F1 door alignment
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
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From: Moyie, BC Canada
There are door adjustment spacers (shims)available at various aftermarket venders for this very application. They come in many widths (thickness). Place the appropriate ones through a trial and error method behind the upper and lower hinges. You can get a perfect gap all around your door, it just takes patience but can be done. Remember to put the spacer or spacers between the hinges and the door frame. It almost requires three hands.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Gilbert,az
mervy my problem is the gap is too big at the bottom. The shims seem like they would work if the gap was too tight. Am I missing something? Are the hinge half in the door removable and adjustable. Thx for your help.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
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From: Moyie, BC Canada
Do you mean the gap btween the door and the rocker panel?
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Junior User
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From: Gilbert,az
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Kalispell, MT
The shop manual says to use fiber blocks to adjust by closing the door with the block in the hinge that needs to move. I read that as being a 2x4.
The manual also refers to cutting the tack welds that hold the hinges in place if smaller shims are needed.
I know the earlier car/truck manuals specified using a 2x4 and basically forcing things to move as necessary to achieve the results you want.
If you want to reduce the gap at the hinge/bottom either spread the hinge at the top to equalize the gap OR carefully use the 2x4 on the latch side of the door at the bottom and press the door toward the hinge.
The manual also refers to cutting the tack welds that hold the hinges in place if smaller shims are needed.
I know the earlier car/truck manuals specified using a 2x4 and basically forcing things to move as necessary to achieve the results you want.
If you want to reduce the gap at the hinge/bottom either spread the hinge at the top to equalize the gap OR carefully use the 2x4 on the latch side of the door at the bottom and press the door toward the hinge.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 758
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From: Alabama
You know this practice is still done today. I work in the paint dept. of an automotive company and when I walk across the catwalk to leave or go to lunch I can see associates down on the door line "tweaking" the doors by using a big rubber hammer and plastic wedges! Sometimes they even grab the door at the top and pull it outward to get just the right fit.........
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
Shims aren't really much of a help when it comes to adjusting these doors. I found the 2X4 way is about the only way. Also, the cab I have on my F-2 is from a very low mileage fire truck, 3000 miles, and the door openings were out of square on both sides. The top front and bottom rear corners had very little gap while the upper rears and lower front were too wide. I used a small port-a-power to push the corners apart and square up the openings.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Lady Lake FL
Years ago I had a door that was somehow bent in at the top, thought I was going to have to scrap an otherwise perfect door. Friend of my fathers came by (was plant manager for Ford for years) and he said to "adjust" it like we do at the factory. We put a 2 X 4 thru the window opening and yanked it a couple times and all was good again...
Paul
Paul
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