Door Gaps Options

[Mike1981]

Hello

I have a 1972 914

The passengers side was hit and "repaired by P.O."

I have noticed when I close the passengers door it hits the rear quarter panel, chipping the paint.

On the opposite end that meets the front fender the gap is wider that the drives side gap.

Is there any way to adjust the door forwards towards the front fender?

Thanks

[John]

I have "moved" the forward portion of the door opening further forward (at the location where the door bolts on).

This effectively will move the entire door forward in the opening. Our My DE car has had a few encounters with immovable objects on the passenger side and it ended up with a large door gap at the front fender and almost no gap at the rear fender.

This car has a cage installed and I jacked the front hinge point forward carefully and all turned out well. YMMV (your mileage may vary).

Typically, if the doors don't fit, it may indicate a twisted tub. My car has been well aligned and braced so that at least the suspension pickup points are and stay where they are supposed to be regardless of the rest of the bodywork.

Do you have any pictures?

[Mike1981]

I have "moved" the forward portion of the door opening further forward (at the location where the door bolts on).

This effectively will move the entire door forward in the opening. Our My DE car has had a few encounters with immovable objects on the passenger side and it ended up with a large door gap at the front fender and almost no gap at the rear fender.

This car has a cage installed and I jacked the front hinge point forward carefully and all turned out well. YMMV (your mileage may vary).

Typically, if the doors don't fit, it may indicate a twisted tub. My car has been well aligned and braced so that at least the suspension pickup points are and stay where they are supposed to be regardless of the rest of the bodywork.

Do you have any pictures?

Oh yes

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i273.photobucket.com-17663-1469826946.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i273.photobucket.com-17663-1469826946.2.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i273.photobucket.com-17663-1469826947.3.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i273.photobucket.com-17663-1469826947.4.jpg)

[Garland]

Mike,
The only way I can see to do that, is to grind the face of the hinge were it mounts to the body of the car.. This would only buy you a little bit. Maybe 1/8 "

[r_towle]

use a porta power or a bottle jack and a 2*4 to move that inner fender forward 1/8 or more....it can be done and that is the only way to fix what you got unless you want to remount the door hinges.

I would use a jack, push it in points, dont try to do it all at once, keep checking your progress.

Rich

[rgalla9146]

Got a sledge hammer and a 2 foot 2" x 4" ?
Open the door fully, place one end of the 2 by 4 against the 3 bolts of the upper
hinge. Strike the other end of the 2 by 4 with your best shot.
Repeat on lower hinge.
..... better be sure beforehand that your car isn't just sagging.
Your front gap doesn't look overly large.

[dlee6204]

Is there evidence that the car was hit? Seems more like rust issue to me.

Your front gap looks fine and the missing rear gap is a typical sign of very poor rust repair.

[Cairo94507]

Yeah, I would look for rust too. The front fender/door gap seems pretty typical for our cars. The rear is way off. That is more than a hinge needing to be loosened and adjusted. That is someone with 914 experience applying some pressure to move that front hinge post a tiny bit forward, I think.

[Garland]

use a porta power or a bottle jack and a 2*4 to move that inner fender forward 1/8 or more....it can be done and that is the only way to fix what you got unless you want to remount the door hinges.

I would use a jack, push it in points, dont try to do it all at once, keep checking your progress.

Rich

I like this idea.

[rick 918-S]

Causing more damage is not the solution to an accurate repair. Remove both doors and start measuring. find the damage and form a plan for the correct repair.

[rgalla9146]

Causing more damage is not the solution to an accurate repair. Remove both doors and start measuring. find the damage and form a plan for the correct repair.

OK, OK, so I spoke harshly.
But didn't I make up for it by saying the front didn't look overly large ?
Doesn't that mean 'look elsewhere ?'

[porschetub]

Could someone have shimmed the hinges too much?,reason for asking is the door appears to be evenly too far towards the striker plate.

[Mike1981]

Thanks for all of the advice

Yes the car was hit on the passengers side but "fixed" by P.O.

I like the 2x4 and bottle jack idea

[rick 918-S]

Thanks for all of the advice

Yes the car was hit on the passengers side but "fixed" by P.O.

I like the 2x4 and bottle jack idea

The hinge pillar is way stronger than the latch pillar. Very likely you will just end up crushing the latch pillar.

Follow this link: http://www.914world.com/specs/bodydims.php

You need to take Measurements. Start with "H" then "I" then "Y" If you get wonky measurements check the other side. If you find the issue post it hear and maybe I can walk you through fixing it correctly. As you work your way through the measurements You may want to remove the targa gasket and measure "F" and "X" Often when guys improperly repair a chassis they just bend the windshield frame so the door wing window seals.

[John]

From looking at the pictures, it appears to me that your front edge door gap looks too good to have had the hinge pillar "moved" in an accident, so my previous "advice" is out the window.

In your case, I would start by looking up critical chassis dimensions for the car (they can be found by searching here or elsewhere on the web), and then comparing the factory dimensions to what you have.

It looks like your door opening has closed up (car sagging in middle).

Have you had your rocker panels off or looked for rust around your jacking receptacle? This is a common point for these cars to rust and begin to collapse at.

Just for grins, does your door gap change (become more normal) if you were to jack the car up on the passenger side?

[rgalla9146]

Double

[rgalla9146]

A surprising issue is that both the front and rear gaps appear nearly uniform from top to bottom. At least from the provided pictures.
That is not typical of a sagging chassis.
Maybe the previous repair put a quarter panel too far forward.
Ricks advise is the way to go.

[Mikey914]

If you are "lucky" you may just find the rear has bondo bringing it out 1/8". Ge some pictures of the latch area and the seam along the edge.

[jkb944t]

If you are "lucky" you may just find the rear has bondo bringing it out 1/8". Ge some pictures of the latch area and the seam along the edge.

That would be some seriously Good Luck, especially when related to 914 door jam issues! Let's hope for the best.

Jeff B

[Claus Graf]

The front door gap doesn't look large enough.

Does the roof fit OK? Compare both sides of the roof.

Look under the front fender to check for any distortions.

Claus