The Ford Barn

Vanspeed · 03-01-2026, 08:12 PM

We’re offset dovetails from the factory? I recently bought what I was told was an NOS set and one was not centered. It actually worked better than the one that was center and made my body lines spot on. I understand the hinges take their toll as well as the weight of the door over 80-90 years and that can make things not line up so well. This dovetail looks old and is the same gauge as my original with the correct holes. Did the factory have these offset dovetails to bring a door up or down to make everything align or is this a new piece that looks old to compensate for ware?

3twinridges · 03-01-2026, 09:18 PM

Offsets were available for the 48-52 trucks so guessing they were for other years. I have offsets on our 52.

JB

Gary Tosel · 03-02-2026, 01:52 AM

My 36 Ford 5W Coupe has an offset on the driver's side and a normal dovetail on the passenger side. When I realized that the driver door would not line up correctly without the offset dovetail, I made one from a normal dovetail.

After that discovery I found that there were new offset dovetails available and I bought a new one. The reason for the offset was that the body was built that way from the factory and was not because of wear from hinges. Why the differences from Ford I do not know, but it was a fact.

Karl Wescott · 03-02-2026, 11:09 AM

Most dovetails Ford used were available offset.

itslow · 03-02-2026, 04:19 PM

Yes, the yellow and black cover "Automotive Hardware and Trimming Supplies" book that covers years 1928-1938 lists the part numbers, although it doesn't provide the amount of offset.

Good luck finding such pieces of hardware loose in the wild, though.

Vanspeed · 03-02-2026, 07:10 PM

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Good to know! The guy I got it from said it was NOS from an old Ford dealership. It was $15 well spent. Also to note the doors are not from the cab I am working on as those were in horrible shape.

kirkf · 03-03-2026, 06:34 PM

I don't think offset dovetails are available anymore.
Parts for our vehicles are drying up.

Kirk

TagMan · 03-04-2026, 11:09 PM

I had a problem with the driver's side door lining up to the dovetail on my '36 3W. I made a shim for in back of the bottom hinge, which lifted the door, so it lined up fine with the dovetail. As I recall, the shim was much thinner than I thought it would be, and I made 2 or 3 shims before I figured out the shim thickness to door lift ratio. Sorry, I neglected to document it, but as I recall, it was only about .045" thick.

03-01-2026, 08:12 PM	#1
Vanspeed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Suttons Bay, Mich. Posts: 3,507	Offset male dovetails We’re offset dovetails from the factory? I recently bought what I was told was an NOS set and one was not centered. It actually worked better than the one that was center and made my body lines spot on. I understand the hinges take their toll as well as the weight of the door over 80-90 years and that can make things not line up so well. This dovetail looks old and is the same gauge as my original with the correct holes. Did the factory have these offset dovetails to bring a door up or down to make everything align or is this a new piece that looks old to compensate for ware? __________________ *Respecting and Resurrecting Ford Model A's.*

03-01-2026, 09:18 PM	#2
3twinridges Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 663	Re: Offset male dovetails Offsets were available for the 48-52 trucks so guessing they were for other years. I have offsets on our 52. JB

03-02-2026, 01:52 AM	#3
Gary Tosel Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,420	Re: Offset male dovetails My 36 Ford 5W Coupe has an offset on the driver's side and a normal dovetail on the passenger side. When I realized that the driver door would not line up correctly without the offset dovetail, I made one from a normal dovetail. After that discovery I found that there were new offset dovetails available and I bought a new one. The reason for the offset was that the body was built that way from the factory and was not because of wear from hinges. Why the differences from Ford I do not know, but it was a fact.

03-02-2026, 11:09 AM	#4
Karl Wescott Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,662	Re: Offset male dovetails Most dovetails Ford used were available offset.

03-02-2026, 04:19 PM	#5
itslow Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central Iowa Posts: 792	Re: Offset male dovetails Yes, the yellow and black cover "Automotive Hardware and Trimming Supplies" book that covers years 1928-1938 lists the part numbers, although it doesn't provide the amount of offset. Good luck finding such pieces of hardware loose in the wild, though. __________________ Mike Wanted: - '32-34 Open Cab Pickup (RPU) parts and documents/articles/info - ARDUN parts

03-02-2026, 07:10 PM	#6
Vanspeed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Suttons Bay, Mich. Posts: 3,507	Re: Offset male dovetails Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Good to know! The guy I got it from said it was NOS from an old Ford dealership. It was $15 well spent. Also to note the doors are not from the cab I am working on as those were in horrible shape. __________________ *Respecting and Resurrecting Ford Model A's.*

03-03-2026, 06:34 PM	#7
kirkf Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 272	Re: Offset male dovetails I don't think offset dovetails are available anymore. Parts for our vehicles are drying up. Kirk __________________ 1953 Ford F100 1950 Ford F47 (F1) 1940 Ford Pickup

03-04-2026, 11:09 PM	#8
TagMan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Alvaton, Kentucky, USA Posts: 976	Re: Offset male dovetails I had a problem with the driver's side door lining up to the dovetail on my '36 3W. I made a shim for in back of the bottom hinge, which lifted the door, so it lined up fine with the dovetail. As I recall, the shim was much thinner than I thought it would be, and I made 2 or 3 shims before I figured out the shim thickness to door lift ratio. Sorry, I neglected to document it, but as I recall, it was only about .045" thick.