Author Topic: Mk2 door fit?  (Read 1571 times)

Offline jezza16v

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Mk2 door fit?
« on: 20 April 2009, 07:36 »
Hi, the rear pass door of my mk2 has been swapped off another car at some time (was met blue now met black to match) its an OK door but its sits about 2mm low in the aperture spoiling the line of the car. I cant see any adjustment on the main hinge bolts but I wonder if I take the door card off is there any adjustment on where the hinges bolt to the doors......or are they welded?   :undecided:

Offline Thom89

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Re: Mk2 door fit?
« Reply #1 on: 20 April 2009, 22:29 »
Can you get some pics up, showing the door and all gaps....
Tom

Offline jezza16v

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Re: Mk2 door fit?
« Reply #2 on: 21 April 2009, 19:41 »

Some pics for comment



Rear pass door to rear quarter, note bottom left, the door & arch trim dont line up either.




Rear pass door to front pass door




Bottom of rear and front pass door




Rear driver side door to rear quarter.......nice!

I could elongate the hinge bolt holes upwards with a round file I suppose just to get a couple of mm lift?

I thought at first it may have been in a heavy rear shunt like the 16v I had a couple of years ago, that was a cat C and I found the boot floor buckled, a kink in the box section in line with the rear shock and a subtle kink in the roof  :shocked: but I've been over and under this one thoroughly and there's no sign of of heavy rear impact. The door just needs a 1.5 -2mm lift and all will be nice. There has been some pretty heavy impact to the front n/s which has bent the front of the bumper box, mashed the slam panel around the headlight and bowed the front n/s wing but I've managed to straighten that all out pretty well. Just  need a new bonnet (bent) and an o/s wing now(rust) and it will be a tidy car.

Your comments most welcome, thanks.




Offline Thom89

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Re: Mk2 door fit?
« Reply #3 on: 22 April 2009, 00:57 »
The door obviously needs to go directly upwards, filing the holes is an option, but eventually the shoulder of the bolt will foul on the hinge recess....  not the best solution!   try this instead, assuming that your front door is correctly adjusted and your happy with the gap to the front wing,  Firstly, remove the "striker" pin on the D post (inside door shut, nearest the rear wheel) doors should be hung, and gapped without these fitted to give a true reading,
Next, unbolt and remove rear door from the car, then its time to get the tape measure out! hang the tape on the TOP of the top hinge, and measure down, to the top face of the bottom hinge, lets say it measures 300mm between the hinges (example)
Looking at your pics, I would say that your door needs lifting by 3mm, you now need to use a sledge hammer, to persuade the top hinge upwards, so that the measurement will then read 303mm, once this is achieved, you can then adjust the bottom hinge in the same way  to bring the measurement back to 300mm,  its that easy! refit your door and striker pin, and see what you've got, it should be there or thereabouts, final adjustments can be made by shifting the striker pins about
Using a sledge hammer like that may seem a little extreme, but its really the only way to do it, get someone to hold a cloth or the like around the B post if you dont trust your accuracy! 2/3 sharp blows should do the trick...
Hope this helps
Tom

Offline jezza16v

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Re: Mk2 door fit?
« Reply #4 on: 22 April 2009, 15:56 »
Sledge hammer  :shocked: Well perhaps a lump hammer to start with: I'm OK with hammers and tapes so I'll give it a go.
Is this a normal sort of procedure? I'm guessing that you have some considerable experience in straightening cars?
Thanks for your advice.

Offline Thom89

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Re: Mk2 door fit?
« Reply #5 on: 22 April 2009, 23:59 »
You'll find that a lump hammer will not carry the momentum that you need to shift a hinge, you'll end up hitting it over and over again, damaging the hinge, and leave you wishing that you used the sledge!
And yes, Ive run my own shop since 81 :lipsrsealed: :lipsrsealed:
Tom

Offline jezza16v

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Re: Mk2 door fit?
« Reply #6 on: 23 April 2009, 09:10 »
I had a word with someone close who works for a VW main dealer, he said that if people moan about alignment on the new cars they jack them up, open the doors and let them down carefully on to a big block of wood......... :lipsrsealed:
I don't think I'll be trying that though.