[mike ralston]

I thought i was getting close to paint until i hung the fenders and noticed that every door to fender and door to quarter panel tapers in a good 1/8 inch. Im not sure how to fix it and not sure how bad it will look if i dont fix it. Does the 57 hardtop doors have a natural arch to th

em? Anyone know the best way to fix it?

 

[Swaneyg57]

My doors were nothing like that even before the body work was started. Did you have the car off the frame? I have found that improper shimming of the body mounts can cause the gaps to change.

Convertibles are the worse, hardtops bad and sedans are fairly rigid.

Glenn
My build...'57 Re-restore Project. | Chevy Tri Five Forum

 

[Johnnygar]

Hi its the way the body/chassis sags with age! You can adjust the body mounts to adjust the gaps but its a massive job .You might also find that if you jack the car up from the front or the rear of the car, you wont be able to open the 2 doors and if you can they will never shut if the body is still jacked up. My 57 is just like yours. A professional body shop would add or remove metal to form new correct gaps on the fenders and or the door edges. Its just like me at 80 years old, everything has sagged! Regards from Johnny in the freezing cold UK

 

[mike ralston]

The car has been off the frame several times.It has been a mess of a situation.The top was chopped back in the early 80's but never finnished. sat in a barn for 30 years.I had to put a new rocker pannel and quarter on the drivers side. i have fought the door gap on that side and got it decent by shimming the body mounts.I can figure out the gap issue. My main question is how to get the body laser straight at all of the gap locations? I put a straight edge up to the car and a light coming up from the ground. You can see how much i would have to body fill in order to block across the gap areas.Everything V's in at my door and fender gaps.

 

[Shadetree55]

probably V sagged when the top was chopped as it's part of the structure.

 

[Swaneyg57]

I agree Shadetree55. It's probably welding time as Johnnygar mentioned if you want any better alignment. If the top was removed and body was not held in psoition, there's no way mounts are going to fix it!!
Glenn

 

[Shadetree55]

I agree Shadetree55. It's probably welding time as Johnnygar mentioned if you want any better alignment. If the top was removed and body was not held in psoition, there's no way mounts are going to fix it!!
Glenn

never been a chop top fan. if anything I'd like an extra 2" taller LOL

 

[mike ralston]

never been a chop top fan. if anything I'd like an extra 2" taller LOL

I agree.I would never chop one either. This is just a car my dad bought already started and i have always wanted to finnish it up. No turning around now.lol

 

[Shadetree55]

I agree.I would never chop one either. This is just a car my dad bought already started and i have always wanted to finnish it up. No turning around now.lol

I understand. replacing old parts to use as a step up from the hole we get in

 

[Pops @ Tri-5.com]

I thought i was getting close to paint until i hung the fenders and noticed that every door to fender and door to quarter panel tapers in a good 1/8 inch. I'm not sure how to fix it and not sure how bad it will look if i dont fix it. Does the 57 hardtop doors have a natura natural arch to them? Anyone know the best way to fix it?

This Body Adjustment Guide should help you: 1955-56-57 Chevy Body Adjustment Guide

 

[johnonetrillion]

Work from rear to front:

If the gaps are closer at the bottoms of the doors at the trailing edges then the mounts nearest the A pillar need to be shimmed.

And if the gaps are closer at the bottoms of the doors at the leading edges (as pictured) to the fenders then the front clip needs to be raised under the radiator.

Generally any body mounts that look compressed or damaged/cracked should be replaced regardless.

Otherwise get out the grinder! (Not actually a good thing on door skin edges.)

But it also looks like you have some uneven horizontal lines along the bottoms of those panels – sill trims can help disguise those.

 

[TheProphet]

First check all of your Body Mounts. Are they in good condition? If they are, torque them to spec.

Then reference the Body Adjustment Guide as Pops suggests.

It's a long, tedious job, requiring patience. Most likely in the area of Body mounts A and B, and the "under radiator" mount.

Good Luck!

 

[twin engines]

Shave and add metal is really your only option

 

[TheProphet]

After reading this Thread a bit more, I think what the OP is asking about is the Door skin overall CROWN, not the gaps.

As far as I know, the door skin(s) is crowned slightly from the top to bottom, and from front to back. The doors are not perfectly flat, as you might expect. Same for front fender sides, and the quarter panel sides. This is illustrated by the white piece of paper beneath the panels to highlight this crown end as the two panels meet.

Some folks have spent tons of time to make them flat, but it takes some doing. Does anyone know the factory specs as to how much crown (bulge) the doors should have?

 

[johnonetrillion]

After reading this Thread a bit more, I think what the OP is asking about is the Door skin overall CROWN, not the gaps.

If that is the case then there are two sets of problems.

But yes, these panel curves are standard ... and some builders choose to use bondo to smooth them out. (I wouldn't do that, though – it is SO MUCH WORK all over the car!) Judging from the photos these discrepancies are rather pronounced. Hmmm.

 

[TheHotrodHandyman]

Sure looks like there is still some more cutting & welding in your future before it is "ready for paint".

 

[mike ralston]

After reading this Thread a bit more, I think what the OP is asking about is the Door skin overall CROWN, not the gaps.

As far as I know, the door skin(s) is crowned slightly from the top to bottom, and from front to back. The doors are not perfectly flat, as you might expect. Same for front fender sides, and the quarter panel sides. This is illustrated by the white piece of paper beneath the panels to highlight this crown end as the two panels meet.

Some folks have spent tons of time to make them flat, but it takes some doing. Does anyone know the factory specs as to how much crown (bulge) the doors should have?

Yes exacactly.THat is my biggest concern now. The crown of the doors. i have all new body mounts installed and shimmed.i can get all of the gaps figured out i think.I just think my crowns are worse then they are supposed to be. I just not sure how bad it is going to look if i dont adress it. Or should i build it out with bondo or all metal and try to get it closer but not perfect.I have seen guys long block right over fender to door and door to quarter. there is no way i could do that without 1/8 to 1/4 think bondo. And for the record i am trying to make a nice weekend warior. Not a top quality show car. Thanks guys!

 

[johnonetrillion]

Are they the original hanging panels?

 

[mike ralston]

Are they the original hanging panels?

No. Both fenders are new and new drivers side quarter panel. Im not sure about the doors. They are factory doors but i dont know if they are the original ones.

 

[Custer55]

Hard to tell without a picture from farther back that shows the gaps all around the whole door. You did the right thing first by replacing the body mounts and shimming. Try to work on getting the gaps better with the shims. After that you will need to cut and weld as needed to get the gaps more consistent.