Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track

[Woodyboat]

Originally Posted by TKCR

I would check out YouTube for videos. I watch all types of how to videos concerning my truck. Just search Chevy truck door alignment or adjustment and you'll get plenty of videos to help you out.

That sounded like a good idea so I went to YouTube and searched just what you said. I didn't get much for Chevy trucks specifically but there are quite a few videos describing door gaps on a lot of other vehicles. The information there is pretty generic but still good info.

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Be advised that door gaps were all over the place back in the day, so what you are seeing on your truck may have been typical of the build quality.

Having said that you would want to fit the door to the existing cab pieces (A pillar, roof and B and C pillars) as you have suggested and then add the new rockers based on that.

Fender fit comes last and is based on where the doors end up.

K

Your saying that door gaps were all over the place back in the day actually makes me feel a lot better. One of the videos I just watched on YouTube described actually reworking the metal on the doors to get the gaps to fit better. Somehow I thought that that might be simply hiding a problem. So, here's my plan of action:

On each side, I will use the middle body line at the pillars as a reference. I want to start at the C pillar and work forward. If I stretch some tape from the middle body line at the C pillar and then straight across the middle body line at the B pillar, I could then extend the tape onto the front fender. I will trim the tape so that I can open and close the doors.

Next, beginning with the rear door, I will work the hinges (after I replace all the bushings and pins) so the the center body lines on the door line up correctly between the C and B pillar. From there, I think I should adjust the striker plate and bolt for correct latching and unlatching.

After that, repeat the process with the front door. When it's opening/closing and the body lines are correct, I should adjust the fender.

Next, do whatever body work is required to even the gaps and finally, repair my rocker panels.

Does this sound good?