[DeTomaso] Door adjustment

[Jeff Detrich]

This is a sort of trick but may help with the fact that the latch isn't in
the right position. Loosen the 2 bolts on the top hinge that are closest to
the front of the door where it attaches to the door and the same 2 on the
bottom as well. Then break the remaining two loose but still holding the
door loosely. Shut the door while someone is inside with a wrench. Shut the
door and loosen the 2 bolts a little more. Shutting the door helps locate
the latch. Then using the flattened palm of your hand, you can massage the
door with some slaps to get it to the proper position. Have the guy in the
inside tighten the 2 bolts and then open it and tighten the rest. Doesn't
always work, but when it does, it is a loot quicker.

Jeff
6559

On Mon, May 28, 2012 at 7:19 PM, <MikeLDrew at aol.com> wrote:

>
> In a message dated 5/28/12 9 50 50, threemacs at aol.com writes:
>
>
> > Again after a recent paint job my door is out of adjustment.  It appears
> > that the bottom of the door needs to come in maybe an eighth of an inch.
> > Also my locks don't want to work. How can I adjust the door and get the
> > locks to work again?
> >
>
> It really sounds like your body shop hosed you (unless you agreed to do the
> final assembly yourself?)
>
> If you paid good money to have your car painted and expected to get it back
> good-to-go, you should take it back and demand satisfaction.
>
> If you are in DIY mode, changing the angle of the door is, like the
> headlights, both easy and difficult.   The holes in the door hinges are
> slotted,
> which allows the door to move fore and aft much more than necessary.   It's
> easy to put it too far forward and scratch the paint, and also easy to have
> your problem.
>
> First thing to do is mask all the surfaces where paint could contact
> (leading and trailing edge of the door, trailing edge of the front fender,
> leading
> edge of the rear fender).
>
> Then, evaluate how the door is sitting now.   Chances are the line between
> the back of the front fender and the front of the door is out of whack.
> Is
> it too close at the bottom?   Or too far apart at the top?
>
> Let's assume that it's too far apart at the top.   Then what you need to do
> is pivot the door around the bottom hinge.   Open the door up, remove the
> door panel, and position a floor jack underneath so that it is just barely
> supporting the door.   Loosen all the top hinge bolts, and all but one of
> the
> bottom hinge bolts.   Then loosen that last one just slightly, and raise
> the
> jack up just slightly.   Then tighten the bolts securely, lower the jack,
> and GENTLY try to close the door and see where you are.
>
> It's quite possible that you need to fix more than one thing.   On my own
> car (cobbler's children and all that), my passenger door fit is far from
> optimal.   The whole door needs to go forward about 1/16th of an inch, and
> the
> back needs to get raise up another 1/16th of an inch.   It's a 'someday'
> project....
>
> Mike
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