sagging 3 window doors ?

32 original Ford 3 window coupe. All new dovetails and hinges are all tight. I know they are bolted to wood, in really good shape. Any ideas to pick them up a bit? shimming, jack, heat etc. ?


Ago

 

Cable and turnbuckles from the backside of the post down to the subrail over the axle?

 

i'd jack the door up, but i'm a barbarian and don't own a 32 3 window.

 

I would try shimming rear of the body. I have a 3 window that doors fit perfect and when I removed body for paint doors sagged at front right away. Placed back on frame and shimmed rear and doors fit good again.

Good luck

Dan

 

Would shimming the rear make the front go lower?


Ago

 

Good info, will try it.


Ago

 

I'd say shimming plays a big part in picture especially Henry body and after market frame.. Or even a reworked Henry frame. Or even wood kit could be an issue ..

 

You can shim behind the A pilar and lift the back of the door some. I think it depends in how much you need to bring the back of the door up. One of the magazines did a real good article some years back on shimming.

 

If you work on old cars a lot you realize that shimming between body and frame is a skill you need to learn. Old cars, especially Fords used blocks of hardwood as shim material and over the years it rots away and compresses. If you take the body off to rebuild the frame you need to label the shims and measure the thickness. After re***embly it starts with getting the door gap at the "A" pillar right then working your way back to the rear until the gap between the back of the door and body are acceptable. Next is getting the cowl to hood right and finally the front of the hood to grill shell. It can take several days but the overall look of the finished product is worth the effort.