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toddb_67
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2003
Posts: 1345
Location: Hansville, WA
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 Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 11:21 am Post subject: Door gap on the non-hinge side |
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Hey everyone, so I'm going to try a different approach to my question since no one apparently reads my restoration thread  !
My issue is the gap from top to bottom is off. The top of the door is sunken into the door opening while the bottom of the door is flush to sticking out a little depending on how hard I shut the door. I've adjusted the hinges, top hinge pushed out and bottom hinge pushed in. I've also adjusted the door striker every way I can think of. It gets a little better with the door striker adjustment but it is far from perfect (like, not even close!).
The only thing I can think of is bending the top of the door outwards somehow but that doesn't seem feasible since something will have to give and I could end up with a dent or buckle in the door somewhere. I have tried two different doors too with the same result.
Any advice or suggestions?
_________________
1970 Pastel White Westfalia
1971 Super Beetle Convertible (sold) http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=582365&highlight=
1970 Squareback "Savanna" (sold)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714683
1974 Karmann Ghia- current project, 1967cc engine. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=775207
“I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me.” - Dudley Field Malone |
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c21darrel
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009
Posts: 8237
Location: San Dimas
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toddb_67
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2003
Posts: 1345
Location: Hansville, WA
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TRS63
Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2017
Posts: 1132
Location: Stuttgart - Germany
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toddb_67
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2003
Posts: 1345
Location: Hansville, WA
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2023 6:24 pm Post subject: Re: Door gap on the non-hinge side |
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| TRS63 wrote: |
| Hum, that is strange as the bottom looks quite fitting. Did you check if both profiles are the same (meaning it requires to be adjusted) or if the quarter panel has a different profil than the door (meaning metal work is required for both to get the same profile)? |
I think I know what you mean. In order to make the top of the door sit flush I would have to cut the quarter panel (since I can't exactly widen the door) and sink it in to match the door profile. Not sure I'm going to do that since that would require some very extensive cutting, welding and fabricating to make it have the illusion that it is sitting in the door frame correctly.
Not sure what to do here...
_________________
1970 Pastel White Westfalia
1971 Super Beetle Convertible (sold) http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=582365&highlight=
1970 Squareback "Savanna" (sold)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714683
1974 Karmann Ghia- current project, 1967cc engine. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=775207
“I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me.” - Dudley Field Malone |
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TDCTDI
Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 13302
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2023 7:08 pm Post subject: Re: Door gap on the non-hinge side |
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Open the door, brace the lower edge against the side of your shin, & pull the top edge of the door towards your hip.
It will take some force, it’s brutal to watch, & it ain’t for the faint of heart, but it gets the shit done.
Getting all of the seals, stoppers, & latch shit installed & fitted will also help.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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toddb_67
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2003
Posts: 1345
Location: Hansville, WA
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2023 9:27 pm Post subject: Re: Door gap on the non-hinge side |
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| TDCTDI wrote: |
Open the door, brace the lower edge against the side of your shin, & pull the top edge of the door towards your hip.
It will take some force, it’s brutal to watch, & it ain’t for the faint of heart, but it gets the shit done.
Getting all of the seals, stoppers, & latch shit installed & fitted will also help. |
I'll try anything. I already kind of thought about that and tried putting a piece of wood against the upper part of the door and pushing it against the door frame but it didn't work. Probably because I couldn't put enough force against it.
_________________
1970 Pastel White Westfalia
1971 Super Beetle Convertible (sold) http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=582365&highlight=
1970 Squareback "Savanna" (sold)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714683
1974 Karmann Ghia- current project, 1967cc engine. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=775207
“I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me.” - Dudley Field Malone |
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TRS63
Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2017
Posts: 1132
Location: Stuttgart - Germany
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toddb_67
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2003
Posts: 1345
Location: Hansville, WA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2023 6:59 pm Post subject: Re: Door gap on the non-hinge side |
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You guys are geniuses! The old hold it against your shin and reef on it trick worked! I was curious so I went out to the garage and with a quick couple of yanks on the door it pretty much is sitting in the frame just right. I want to tweak it a bit more and I’ll show you all the results.
By the way there is no bondo on either the door or the quarter panel. If you look at the pictures at the beginning of this thread you will notice that it is sanded down to the original paint.
_________________
1970 Pastel White Westfalia
1971 Super Beetle Convertible (sold) http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=582365&highlight=
1970 Squareback "Savanna" (sold)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714683
1974 Karmann Ghia- current project, 1967cc engine. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=775207
“I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me.” - Dudley Field Malone |
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