I was wondering if the problems i have with gaps can be adjusted to not be gapped. in my user gallery under "gaps" (i think) i posted some pictures of the gaps on my truck. the hood one makes me want to throw up. is there a way to adjust somthing so the hood actually closes all the way? also how about my door? its passenger side so i don't look at it alot but its still there and annoy's me. any help would be apreciated

Ford Man

 

Your doors can be adjusted from the front (hinges) or the rear lock post.If you move the post in towards the seat, it should suck your door in, you may have to move your hinges depending on how it lines up with the back of your front fender.
As far as the hood goes, is the lach bent? or your radiator support down? I don't think there is a lot of adjustment on the front hood area.

 

I don't have an older model to look at, off-hand, but there should be a number of places that you can make adjustments. As mentioned above, you should be able to make adjustments where the hinge bolts onto the door (to move the front edge of the door in and out from the cab), and where the hinge bolts to the body (to move the door forward and aft, and up and down). Further, by loosening the striker bolt, you should be able to properly adjust it to line up with your newly adjusted door. A few things to keep in mind..... this type of work requires patience, and in some cases, a friend. Also, use a "big picture" approach. You'll get a perfect adjustment made on one edge, torque down the bolts, and find it out of whack somewhere else. Take your time and try to understand how everything relates. Plan on taking off the fender to give you access to the hinges. Open the door, and try to lift the back (handle end) up and down. If there's any play in it, plan on at least replacing the hinge pins and bushings, or you'll continue to have headaches. Align the door to your satisfaction, giving due consideration to the gaps along the top, rear, and bottom edges. Using a couple of milk crates with a piece of blanket (to support the door) helps here, as does a jack with some sort of pad, to make finer adjustments at the front and rear. Once you think you have it right, double check the striker, and close the door and inspect the weatherstrip seal, to be sure it is making contact all the way around. Next, work on the fender. Again, you should have some in and out and forward and aft adjusting play at the mounting points. Be careful to leave enough gap for the door to open. Should you need to raise the fender higher in places, you can purchase shims for this purpose at the local body supply shop or in the Help! section of many auto parts stores. Finally, work with your hood, paying attention to the condition of the hinges (are they worn?). There should be adjustment points at the hinges, and also in the form of front hood bumpers along the radiator support, along with an adjustment capability at the hood latch. With some patience, and possibly a few new parts, you should be able to tweak everything to the point that you're happy with it.