door hinges & door adjustment

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Oct 27, 2009 | 08:41 AM

chappys4life

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Tuned

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 315

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From: Austin, TX

door hinges & door adjustment

I am really having some issues getting my doors lined up right. I get them very close to good then it seems like a readjustment is needed 6 months later. It is a huge pain in the but when it happens to because it affects the door shutting and staying shut. Is there a rebuild kit for 1953 f100 hinges? I was thinking of rebuilding or replacing then work on alignment because I am wonder if sag is cauing my biggest issue. Also any guides on alignment? Maybe someone has some tricks I am unaware of.

Oct 27, 2009 | 11:16 AM

Julies Cool F1

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Joined: May 2008

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From: Poway, Ca.

Are you sure it's the door that is moving? The latch on the inside of the door in the back that the door locks up to is notorious for moving slighty with use and preventing the door from closing in the right position and staying closed.

There used to be an abrasive "gasket" that went behind it to keep it in place. I would check the alignment of that and possibly find some method of keeping it from moving - like make a thin sheet gasket and glue it in place.

Oct 28, 2009 | 02:27 PM

chappys4life

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 315

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From: Austin, TX

Its not the plate. Its new with the gasket which is new as well with good bolts and loctite. I think my hinges are just sagging and slowly getting worse. I dont see a rebuild kit available is there on?

I was looking at hinges on mid fifties catalog. They have and adjustable and non. I know the factory ones are slotted so would I need the adjustable ones?

Oct 28, 2009 | 03:38 PM

raerjim

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2006

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From: S.W. Florida

with the door open only a few inches; grasp it at the bottom outer edge (corner) and pull up sharply. Is there play?

Oct 28, 2009 | 04:21 PM

cmoritz

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Joined: Jul 2006

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From: Westminster,Md

And then after trying raerjim's approach..open the door all the way ..again just like raerjim describes..lift sharply..Any difference?

Same amount of play in both directions?...How much play? How are your cab mounts? Do you have the "typical" rust areas in the cab and floor?

Oct 28, 2009 | 10:35 PM

52 Merc

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Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 16,183

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From: Burbank, WA

I have to agree with the others, as I can see where they're going here. Hinges don't typically lose their adjustment for no reason, and they rarely need to be replaced. You may have bad pins and/or bushings, or with a re-occuring problem, like you're having, you may have a growing rust issue and losing pillar strength. My 2c.

Oct 29, 2009 | 11:27 AM

AXracer

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Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 15,882

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From: Durham NC

Rust out of the inside the door hinge support structure may be root cause. Try Raerjim's test. See if they is play is it a loose clunking type play (hinge pins) or more a give or bending type (inner structure) play? Remove inspection plate on inside door panel. Reach up and forwards inside door and feel for the reinforcement structure along the front of the door. Have someone lift up on opened door corner while you feel for the structure to move independently of the door itself.