Door closing adjustment

[RichardF]

Having sorted the door glass I now turn my attention to the door closing. I cannot get the doors to consistently close properly (or easily from the inside). What is the recommended way to adjust doors so that they close "easily" but also maintain a smooth fit to the body?

[1954Etype]

Having sorted the door glass I now turn my attention to the door closing. I cannot get the doors to consistently close properly (or easily from the inside). What is the recommended way to adjust doors so that they close "easily" but also maintain a smooth fit to the body?

Richard, I started by removing the striker plate from the B post then close the door to confirm it will shut and everything lines up (you might have to put some pressure to compress the rubber.

Now fit the striker plate (make sure the 3 screws do not protrude and touch the door thereby removing the paint!).

Gently push the door shut. Chances are it will catch the striker plate. Put some masking tape on the striker top and bottom (where the latch pin runs). Gently close the door again and the pin will leave a witness mark on the tape. This will tell you which way to move the striker plate. I loosened off the striker so it would just move and used a rubber mallett to move the plate a bit at a time. This will set the height. When that is done, you should be able to set the gap by moving the plate accordingly either towards the interior or the outside of the car. Again, use small adjustments each time. Be patient and you will get it right. Good luck and hope this makes sense!

[RichardF]

Thanks, I will try this and let you know.

[kingzetts]

If the door aligns well with the body when closed, and its not catching the striker plate awkwardly as it closes, it may be that the door seals are the problem and may be too "stiff". The seals available vary quite widely between suppliers in terms of how soft they are and to get easy closing you want nice soft seals.

Changing the seals is easy (for the rear edge and door bottom) but difficult for the front edge, which really needs the door removing to gain access. If you decide to go this route, I'd try removing the rear and base seals and seeing if the door then closes easily, as you may not need to change the front seal.

[RichardF]

Thanks for all your advice. The doors close "nicely" now. It's great - the project is complete.

Here she is: