Door alignment question - new hinges

[scherp69]

I took the doors off my 68 Acadian (Nova) and ended putting new hinges on. I've got them bolted on and the door will open and close, but there is some binding. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions on how to get the doors aligned properly? Are there any tools that I should get that would help? I notice Eastwood has an alignment tool http://www.eastwood.com/door-alignment-tool-for-car-and-truck.html Would it help at all? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[NsaneHotrodz]

leave the bolts loose enough to move them with a little force.

[70rs]

Hey Mike, did you try a bigger hammer yet?:D




Just kidding, as was stated leave the bolts JUST loose enough to be able to move them with a bump to the door. As you open and close the door the hinges should align with each other. I think you might be feeling the bind of the hinges being out of line with each other. (working on different planes if that makes sense)

[scherp69]

Hey Mike, did you try a bigger hammer yet?:D




Just kidding, as was stated leave the bolts JUST loose enough to be able to move them with a bump to the door. As you open and close the door the hinges should align with each other. I think you might be feeling the bind of the hinges being out of line with each other. (working on different planes if that makes sense)

Not quite at the hammer stage yet :D I've been loosening the bolts, adjusting, tightening, trying, loosening, adjusting, tightening, trying and so on. The way you guys mentioned makes way more sense. Thanks guys...I'll try that on my next days off. :lateral:

[lhkustoms]

Mike as already stated is the best way but make sure once you have the door adjusted correctly with all the glass and stuff in the door drill two 1/8" holes in each hinge so once the car is painted you can use the 1/8" alignment holes to line the door back up once its all painted I also do this for the hood and trunk as the alignment holes are small enough that you wont see them but make final assembly easy and pain free.

[scherp69]

Thanks Luke. Great tip. I'll make sure I do that.

[redss86]

First thing I would do is remove the striker. Then get the door aligned with the quarter and rocker panels. Get those gaps correct, and panels flush with each other. Then reinstall the striker. As you are closing the door, look at how the latch and striker are lined up. Get the striker centered in the latch opening vertically before you ever close the door. If it is not centered it will pull the door up or down accordingly. You don't want to rely on the striker to correct alignment issues. After the striker is centered, close the door and adjust the striker in/out to get the door to latch flush with 1/4.

As far as that tool from Eastwood, you don't need it. The only way you would need it is if you had welded on hinges and a non adjustable striker, like some newer vehicles have. The tool is used to BEND the hinges up or down depending on what needs done to correct door alignment.

This is from a bodyman of 12yrs.

Good Luck,
Joe

[scherp69]

Thanks for the advice Joe. I went out yesterday and was working on the driver's side. I left the windows in and found out what a difference that will make too. The passenger side is aligned, but without any weight in it so I'm sure that will change. You're right though....much easier to do with the strikers out of the way.

[70rs]

Did the hammer work?:D

[scherp69]

Did the hammer work?:D

Haven't had to use the hammer yet...but the over sized jack might come in handy soon :mad:

[redss86]

Thanks for the advice Joe. I went out yesterday and was working on the driver's side. I left the windows in and found out what a difference that will make too. The passenger side is aligned, but without any weight in it so I'm sure that will change. You're right though....much easier to do with the strikers out of the way.

No problem glad I could help. It's those little things that you don't think about that make a tough job a little easier.

Joe