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Topic: fit and finish question

in Forum: C3 Body


fit and finish question

Posted: 10/13/04 9:42am Message 1 of 7
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baytown, TX - USA
Joined: 4/21/2004
Posts: 160
Vette(s): 1979 maui blue/doe skin, fuel injected 383, 6-speed manual, hooker sidepipes, 3.90 gear
The body line between my driver's door and front fender is wider at the top and almost touching at the bottom. could this be remedied by shimming up the outside front corner of the front clip? What is so puzzling to me is that the fender looks seamless up near the dash under the hood. Oh and of course the seam at the back of the door looks fine. |headscratch|


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fit and finish question

Posted: 10/13/04 10:37am Message 2 of 7
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CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH - USA
Joined: 12/2/2003
Posts: 6424
Vette(s): 1975 C3 Red, T-Tops, Black Interior. All I need is time and money! Getting there!
Might sound odd, but check your body mounts. A bad one could cause this.


fit and finish question

Posted: 10/13/04 11:08am Message 3 of 7
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KERNERSVILLE, NC - USA
Joined: 1/13/2004
Posts: 1355
Vette(s): 1968 L-71 convertible
As usual, Ken's right, the source of most door fit problems are indirect and can be a real pain to locate.
Shimming the front probably won't work because of the way the fender is bonded to the cowl.
I'd check ALL the mounts on that side, if they pass muster, you will probably end up removing the door panel to adjust the door, most of the time this can be done at the door, leaving the jamb hinge bolts alone.
The doors can be quite heavy when loosened, so it's best to have a helper. Make small adjustments, then check fit.I've seen doors so bad out that they look like they didn't even come with the car and ended up fitting just fine.
Question though, is this a new issue? Or was the door always out?


fit and finish question

Posted: 10/13/04 1:09pm Message 4 of 7
Former Member
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baytown, TX - USA
Joined: 4/21/2004
Posts: 160
Vette(s): 1979 maui blue/doe skin, fuel injected 383, 6-speed manual, hooker sidepipes, 3.90 gear
I think it has always been out, I've had the car 11 yrs.


fit and finish question

Posted: 10/13/04 1:19pm Message 5 of 7
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KERNERSVILLE, NC - USA
Joined: 1/13/2004
Posts: 1355
Vette(s): 1968 L-71 convertible
OK, first, has the car been hit? Another possibility, the door has been taken off for one reason or another and just not properly re-installed.
Check your hinges for wear, brass bushings too. To check these, open the door just enough to clear the latch and try to pick up on the end of the door. If it lifts up any at all, you have a wear issue.
Last, the General was notorious for fit and alignment issues right off the line. It may have never been right, but can still be corrected with an adjustment.


fit and finish question

Posted: 10/13/04 4:49pm Message 6 of 7
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baytown, TX - USA
Joined: 4/21/2004
Posts: 160
Vette(s): 1979 maui blue/doe skin, fuel injected 383, 6-speed manual, hooker sidepipes, 3.90 gear
Ok Dave I'm gonna take a closer look at the next opportunity but I never thought it had been hit, and the door seems to close so perfectly.Thanks to you and Ken for the reply.


fit and finish question

Posted: 10/13/04 5:05pm Message 7 of 7
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KERNERSVILLE, NC - USA
Joined: 1/13/2004
Posts: 1355
Vette(s): 1968 L-71 convertible
Let us know what you find.


in Forum: C3 Body


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