always a slightly bigger gap at the top than at the bottom. I think it was at best hit or miss when it comes to aligning it from the factory.

This is true.

We shimmed, but just based on the shim packs we had taped up for the day. Every truck got the same amount of shims whether it needed it or not.

K

04-11-2014, 08:55 AM	#1
Gibson Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Maryville, TN Posts: 132	Are the doors supposed to "flex" when they close? Hey guys, Is the window frame of the door supposed to "flex" a little bit when the door is closed, or should the door be exactly the same profile as the body contours? Here is why I ask: I'm in the process of hanging new door shells (GM, according to the guy who bought them for me) with new hinges. I have the fenders off, and I have yet to install the glass and stuff into the door shells (wanted to do some test fits first). I took out the door gasket so that I could just have the door sort of "float" in the space without having anything resisting it. The issue I'm having is that even though the gap looks fine along the back edge of the door next to the B pillar, and the gap looks fine down where the bottom corner of the windshield and front door edge line up, the top of the door seems to be "inset" a bit. Almost like the door shell is not quite the same curvature as the body. I can push on it and get it to kind of flex and line up, but that just seems wrong. Do I have something shimmed incorrectly? Shouldn't it match up exactly with the door opening?

04-11-2014, 09:22 AM	#2
cory d Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Arlington WA Posts: 1,728	Re: Are the doors supposed to "flex" when they close? the doors fit like poo on most of these __________________ GMC C15 355 SM465 3.73 80 C10 cruiser build thread 79 short stepside crew cab. big and ugly. build thread

04-11-2014, 09:42 AM	#3
gmachinz Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Des Moines, IA. Posts: 4,143	Re: Are the doors supposed to "flex" when they close? No, there is always a slightly bigger gap at the top than at the bottom. I think it was at best hit or miss when it comes to aligning it from the factory. Then, if its A 4x4, cab flex adds even more of an issue to it. I always spend a considerable amount of time aligning the panels up and its always off somewhere. In the end, I focus on gaps between fenders to hood and the entire bodyline going down the side-those are the real critical areas imo.

04-11-2014, 04:00 PM	#4
Gibson Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Maryville, TN Posts: 132	Re: Are the doors supposed to "flex" when they close? Cool, I'll just get them as close as I can then! Thanks guys!



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.