VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Body - Sheet Metal, Paint & Wood '41 Coupe driver door is jammed

Years ago the driver's side door must have got jammed (opened way to far). Since then, the door and cowel touch at the center of the vertical side cowel. Instead of about a 1/8'' gap between the door and the cowel, the door and side cowel touch in the center. The car is close to being painted, and the door is nolonger in a bind, however, when the paint is applied the two will rub against each other. I am sure the paint will just rub off in that area. Help. Any ideas? Thanks,

Hi Dan,

I can't imagine the painter hasn't noticed this in preparing the car for paint. Seems to me he'd be planning on taking care of this prior to painting. However there's no sense in taking any chances. I suggest you ask him, just to be sure.

Bill.

As 42bill suggested, talk to your body man/painter about the problem. If he can't or won't fix it prior to painting you are dealing with the wrong dude!

:) :grin:

Bill and Junkyard: I understand. He is working on it. I was just inquiring as to "how" this is possible. How is he going to create a crack where there isn't one??? Thanks,

'41; One of two things are going to have to happen to get the proper gap. He either has to get the metal back to where it belongs or he will have to remove some metal, weld and fill. It depends on the shop. if they are collision minded it will be the second choice. If he takes pride in his work it will be the first choice and done right. Or maybe a combination of both. Edges like that should be filled w/ lead or metal to metal. Not filler. JMO of course. All the best.

41chevy,

More-or-less along the lines of what 46aero is saying.

I can't really tell without seeing it and maybe not even then. But there'll be banging, heating, beating, and likely more. Not having the knowledge of how to do it, I've often found it's best to not even watch it being done. It's sort of like surgery - something not everyone has the "stomach" to watch.

It definitely can be done. Hopefully done well by your guy....

Bill.

'41, the main thing is that it looks good and it was done as best as possible. As was said previously it is hard to tell without seeing it as there are alot of variables.I'm sure you wouldn't have left your car with someone you weren't confident with. On my '46 it was only ever in one accident and it was on the right hand side. Sometime in the mid 50's. They repaired the front right fender, put on a new fender extension and didn't repair the dent in the front of the door, under the extension. No one could see it until I pulled it apart for the restoration. As it doesn't hurt the fitting of the door or the looks. I'm leaving it in. Just for old times sake.

Thanks guys. It turns out he had a special tool, and adjusted the hinge. It looks swell. I was worrying for nothing. He's doing a great job! Thanks for all the info.

41,

Good to hear all worked out and you're pleased. For me this whole deal was like the same old story. The guys that know what they're doing and can fix things (often quite easily) are like magicians to me. Way, way, way ahead of what I know; let alone what I could ever do.

Bill.