My Doors are Sagging!

[Bradley S.]

Hey;

I have a 1948 B1F.

How does one adjust the doors on these trucks? Both doors are not hitting the latch squarely. I guess when you turn 61, things do tend to sag.

How do I take this sag out so the doors so they swing true and the door latch and catch are aligned?

Thanks!

Brad

[MBF]

Bradley-depending on what is wrong-you may be able to put a c clamp on the top hinge and gently try opening the door to finesse the top hinge (i.e. bending) to take out some of the sag. I'm sure other members here may also have other ideas. I'd check the top hinge pin to make sure it isn't excessively worn to. Mike

[buds truck]

I have had good luck adjusting door hinges in the past by rolling up a welding glove and putting it in betweed the post part of the lower hinge and the door part of the lower hinge and putting pressure on the door while starting to close the door. this will tweak the hinge much like a 2x4, but will not leave a mark. Bud

[Shifty Trick]

Found this in the Aussie pilothouse truck manual ,though I've used the " block of wood " type of adjustment for many years ,I didn't expect to see it in the manual. The welding glove idea would be much gentler on the paintwork though .

Scroll down to the body section.

http://www.dodgepilothouseclub.org/know/Australian_Truck_manual/aus14-16.pdf

Xris

Edited August 10, 2009 by Shifty Trick

[greg g]

open the door about half way and lift on the rear of the door, see where the sag may be. It possible after opening and closing for 60 years the hinge pins are worn out. If the pins are ok you ca see if the hinges or pillars are flexing (not very likely) New hing pins are available from body shop supply sotres and most auto parts stores as well. the old ones can be a bear to get out do it one at a time. If you get it moving, use the pin punch as the pin substitute as you install the new pin. That way the door won;t fall out of the hinge and spring the other one. You can also use a floor jack with a chunk of wood on it to ssupport the end of the door while you work the pins.

[grey beard]

The block of wood and the welding glove will both move the door bottom or top rearward. The C clamp on the top hinge will move the top of the door forward. Each of these are easily done.

What is not so easy is to move the bottom of the door forward. This requires bending the outer part of the hinge toward the fender. Unlike the top hinge, which sticks right out there at you, the bottom hinge is hidden by the door frame and is not easily gotten tol. The only way I was able to do this was with a porta power ram. If you are able to get your hinges apart from the A piller, they would be easy to bend. I was not able to get mine loose. They weld themselven in there over time, I suppose.

Good Luck

Let us know how you fare.

[51 Fargo]

Viagra?????? that will stop the door from sagging LOLOLOL just yankin your chain

[Bradley S.]

That sounds like alot simpler! Why didn't I think of that?

Thanks for all of the help you guys!

Brad

[buds truck]

viagra works, but the hinges get a little stiff...........

[smallblockjunkie]

If the hinges are stiff for more then 4 hours you better get it to the doctor

[HanksB3B]

Personally I'd look for a good looking nurse.

[Bradley S.]

Thanks to all for the help.

The passenger door was sagging because the hinge pin had been replaced by a 1/4" - 20 bolt. New pin and a couple tweeks and I can shut the door with one finger. Driver's door needed some adjustment but pins were good. Everything lines up perfectly.

Thanks again!

Brad

[grey beard]

This thread has been quite educational. I've learned that Canadians have much stronger Viagra then we in the lower 48 seem to enjoy.

This begs the question - is this simple fact true because their meds cost less, or is it true because it's colder up north, or is it mebby true because for some organic reason, Canadians NEED more help in this particular area?

Never in all my life would I have thought to use Viagra on sagging Pilothouse doors . . . . . . mebby because it doesn't seem to help anything else, here in Pennsyltucky.

Is there just no end to the wonderful knowledge we gain, share and impart to others on this forum?

(Point of interest - Do you Canadians squirt this stuff in the oiler holes on the hinges, or just butter up the pins, whilst you have 'em out?)

Then again, mebby they have it in aerosol cans . . . . . . use it on the fly, as it were, so to speak, to coin a phrase. Oh well, whatever works . . .

AND, since this stuff works for Canadians on sagging doors, d'ya suppose it would also have an equally appropriate place for:

1. leaky engine valves

2. crooked bumpers that sag on one end

3. loose cowl vents that leak water - tighten 'em up too?

4. loose clutch and brake pedal pivot points - especially in aerosol form?

5. (here's the one we REALLY need) sagging headliners!!! Just paint it on.

AND - if you also really have it in liquid form . . .

6. pour a quart into the crankcase for a "mechanic-in-a-can" quick overhaul . . . . . . tighten EVERYTHING up, once and for all, what?

just wonderin, do it work more better in BC than in the Maratime provinces? Mebby where Don Coatney lives, they take them aerosol cans along to bed, might even some day replace . . . . . . lard?

If this stuff really works all that well in northern BC, imagine, if you will, how potent it would be for our "down-under" friends, way down there south of the equator? Then, on the other hand, if the water in their toilet bowls goes around backwards, mebby Viagra would LOOSEN things up in Australia - sorta the opposite of LockTite?

I only know one thing for sure - Keep that stuff away from my truck!