TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Oct 18, 2024 8:22 am

Hey all, the bottom edge of my SC's drivers door has a bulge in it midway down the door. Also, the back corner of the door appears to be tucked in and there are couple of cracks in the door frame? Is this a common thing on original Splitty's and is there an easy fix for it? T.I.A. for your thoughts and input!
-Karl

Fri Oct 18, 2024 8:39 am

I'd say use brute force to bend it back into position, and then weld up the cracks. The spot welds on the inner strengthener have probably popped as well.

Fri Oct 18, 2024 8:47 am

Yep, a properly placed 2x4 on the dogleg and closing the door on it may bring it back into close to proper position. Go easy and a little at a time.

What do the hinges look like? They could be bent as well and can also be corrected. A big hammer will work if they are close; better to take the doors off and bend them back in a vice if they are badly bent, or risk damaging/stressing the sheet metal around the hinges.

Fri Oct 18, 2024 1:46 pm

I'll double check the hinges and try the 2x4 trick this weekend. I hope to save this door as its original and I'm hoping to keep the color and patina matching with the rest of the truck. I'll report back Monday..
-Karl

Fri Oct 18, 2024 2:49 pm

Did something push into the inner structure from the inside?
If so, you may want to correct that before you try to make it straight.

General rule is to correct the damage in the order it occurred. Address the worse damage first. Sometimes it's easy to make things worse in these situations. Take your time and give it some good thought before you get to pushin'.

Looks like a solid door and worth the effort. Weld up the inner structure that someone cut to remove the mechanism.

Mon Oct 21, 2024 9:35 am

I looked closer and that door's bottom hinge is off. Heres's the drivers sides

and then passngers

I have a spare used door that I will try to swap it out with and I'll see what that does. I hope the A- pillar isnt damaged! Thanks for the replies and tips!
-Karl

Mon Oct 21, 2024 12:20 pm

Have someone hold a 4x4 on that lower hinge, and give it a couple wacks with a big hammer. It'll pull the A-pillar back out at the same time.

Thu Oct 24, 2024 7:22 am

Yeah - the front panel flange should not be bent around the hinge at all....

Fri Oct 25, 2024 8:43 am

Have you been oiling the door hinges every 3k service?
Did the POs?

Sprung doors tend to be an issue when the bus sat a long time, hinges rust stuck, and the door got push/ pulled with brute force.