[DeTomaso] Adjusting door tips??

[steve at snclocks.com]

Good morning Larry.  I doubt I have more than 10 hours into adjusting doors on our car.  OK, maybe more.  It is trial and error - but yes, loosening all the bolts at once with an unsupported door would make it a lot  more of a challenge.

The first thing I do is set up a support under the lower, back edge of the door.  Specifically I use a screw-jack with wood and foam on top of it to assure the door doesn't move when I loosen one of the two hinges bolts.  Look at your door to body gaps at the front of the door - is there evidence that the top or bottom gaps are larger?  If so, that gives you a clue which hinge to move.  To lift the back of the door you need to either reduce the upper door to front fender gap or increase the lower door to front fender gap.  Then, when you go to actually adjust, make sure the door is not stressing the hinge you are going to adjust by lifting the back of the door enough.  You end up loosening, raising a little, tightening, and seeing if you did any good.  If not, then loosen and raise just a little more.  With no more than a couple of dozen attempts I can usually get a better fit.

I hope this helps.

Stephen 

-----Original Message-----
From: DeTomaso <detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com> On Behalf Of Pantdino via DeTomaso
Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2020 10:39 PM
To: detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Adjusting door tips??

I don't know much about it, but I've heard the term "hinge pin" used.  Maybe the pin that goes thru the hinge is worn, allowing that up and down motion?  Tightening the screws that attach the hinge plates to the door and body will not cure that problem.
Jim


-----Original Message-----
From: LARRY FINCH via DeTomaso <detomaso at server.detomasolist.com>
To: Email List Address For Posting <detomaso at server.detomasolist.com>
Sent: Sun, Aug 16, 2020 6:21 pm
Subject: [DeTomaso] Adjusting door tips??

All,

After months sitting on my low height lift and countless door open and close cycles, and the added weight of the engine and trans axle, my passenger door has definitely developed a sag, and even exhibits a little up down wiggle when nearly closed. The Phillips head screws used at the A-pillar did take a bit of tightening but not enough to cure the problem. So I think that looseness has allowed things to shift a little bit since leaving Denny’s shop. 

Our cars are lucky in that both door hinges are attached entirely with screws/bolts, unlike some cars that employ rivets for some of the hinge attachment. 

I don’t want to just start loosening the bolts in hopes that I am loosening the right ones, but in reality perhaps just aggravating the problem.

Has anyone done this often enough to establish some sort of a sequence of approach that removes some of the uncertainty?

Thanks,

Larry 

Sent from me using a magic, handheld electronic gizmo. 
_______________________________________________


Detomaso Email List is not managed by POCA Posted emails must not exceed 1.5 Megabytes DeTomaso mailing list DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso

To manage your subscription (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.) use the links above.

Members who post to this list grant license to the list to forward any message posted here to all past, current, or future members of the list. They also grant the list owner permission to maintain an archive or approve the archiving of list messages.