Adjusting doors

[The Griff]

Well guys, another thread from me, yay.

The driver's side door has never shut right, terrible wind noise, lets rain/snow in, just looks weird.
I can get my fingers in past the weather stripping, and see about an 1/8 inch of light through it. this is only at the front/top, right at the top of the vent window. I can't adjust anymore out of it, pulled the bottom out as much as I can, pushed the top in, is there a way to get more adjustment out of it?

 

[NorCal69]

How are the body mounts?

 

[The Griff]

Like new.

This Blazer has practically no rust either.

 

[rebelgregory]

Does it look like the door may have been pryed open at the top (scratched paint/small dings from prybar)? This is a semi-common practice for getting in when you lock your keys in the car.

Also, how does the rest of the door line up? is it flush with good lines at least up to the window sill or is it askew in several places? If the door is aligned everywhere but the top, and it's never been wrecked or anything, it's likely a bent door frame.

You can also try to build-up the weatherstripping to at least close the gap. I've seen good results from people putting sections of rope behind the weatherstripping to push it out towards the door.

 

[diesel4me]

I've seen body shop guys use a 2x4 or round log peice of wood to block the door open,and lean in on the top of the door frame to bend it inward some in order to get a tighter fit at the top where it meets the roof more than once--aftermarket doors almost always need "tweaking" in this manner in order to fit any good at all..

 

[dyeager535]

Just thinking out loud, prying the door open to unlock it, would seem getting a gap up by the vent window would be an odd place.

Can't think of why hinges/alignment/striker would affect that either, but never hurts to check all that as well.

 

[The Griff]

Its possible that it was pryed open, but I don't really see huge scratches that look like dead giveaways.

The rest of the door lines up perfect, it opens fine, no sag, shuts fine, still has the plastic piece over the striker.

Also, best way to visulaize it, that corner of the door is out past the drip rail.

 

[rebelgregory]

If all is well, and i was certain that this issue wouldn't lead to another one, then I'd probably start making some aggressive maneuvers. Come-a-long or ratchet strap type stuff. Or maybe the wood block trick above.

Your call though.

.

 

[The Griff]

Well I decided to try something, I rolled the window down, grabbed the top of the door, and just pulled it toward me, that did wonders! its not quite as good as the passenger side, but its not going to let rain and snow in anymore, and It seemed like there was less wind noise.

 

[ryoken]

bending body parts is the norm in the collision biz...

it's amazing how easy it is to bend newer car panels...

as Bob mentioned, 4 x 4 and some muscle..