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Technical Pushing top of door in

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by twostickmutt, Jan 23, 2025 at 9:00 AM.

  1. twostickmutt
    Joined: Oct 18, 2015
    Posts: 129

    twostickmutt
    Member

    On my 39 ford coupe the top of the drivers door is bent out some. The rest of the door lines up real nice with everything else. You'll see the top of the door in the Pic between the blue masking tape. I don't want to start doing anything without a tip or 2 so I don't make it worse. Thanks in advance.
     

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  2. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 18,488

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    I would think that this could be either a sagging body mount under the A pillar or hinges that have been tweaked. Seems odd that the door would be bent and appear fine in the spots the kink/ crease would be. Does the door glass bind at all when being raised and lowered? The door top being tweaked would put the window track out of alignment and I imagine cause some bind?


    Edit: is that peep mirror bracket touching? Any wear marks? I could see something like that hitting and broadcasting misalignment from there?
     
    twostickmutt and 1971BB427 like this.
  3. Unkl Ian
    Joined: Mar 29, 2001
    Posts: 13,501

    Unkl Ian

    When did this problem start ?
     
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  4. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 9,241

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    Good point on those clamp mirrors! If it isn't touching now, I bet it will once the alignment is fixed.
    I'd check the clamp for any signs of contact, and remove it to check door fitment. It's sometimes not tough to put a 2x4 at a low point on the door frame, and then push in with your hands to bring the high spot down. I've done it several times and just takes some minor pressure and checking to move it a bit at a time.
    Once it's fixed you may need to find a different mirror option. I have those on two different cars, and I removed the clamps and drilled through my door frames and bolted them on running screws from inside to the mirrors. I used button head allen screws.
     
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  5. A Boner
    Joined: Dec 25, 2004
    Posts: 7,789

    A Boner
    Member

    Put pillows in the door jams where it’s good, and lean into the top portion that needs adjusting. Might have to use something more substantial than the pillows.
     
  6. Back in the old days we used full size telephone books instead of pillows! You could adjust how much you wanted to bend by choosing how many pages to open . Sounds funny but it worked every time.

    God Bless
    Bill
    https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/
     
  7. Jokester
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 744

    Jokester
    Member

    In the early 1960s my class toured through a Buick manufacturing plant. I saw a guy hang a door on a car. Top of the door hit the body first and the bottom of the door was out over an inch. He stuck a hammer handle in the top of the door and slammed it. Perfect fit.

    .bjb
     
  8. snoc653
    Joined: Dec 25, 2023
    Posts: 675

    snoc653
    Member
    from Iowa

    As has been mentioned, this was a fairly common thing to have happen and fix. The biggest concerns with the methods stated are not scratching the door or body while bracing the door and very importantly make sure the glass is down when adjusting the upper door. Once the door closes properly slowly roll up the window and watch for binding. I have used ratchet straps to a 2X6 in the other door frame to slowly pull the top of a door back in after the door being adjusted was braced slightly open. The bending will need to be done slowly and after you release whatever pressure you use to bend it, the door will spring back slightly. It will take multiple attempts to get it just right so don't rush it.
     
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  9. twostickmutt
    Joined: Oct 18, 2015
    Posts: 129

    twostickmutt
    Member

    Tim the window rolls up nice and true and easy. no wear marks and the top of the door was tweaked out before i put the peep mirrors on. Thanks.
     
    Tim likes this.
  10. twostickmutt
    Joined: Oct 18, 2015
    Posts: 129

    twostickmutt
    Member

    It was like that when i got the car 7 years ago
     
  11. twostickmutt
    Joined: Oct 18, 2015
    Posts: 129

    twostickmutt
    Member

    Thanks. Good tip on mounting the mirrors.
     
  12. twostickmutt
    Joined: Oct 18, 2015
    Posts: 129

    twostickmutt
    Member

    Thanks
     
  13. twostickmutt
    Joined: Oct 18, 2015
    Posts: 129

    twostickmutt
    Member

    Sounds good . Thank you
     
  14. poco
    Joined: Feb 9, 2009
    Posts: 1,421

    poco
    Member
    from oklahoma

    Pillows will not work, use something more solid, 2by 4 are the best.
     
    Bill's Auto Works likes this.
  15. '29 Gizmo
    Joined: Nov 6, 2022
    Posts: 1,051

    '29 Gizmo
    Member
    from UK

    Take the top hinge pin out and see if the door can me made to fit just by closing it on the dovetail.. may be hinge position is out
     
  16. Unkl Ian
    Joined: Mar 29, 2001
    Posts: 13,501

    Unkl Ian

    I had that problem on a brand new daily barge.
    Dealership mechanic did the 2x4 trick.
    Protect the inner door if you want to try this.
    Maybe use a second 2x4 or similar to spread the contact area.
     
  17. That's good idea, might try a couple of old McMaster Carr catalogs as I think phone books will be harder to find.
     
    Bill's Auto Works likes this.

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