I posted this a while back in "body", but did not get a consensus on the correct way to do this.

I am trying to find out the way you are supposed to locate the doors relative to the body.

In my previous post, the general opinion was to set the door "about halfway" between the front fenders and rear quarters, but I would hope there is a more accurate way.

The manuals list the proper gaps for the front end, including the gap between the front fenders and the door, but do not list the gap between the door and the rear quarters.

Do you adjust the doors so the latch hits the striker in the center, or do you set the hood off the cowl, then the fenders off the hood, then the doors off the fenders and let the rear door gap be whatever is left over?

The last method seems like it would work, but you would have to assemble and then disassemble the front end a lot.

I am trying to re-align my fron panels this weekend and would like to do it the right, or at least the best way. Thanks,


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Charles Perrell
cperrell@yahoo.com
65 malibu SS Convertible
283 2v powerglide

The correct way is set doors to body. Watching the rear quarter gap and the rocker panel line. Do this with the door stirker post off the car. The door should fit perfect before adding the post. Then add the front fenders and line up on the door lines. Then add the hood. It's a pain but it works.
If your car is assembled it's hard to access the hinge bolts, but it can be done.
Good luck

Charles, I just finish doing all this in my "72" Malibu and let me tell you it did not happen over night. When I purchased the car all of the sheet metal was just thrown on and completely out off wack. The doors are the first place I started. I removed the latch on the pilar and losened all the bolts for the fenders at the firewall, behind the door and on the bottom of the fender, then the front body mounts to the radiator support. Removed the front bumber and headlight casings basicly pulling the whole nose off. OK back to your question there is not just a number to locate your door so I'll try and make this short. The door must be parrellel with the rocker panel on my car a 3/16 gap put the top of my door even with the 1/4 panel. I also used 3/16 at the back of the door to the 1/4 panel (after I put the chrome edge guards on this gap looks great). I then did the (in and out) of the hinge making the dooredges flush with the rocker and 1/4'S, I spent hours on this, a little movement on the hidge moves the door alot. Once I was satisfied with the lineup then I put the latch back on and adjusted it then did the same for the glass. My windows where all out of wack also for some unknown reason. The fenders went next, firewall bolt and shims to close up the gap to the door, top bolt and shims to make the fender flush on top of the door, the inside bolt and shims behind the door moves the fender flush on the side. The bottom bolt and shims make the bow of the fender match the door. That's as far as I've got. I still have to tackel my hood and all the other stuff I removed just to align my doors. I hope this helps you. But for me, the next time, I'm leaving this job to the body shop.
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"about halfway" does not work on my car at the very top of my door to the fender there is only about 1/16 I don't know if its right or not but it looks great and doesn't hit anything, the gaps along the fender about half way down still look a little large to me I guess for swing clearence, but all 'n' all a major improvment.

I'm glad 67shovel said basicly what I said it took me for ever to put it in words

Thanks for the replys.

right now, I have the hood and fenders off the car. I have adjusted the door with the fender on before, but I was never really satisified with the results.

Maybe I am being too anal, but I had hoped that there was a specific dimension for the correct gap between the door and the rear quarter panel. Right now, the door shuts OK, but I am worried that the door is not sealing up against the body and windshield pillar correctly.

I am trying to minimize wind noise, ratling, and leaking before I change the rubber seals.

I guess I will try to set it around 3/16" door-to-quarter gap and see how it looks.


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Charles Perrell
cperrell@yahoo.com
65 malibu SS Convertible
283 2v powerglide