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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Clarksville, Tn.
Posts: 183
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Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track
I've got some issues with my Big Dooley Crew Cab. None of the four doors actually close comfortably. I have to tweak, lift, do some sort of contortion or just slam the dickens out of them to get them to close and stay closed. I've also noticed that the gaps between the doors and the body are all over the map.
It is a given that I will put new hinges and bushings in all the doors. But I'm not so sure that this will completely solve any and all problems. I almost wonder if the truck has been snatched out of alignment in a previous accident or something. I wonder how to verify this. My main concern is that I feel I should get these doors as close to perfect as possible BEFORE I start rebuilding the rusted out rocker panels and floor board rust. My thinking is that I should align the doors to the body and then align the rocker panels to the doors. Is this the right way to do this? If anyone knows of any place where I can find some tutorials or video instructions, please chime in and I thank you in advance. |
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6,930
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Re: Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track
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.
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Motor City
Posts: 9,194
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Re: Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track
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
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Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ |
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#4 | ||
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Clarksville, Tn.
Posts: 183
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Re: Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track
Quote:
Quote:
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? Last edited by Woodyboat; 05-18-2016 at 08:06 PM. |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Apple Valley, CA
Posts: 275
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Re: Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track
Sounds like you've got it. You'd be surprised at how easy and well your doors will close with a simple rebuild of the hinges.
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Welcome to my build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=574370 |
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#6 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Des Moines, IA.
Posts: 4,143
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Re: Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track
Keep in mind that replacement rust repair panels i.e. cab corners/rocker panels will also need tweaking to fit properly. On a truck I'm working with the cab corners needed some grinding/contouring to fit properly as will the rocker panels. I suggest working your repairs starting with the cab corners and move forward after aligning the doors as best you can. Here are a couple before/after pics showing the LH side I did.
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#7 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Des Moines, IA.
Posts: 4,143
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Re: Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track
Before...
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#8 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Des Moines, IA.
Posts: 4,143
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Re: Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track
After...
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#9 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Des Moines, IA.
Posts: 4,143
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Re: Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track
Most of the tacking is done...
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#10 | |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Motor City
Posts: 9,194
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Re: Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track
Quote:
Crew Cabs, as well as Blazer/Suburban, were much more manual in construction and used an archaic "side gate" system. That made for a lot more variation in the cab dimensions. If you follow the gap around the periphery of the door you can usually see it. http://www.73-87.com/7387info/Assembly%20Line.htm (photo 7, specifically) K
__________________
Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ |
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#11 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Clarksville, Tn.
Posts: 183
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Re: Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track
Quote:
Actually Keith, those photos are GREAT and all of you guys on this thread ROCK! It's awesome that I can get answers like these and I thank all of you. |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Longmont, Colorado
Posts: 252
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Re: Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track
Great photos!
I always wondered what that red oxide coating was, still have a pristine coating of it on the cab. Keith was there a predicted lifespan on these trucks and are you surprised at how long some of them have lasted?
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Folks that throw dirt on you aren't always trying to hurt you, and folks that pull you out of a jam aren't always trying to help you. |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Clarksville, Tn.
Posts: 183
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Re: Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track
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#14 | |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Motor City
Posts: 9,194
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Re: Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track
Quote:
The first trucks were pretty bad. It was fairly common to see them with fenders and box sides completely gone and the wheel opening moldings floating in space. They got progressively better as we added galvanized metal, ELPO dip for better coverage and stopped drilling holes in them for moldings and emblems. K
__________________
Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Longmont, Colorado
Posts: 252
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Re: Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track
Thanks for taking time to answer my questions Keith - much appreciated.
Woodyboat you might have an interest in a thread by daddyjeep here. He replaced both Crew Cab front and rear rockers at the and had to do a lot of fitment to get things looking good. He might be able to offer up a little advice.
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Folks that throw dirt on you aren't always trying to hurt you, and folks that pull you out of a jam aren't always trying to help you. |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Clarksville, Tn.
Posts: 183
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Re: Door Alignment - tell me if I'm on the right track
Front Range... YES, ASOLUTELY!! This link to the daddyjeep's thread is EXACTLY what I've been looking for!!
Thank you very much! |
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