In spite of all new rubber and striker plate and what appears to me good latches I still have to slam my doors to get them to close, you have to “follow thru with steady pressure to get them to close, it’s a crown so window is not framed , just sticking up like a hardtop and I’m afraid it’s going to crack the gl***, , I try to be as gentle as possible but 9 times out of ten I have to open door again and shut it harder, plus it still sounds the way it did before all rubber was replaced, I was expecting a nice solid “ airtight sound like newer cars, could the latch be the problem? Doors shut good once their latched, no play in doors
Beautiful CV! New seals will necessitate slamming the doors with a little more verve than normal until the seals take a set. Unless the gl*** is way loose I'm pretty sure you can't slam the doors hard enough to damage it (unless you're really pissed, maybe).
My 55 sedan has the same issue since installing new rubber three years ago. I thought the rubber would break in but after three years you would think it would have happened. The same thing on my 1959 F100 as well but that new rubber has been on that truck for much longer than my 55 and I am still needing to slam the doors. I am thinking the durometer (hardness) of the new material is different than the original door seals. It definitely seems to last much longer, the seals on my F100 still look new after 10 years!
Thanks for the compliment, had car 50 years this October, if I’m in it I roll windows down to shut it, years ago I replaced windows and window channels were almost completely worn out and within a month both windows were cracked! Stayed that way about 40 years! ( it was parked in my garage about 30 of those though!)
I recently replaced my door rubber. It took almost a month before they settled in and the door went back to shutting without slamming. Also it helps to grease the latch pieces, especially the little alignment tab that sticks out above the rotary latch on the door.
Clean the rubber with soap and water. Then rub some water-based dressing on them. Another old trick was to warm the rubber with a heat gun or lamps - then close the door and let it cool and reset. Kinda making a thousand door slams with the heat gun!
Since completing my 55 Sunliner I have been frustrated by the fact that the drivers door does not shut easily like the p***enger door. Try as I might I can’t adjust it to do so. It closed just fine prior to the frame off build, wish I could figure it out. I feel your frustration.
I backed out my latch for the first few months when I had mine repainted and new rubber installed. The shop painting the car and installing the new seals had the door perfectly aligned but I too almost had to slam the doors. Since it was only 3 Phillips screws it was very ez to do. I slowly moved them back to aligning the doors. I also leave the windows 1/4-1/2” down.
After i had my new trim put in the wind lace was so tight had to move my doors out move them back in a little at a time now they close good
My Carpenter door gaskets took a while to settle down. Once they have been compressed for a while, they behave.
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