Technical Chevy has sitting forever doors don't open HELP

What's up fellas I just picked up a 1954 Chevy Bel Air four-door that has been sitting in the garage from more than 28 years.. driver side door opens with no issue but the other three are not opening whatsoever from the inside or outside any suggestions?

 

If the latches release, but the door still will not move, I think that you'll need to pull the fender, and soak the hinges in penetrating oil.

If it is a latch issue, you will need to soak those in penetrating oil.

Once the front doors are open, you can work on the rears.

 

I'd have to go along with what Gimpy suggested. Use some serious rust pententrant like PB Blaster though.

 

I've also seen door weather stripping virtually weld itself to door jams due to prolonged heat exposure. I don't know an easy solution for that without further damaging sheet metal, but it would be another item to look at...
Good luck!

 

I’d pull the inner panels if you can, take a look what’s going on inside. Might just be stuck in the locked position.

 

Crank the windows down, and use the window gap to aim a WD40 nozzle to the door latch. Then hit it like there´s no tomorrow. I used Ballistol on my 55 Chevy. The grease on the latches gets sticky over the years and that´s what made it impossible for me to unlock the rear doors. Worked flawlessly-remember, a lot helps a lot, the more the gooder

 

Is there something that would soften or dissolve the weather stripping. Thought of brake fluid as would think the weather stripping would be rubber. Seeing as this car has been standing for 28 years think it would need new ones and paint anyhow

 

Couple things when you press the door handle ****on do you feel it doing anything ( tension. On the ****on ?)

if you pull up or down on the lock ****on you feel anything ?

that would narrow down if it’s the hinges rusted ( not likely if the car is not rotted out snd has been sitting in a garage , but still a possibility)

door seals can stick really good some times .spraying silicone lube or penetrant will get them to unstick just go around the door gap with a can and the straw on it .

roll the window down spray rust penetrant into the door latch and with a hand on the handle and one in the window sill give it a good pull .

you may need to pull the seats and inner door cards to access the hinges and latches ..

 

Is the door stuck or is the latch not operating? Two different things.

 

If it's the weatherstrip you can usually feel some give when you hold the handle depressed, and try to wiggle the door open. If it feels solid, and isn't moving at all, it's likely the latch mechanism is rusted shut. If the interior door panels are bad, and might be replaced, I'd simply tear them off in whatever way is easiest, and then get to the latch mechanism to spray with a good penetrant. If they're worth saving you might get to them with the window rolled down to spray, but likely will need a plastic nozzle, and waste a lot of penetrant to get enough on the latch.
Worse case scenario will be possibly using a large hole saw to cut a hole in the inner door panel right where the latch is to get to the latch mechanism.

 

Slim Jim?

 

Unlock the doors, lay on the seat on your back, put both feet against the door and push. This should overcome any sticking of the weather seal

 

Drive a Ford by it and blow it’s doors off!





Bones

 

This is how I have opened many a door on cars like this 54 that didn't want to open easy and what I was going to suggest.

 

Try setting it out in the hot sun if the weatherstrip has bonded to the jams. The change in temperature may be just enough. Heat also helps any penetrant you apply.

 

Take it to the quarter carwash and soak the perimeter of the doors with the soap, let it soak then high pressure rinse the edges. I guess I'm showing my age with the quarter wash?

 

If the door handle ****on goes in when you push it and the inside remote moves when you try to open the door. Then the latch is stuck from old grease. Weatherstrip could also be an issue. My bet is on the latch. Take your time and don’t hurt that 54.

 

I tried this in the back seat of a police car once. It didn't work.

 

Are the batteries in the key fob dead? LoL

I have had weatherstripping weld stuff together before. Soak it good and I like the police car option.

Good luck, you will get them open.

 

Good luck.

 

Plain and simple.

 

Guess he got inside and now both doors are stuck and he can't get out. Don't leave us out in the cold.

 

Would that be like being locked in a convertible with it’s top down?