HPE door alignment

[Andrew S]

Hi all,
My right hand door sits too close to the rear wing and too far back from the front wing. This may have been caused by a previous owner hitting something of course but there's no sign of any damage/rippling/new panels etc. It may well have always been like this... I had hoped I would see some shims behind the hinge plate but no such luck. How does one adjust the shut lines on a Beta? It looks to me like I'll have to remove the door, take the hinge pins out, place the hinge plate in a vice and hit it to bend it slightly forward, thus positioning the door further forward on the car. I'm only talking about two or three mm but it bothers me... I need to get out more...

Andrew.

[SubGothius]

You'd need to remove the inner door card, so you can get to the three bolts attaching each hinge inside the front edge of the door; these allow some range of adjustment to align the door and even out the shutline gaps.

[Andrew S]

You'd need to remove the inner door card, so you can get to the three bolts attaching each hinge inside the front edge of the door; these allow some range of adjustment to align the door and even out the shutline gaps.

Aha! I didn't realise that! It may be easier than I thought then. Thanks for that tip!

Andrew.

[Jim Keller]

Nuts in the door would only allow Up-N-Down/In-N-Out adjustment, he needs the door to go forward from what I am reading, there you need to lossen the phillips head bolts on the body side of the hinge and shove it forward some, those are a tad difficult to losen with the front fenders on, you may be able to remove enough fender bolts to prop the back of the fender out enough to access the phillips heads well enough to break them lose, but there is some adjustment there and should be plenty to get the door gaps the same front and back.

Door adjusting is one of the most difficult to do, you have a lot to consider, stamped side body line alignments, In-N-Out outer door skin to fender and quarter panel and window frame alignment, door gap/droop alignments etc......so you may have to go thru the steps and ALL bolts for adjustments several times before you get it where you want it. I have had some that popped right in place, and others I struggled with........I hate doors! LOL

[Andrew S]

........I hate doors! LOL

Couldn't agree more...!! I've spent hours in the past adjusting shut lines. Never on a Beta though, hence my query. I'll be doing this adjustment in a week or so. I had assumed the hinges were welded onto the doors and the only adjustment was where they mount onto the body. I'll investigate it fully and I'm sure I'll come up with something.

Andrew.

[Jim Keller]

I thought they were welded to the door too, but I have been proven wrong many.....MANY! times before! LOL I don't have one to go double check on anymore either......<cry>

I had a problem with one of my Betas and I ended up using a 2X4 and my floor jack under the end of the open door and jumping up and down on the sill combined with hanging on the end of the door to get it aligned up and opening/shutting good, not pretty, but it works! hell, that's how Fords were done for years on the assembly line! good enough for Ford, should be good enough for us right?! LOL

[Andrew S]

... good enough for Ford, should be good enough for us right?! LOL

LOL! NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! LOL!

Andrew.