van doors

Post by **jimbo1** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:56 pm

I have just been to look at a van which was restored a while back by the previous owner. Its all in pretty good nick apart from......the drivers door isn't closing properly. It will only catch on the first part of the latch and is binding in the frame just above the quarterlight so it is impossible to just push it all the way in. The post seems to be in good sound condition and the hingepins are not worn. The current owner suggests the hinges / strikerplates just need adjusting, but i'm not so sure. Do you think he is right? Are all minor doors the same? (ie has it been fitted with a door from a different model)? The rebuild was done to such a high standard i don't think the person who did it would have made a mistake or allowed the cab to be twisted. Is it a common fault and repairable? As a complete minor novice - this will be my first - all help and comments would be very much appreciated - thankyou in anticipation!

Post by **PSL184** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:17 pm

Both the door hinges, striker plate, latch and window frame are all adjustable so unless it is out by miles it should be adjustable to get a good fit - Although, if the resto was done to such a high standard, as you suggest, you have to ask yourself why it has been left like this....?

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 8:04 pm

In theory there are only 2 door sizes (for front doors)
2 door saloon, Drophead and Traveller have the bigger door.
Van/Pickup and 4 door have the same smaller door.

[Traveller and 4 door have Stainless steel door tops]

Back to the main issue - I've heard it many times that when doors are changed the fit is terrible. I've known someone try and change a van door and not be able to close it due to nearly an inch interference, so they had the original doors repaired instead.
The reason is hard to understand as they should all be the same and should therefore fit. In reality, vans and cars were produced over many years and in different places, so at the time the door only had to fit the car they made that day... not all other vehicles ever made.
Production tolerancesfor the doors may have been changed at some point or may have been different for LCV's but I've (yet) not seen reference to it in any of the books I've read.