Driver's door adjustment

[Markedz]

Hi all, I have been combing all of the older posts looking for what adjustment needs to be made to the driver's door on a 1970 Chevy C20 so that it will lock without having to push on the door. Does anyone have any experience with what needs to be done? I have had that strike in more positions than a yoga instructor and with no results. All of the previous posts have no definitive solutions. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[Jarwood]

If I remember correct there are brass bushings on the front side of the door hinge. Replacing those will help keep the door more stable and line up better with the striker bolt.

Good Luck,
James

[dan42]

I have to slam mine a little harder than I should, and the passenger side is perfect. Very annoying.

[geezer#99]

I too adjusted, tweaked and adjusted more. Then I just broke down and bought a new latch assembly from LMC.
Problem is the star wheel centre pin gets worn out. Star wheel twists out of line when you close the door. Pushing door in recentres it so the lock works. Occasionally!!!
Sometimes you just gotta buy new ones.

[bobs409]

Ack! I know what you mean about this. The driver door on both my pickups do the same thing.

[longbed67]

I got one, not to steal your thread but the top of the passenger door strikes the bottom of the rain gutter as it is closing, just enough to scrape paint, how does one adjust it down?

[Markedz]

It is not necessary to get new bushings for the hinges, mine are still perfect. Geezer has got the first logical answer I have seen regarding this. What I found after careful examination yesterday was that the star wheel just needs to rotate a fraction of an inch to allow the lock mechanism to engage it, without hitting it. The only solution that I can think of is what Geezer said... replacing the latching mechanism or filing the part of the lock assembly that engages the latch. There are so many of us with the same problem... Thanks for the help guys. Now I just need to figure out why the door doesn't shut all the way on the passenger side, It's like one thing after another!

[Markedz]

Longbed67, did you look at the hinges? Do you see any shims behind them, especially the bottom one? If the door is hitting the gutter that would mean that the bottom hinge has shims behind it between the door and the hinge or the bottom hinge is adjusted too far back. If it doesn't then it most likely require you to adjust the hinge forward where it bolts to the body.

[geezer#99]

I did try filling the mechanism but to no avail. Metal is all hardened. File wouldn't hardly scratch it.
But one good thing about my attempts to fix old worn out parts. After taking it apart 6 times I got real good at taking it out and putting it back in. LOL!!!
Sometimes you just gotta throw in the towel, flash the credit card and get new stuff.

[Markedz]

Thanks for the feedback. I guess Grumpy's truck parts is going to get another swipe of my card to the tune of $60.00! Any tips for the removal and re-installation?

[domeier]

I'd like to get or make the special wrench Chevy shows in the manual for the front hinge attach. Anyone know where to buy one, or have a shade-tree solution?

[geezer#99]

Knee Pads. Strong back. Small hands. No bi-focals. LOL!!!
Put a trouble light down inside the door. Have a small mirror handy. It's not a super place to see into. The rod from the inside door handle to the latch. REmove the clip on the handle end. You'll never get the other end off until the whole thing is out.
You gotta remove the clip for the door lock first then the screws on the latch. Don't forget to take the lock nob off.
The whole latch needs to be twisted around the window channel run too.
It's tricky but do-able.

[Markedz]

Originally Posted by domeier

I'd like to get or make the special wrench Chevy shows in the manual for the front hinge attach. Anyone know where to buy one, or have a shade-tree solution?

I have heard of guys just cutting one out of 1/8" steel and bending it to fit the contour of what you need. That is my "shade tree" contribution.