Expert help from you body guys PLEASE, Door Gaps Options

[xperu]

I know door gaps is an old story, but I am at a crossroad in regard to what I am going to do with my beloved 914. I had inner stiffing kit installed and the guy did not install temp bracing to prevent heat shrinkage thus my door gaps puled in, so now I have very little gap between door and body. This problem is more prevalent on the passenger side then the drivers.
Later I had the Restoration Design long clamshells installed by another shop to stiffen the car. We also would attempt to possibly move the door gaps a little in the process. This did not work, but the long stiffeners really improved the stiffness of the car and it handles very well.
My real question here is can anything be done to the car at this point to widen the door gaps?
Other than the gap issue, the car is pretty much a new, all the bushing, suspension, engine rebuild etc. are done, the interior is in very good condition.
I have had this 914 for 10+ years “my 4th one” it’s excellent for autocross, but the value of the car may be in jeopardy if I can’t resolve the gap problem.
Any suggestion for you body guys would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Mike

[burton73]

Even if you have braced the car the amount of stress put on the car are huge.
Frist you have to think that the car is now in many layers because of the Engelmann long kit that is over the inside of the longs. Plus the exterior long clamshells are another layer.

The idea to grind the doors may not be right but if they close OK and the top goes on the car and fits, and the windows close you could do that. Pars of doors are cheep as well to try it. Sounds like you have been driving your car so they may fit and you are bugged on the gaps.

The value of our cars will be scrutinized in the further as the price just keeps going up. Cars that have had restoration done will need to have full documentation on the work with detailed pictures for further buyers to review.

There have been so many 914 that have had patches done to them that the cars may or may not be in restored shape. Some people think that there is a Magic Bullet to stop rust. There really is only cutting it out back to solid steel and doing the right job on fixing it.

This board is a place where people car go to see what a person has done to bring their car back from almost junk. Fix them right and hopefully they will last for 40 more years.
Fresh paint jobs will hide a lot. Just like in a house. Get a fresh paint job and it covers up the years of damage and people cannot always find the problems till some time has passed and it rains or is windy

Bob B

[xperu]

[quote name='burton73' date='May 26 2017, 03:33 PM' post='2489902']
Even if you have braced the car the amount of stress put on the car are huge.
Frist you have to think that the car is now in many layers because of the Engelmann long kit that is over the inside of the longs. Plus the exterior long clamshells are another layer.

The idea to grind the doors may not be right but if they close OK and the top goes on the car and fits, and the windows close you could do that. Pars of doors are cheep as well to try it. Sounds like you have been driving your car so they may fit and you are bugged on the gaps.

The value of our cars will be scrutinized in the further as the price just keeps going up. Cars that have had restoration done will need to have full documentation on the work with detailed pictures for further buyers to review.

There have been so many 914 that have had patches done to them that the cars may or may not be in restored shape. Some people think that there is a Magic Bullet to stop rust. There really is only cutting it out back to solid steel and doing the right job on fixing it.

This board is a place where people car go to see what a person has done to bring their car back from almost junk. Fix them right and hopefully they will last for 40 more years.
Fresh paint jobs will hide a lot. Just like in a house. Get a fresh paint job and it covers up the years of damage and people cannot always find the problems till some time has passed and it rains or is windy

Bob B
Well my top fits fine and my windows roll up and seal. The passenger door must be slammed to close it tight, to open I open from the inside, thou side handle is very tight so I don't want to brake it. I my be able to adjust the door latch, but really don't know how at this point. I must do something to fix the problem, I will take the advice from all and make a decision. I just retired so money is not as plentiful. Mike

[Bartlett 914]

I had an issue where my striker was hitting. I removed the striker from the door jam and using a belt sander, I removed some material. This made a huge improvement.

I also had a problem with the mechanism. Outside the car, to was fine. Installed in the car it would bind. I needed to loosen one of the mounting screws and the binding went away. Now the door opens smoothly using both handles