Model A door hinges bent?

i am trying to fix the drivers door. The gap along the A pillar and the door is more at the top than the bottom. This causes the latch to not engage completely and the beltline is off.

the door needs to be moved about an 1/4 closer to the A pillar (at the top) to look correct. Any ideas on how to fix? I don't know if re-drilling the door hinges and replacing the door pins will help. Has anybody else had this problem.

wood blocking the the cowl doesn't work to fix the gap at the A pillar.

Thanks,
Bryan

 

I would at least put new pins in the door and see where it sits afterwards. If its still hanging down I would open the door a little bit and see if u can pull up on the bottom back corner to see if it will bend the hinge back into place I have to do this with cars at work to get doors to align all the time, but thats just my two cents good luck!

 

It would be better if there was a pic to see if something is bent a lot. But if the pins are OK and nothing really looks bent, try this..

If the car is not finished painted...!

Put some LIGHT pressure upwards on the back lower edge of the door, with a floorjack with padding on it. Keep the door open just enough so nothing is hitting anything while you jack it up a hair.

Then take a hardwood 2x4 block against the back side of the hinge and smack it with a big hammer. It will tweek the hinge towards the front, which will lift the rear of the door. You won't bend a hinge this way but it will slightly move the hinge mounting area.

I would not do this if I knew the hinge half was obviously bent. In that case, I take it off and bend the hinge back to shape.

 

Dude I had the same types of problems. Its a lot of work getting those doors to line up right. Shimming the body with rubber helped me a lot. I also recall something about clamping one of the hinges in a vice and using the old 'persuader' on it. haha

 

If it's not painted, just give it some heat.

 

If the hinges look bent they will need straightening with heat. If they look straight, the the correct method is shimming the cowl blocks. However, another method is to remove the door and hinges (two bolts hold each hinge) and slot the mounting holes.

 

i ordered some over sized door pins today. i'll try that first. if that doesn't work then i'll lift up on the door as its been suggested.

i wish i had a picture but i don't. all i can say is the gap between the door and the A pillar is more than the passenger side. the passenger door looks and works perfectly. blocking the cowl only helps the B pillar and door alignment.

Regarding heat. How much heat are we talking. i don't have an oxy torch. will a propane\map torch work? the car is not painted yet and i'd rather not take the hinges off.

Thanks,
Bryan

 

I know this is stupid and I'm not implying anything by it but... are all the hinges facing the correct direction?

 

yeah...i've never removed them. based on the passenger side, they look correct. I just hope i can bend it using a propane\mapp torch.

Bryan

 

Sounds like the body needs shims to me.....a picture of your issue would help

 

A doors should not have a gap. They overlap the body.
Is the problem that the top of the door is out away from the body or the back of the door low?
Need a pic.
If the gap is because the back of the door is low something must be bent. Door, A post or hinge.