Hanging Sheet Metal, getting it to line up.

[AbramJ]

Sorry if this has been covered before and I just couldn't find it, but like the title says, whats the best way to get everything to line up? I just put new fenders on the front of my Suburban and I got the Passenger side to line up ok, but the driver's side isn't sitting right and the bottom of the door catches on the bottom of the fender when I open it.

Where do I add shims to get the panel to move, and what locations make it move in what direction? It looks like the only place you can shim the fenders is at the back by the door.

Also what is the best way to re-align the doors so they don't sag? My front doors are sagging pretty bad, and I feel this is messing up the way everything lines up too. Is getting one of those door alignment tools necessary? (Something like this: Steck Mfg door alignment tool). How exactly do these tools work? I can't seem to be able to find a video or good pictures of it being used. I'm getting tired of having to really slam the door two or three times to finally get it to close. I have a feeling I may have to replace the hinge pins/bushings too, as I don't think it has ever been done on this truck.

What is the best way to get a large dent out of the middle of a door? When we were dating my wife body slammed the door to close it and left a big dent. I've heard of people using a deflated basket ball that they then pump up inside the panel to pop the dent out, would this work in the door?

While I'm asking about the front door does anyone have pictures of the big camping/tow mirror attachment points and know if there was anything inside the door they attach to? (the mirror that attaches with three bolts at the top with two legs that go to the bottom of the door and attach I can get a picture if needed when I get home on my other computer).

This is all for my '76 Suburban 2wd 1/2ton.

Thanks for any help. If there are threads that already discuss the answers to my questions, please direct me there. I tried searching, but didn't find anything.

 

[cybrfire]

If your doors are sagging, fix that first. Don't spend time shimming and adjusting fenders to a door that isn't sitting right.

Sagging doors need new hinge bushings. Replace those and align to cab. This will most likely fix most of your fender alignment.

Fenders generally are shimmed up and down and in and out. Angle would be done at the core support but make sure your body mounts are in good condition. If not, you should consider replacing them.

 

[ryoken]

what Kert said..


fix the hinges first... you want the door to rocker gap even. once you do the pins, that gap should be even, and you shouldn't have to touch the hinge to cowl bolts...
remember, making in/out adjustments at the door with the hinge to door bolts is fine.. but avoid, at all costs adjusting the hinge to cowl bolts.. you'll need the fender off to do those, not to mention it adds way more complexity to the job.....

always remember, panel alignment is based off of your fixed panels, the qrters... doors to qrters.. than fenders to doors...

 

[diesel4me]

^ What they said about starting with the doors--get the pins and bushings tight first...then proceed as instructed..

I might add that if your using aftermarket fenders and or radiator support,you may find they dont line up all that great no matter how much you try shimming them..the fit quality is pretty lame on many brands of aftermarket fenders and doors,hoods ,etc.....

 

[AbramJ]

OK I'll try to work on the doors this weekend. Everything is original sheet metal except for the fenders. After I got them on I realized I should have looked harder for original fenders.

 

[ryoken]

if the doors have up and down play when you slightly open them, you're pissing in the wind... new pins/bushings are needed to do it correctly...

 

[AbramJ]

if the doors have up and down play when you slightly open them, you're pissing in the wind... new pins/bushings are needed to do it correctly...

Well I installed new pins and bushings today. No more play in the door, but it still looks the same as before (saggy) and now it won't close at all. I bought a new striker too, but can't get the old one off

 

[swettysblazer]

Get some pictures

 

[AbramJ]

 

[ryoken]

your gonna need to pull the fender..

 

[AbramJ]

OK. Then what? Adjust the hinges where they connect to the cowling?

 

[ryoken]

yes... it's best to leave one bolt tight as a pivot... in your case, it looks like the top needs to come forward, so I'd leave 1 of 3 tight on the bottom and loosen all the top ones..

the one top one sucks as it comes from inside the cab, kinda up behind the dash... but there is a hole in the cowl sheetmetal for access...

wooden paint stick chunks make good spacers for the bottom door gap to rocker... get the hinges loose, pick the door up and click it closed on the striker... hopefully that's still in a good spot to align the bodylines, since you can't move it....

once it's clicked closed, check the bottom and pry it up a bit where needed and put some shims in it to keep it there.. tighten bolts... door to hinge bolts adjust in/out of the door, top r bottom.... either set can give you a bit of total door up/down, usually easiest to do that with door to hinge ones tho...


the door is tight now when you open it up 6" or so and lift up on the bottom?

 

[AbramJ]

Got it. I'll have to try that tomorrow morning or next week.

Yes the door is tight now, tightest it's ever been. No wiggling or play in it at all.

 

[AbramJ]

Well I adjusted the door today. It closes now, but I still feel like it is sagging a tiny bit, but it looks much better, I think. What do you guys think?

 

[ryoken]

did you use spacers at the bottom to control the gap while loose?

 

[AbramJ]

I did, it's hard to tell in the pic, but the gap is better. I even stuck one at the upper corner. The door lined up real well and I got the bolts tightened up and as soon as I pulled the spacers it sagged back a little. It definitely isn't as bad as it was, but it isn't "perfect" either.

 

[ryoken]

if you have zero play in the bushings, the jamb sheetmetal may be a bit stressed from yr's of bad hinges.. you may need to overcompensate for it a bit and adjust the back a bit high so it drops into the right spot...