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1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

1956 Door Opening Width

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Old Oct 6, 2021 | 02:52 PM
  #1  
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1956 Door Opening Width

I have been considering stretching the door opening width about 1/8" to 3//16" because the rear of the door contacts the striker plate. The margin between the front fender and the door edge is an even 3/16" all the way.

I am wondering if the cab door opening changed dimensions when I gently laid in on the rear surface to work on the floor. I have devised a screw jack out of threaded bar stock and water pipe that ends in smooth hard wood.
I think I can measure the distance and stretch opening a small amount. My question is has anybody ever done something like this. Once it gets stretched, there is no way to undo it. Any thoughts?
 
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Old Oct 8, 2021 | 05:34 AM
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Are you sure the cab has changed. They are pretty strong. Are both sides suffering the same fate? Is it just in the middle of the door.?
 
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Old Oct 8, 2021 | 10:35 AM
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Seems to just be the middle of the door where the latch parts are. Both sides.

Here is my screw jack.
two 13" pipes 7/8" OD
one 8" pipe 1 1/4" OD works to keep the to smaller pipes lined ups Tape to one of the small pipe to keep in place
two 10" pieces of 1//2" threaded bar stock
four 1'2" nuts welded to one end of the bar stock and one end of the 7/8" pipes
two big washers each welded to the nut already on the bar stock
screw the bar stock into the 13" pipes
slip larger pipe over the two ends to the smaller pipes. ends up about 30" overall
two smooth blocks of hard wood to put against the painted surfaces

I did the first application with the screw jack measuring the extended threads. Then stretching the jack 1/4" more threads.
The result was a door opening width increase of 1/16". Just enough for the rear of the door to clear the striker plate.
I am going to give it another stretch looking for another 1/16".
 
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Old Oct 8, 2021 | 12:54 PM
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I think I'd be looking at updating the door latches with modern latches.
 
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