Adjusting the Doors on a 56 T=Bird????

[Old Redneck]

I think this id going to be a Hornet nest adjusting the doors on my 56 T-Bird. They way out of adjustment.What have any of you experience doing this.

[darrell]

adjusting the doors on any 50s ford is a real pain.they didnt fit right at the factory.

[miker98038]

CTCI probably has a section in their literature about that. There's also some kind of gasket that goes behind the striker plate on the door jam to stop it from shifting over time. I don't have those, and every year I get to move it back out on the drivers door.

But Darrell's right, the fit and adjustments are hard to work with. Especially by modern standards we're used to. Then you get a car like mine where the right rear quarter/fender/door jamb (out of a 56) and sill were replaced. And brazed in 1/4" low at tail light.

[dmsfrr]

The '55 and '57 Shop Manuals both have a section on aligning the doors, I'm assuming the '56 Manual will also.
The illustrations include large bars with clamps used to bend the doors.
Hopefully the shop manual will help you out.
.

[pj's junkers]

My Uncle who was a Ford Mechanic from Model Ts to 70's. Once told me he used a 2x4 and shut the door. He said if a customer saw how they had to fix things they would never come back, but it worked and the customer was pleased. Tricks of the trade

[Dobie Gillis]

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I saw a Cadillac assembly line worker doing that back in the fitties. He had an assortment of "implements", eyeballed the door fit, chose an implement (pieces of wood of various sizes and shapes) and went about slamming the doors on the wood until the fit was acceptable. Crude but effective.

[56sedandelivery]

Just did that to my 56. Worked great if crude.

[paul2748]

On an early Bird, looking at the front of the hood, underneath, you usually see a dent there. It is rumored that a 2 X 4 was used to fit the front on the assembly line.


When I was a teenager (long time ago) I had my father's 55 Buick (very nice car). I don't remember how, but I sprung the passenger side door. I was in big trouble. I went to the gas station I worked at off and on and one of the guys there spring it back with a piece of wood. Saved my tail.

Originally Posted by pj's junkers

My Uncle who was a Ford Mechanic from Model Ts to 70's. Once told me he used a 2x4 and shut the door. He said if a customer saw how they had to fix things they would never come back, but it worked and the customer was pleased. Tricks of the trade

[paul2748]

The fit of the doors on early Birds has always been a problem especially at the bottom ( it stuck out.). Probably why the manuals showed a fix.

Originally Posted by dmsfrr

The '55 and '57 Shop Manuals both have a section on aligning the doors, I'm assuming the '56 Manual will also.
The illustrations include large bars with clamps used to bend the doors.
Hopefully the shop manual will help you out.
.