Convertible : Chassis Strength : Advice / info. requested!
Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 7:21 pm
Through a thread started in general discussion I have begun to realise that I, along with my '65 converted convertible have problems. It seems that I have very little structural strength left in my chassis. I have taken this idea from someone else who has considered the evidence below. Would you take a look & respond with your thoughts & ideas!? Many thanks!!
At first glance, it comes down to the doors. They just won't shut properly. Even with a huge amount of force, both doors refuse to sut completely. It seems they are being squeezed & pinched by the door frame, the front wings, & the windscreen. Inspecting the hinges reveals no obvious clues as the doors feel solid & secure, with no play at all. It seems that the shape of the car around the doors has changed to such an extent that they will not shut properly.
The irony of this situation is that they won't stay shut either. By this I mean, under normal acceleration the doors will often pop open. Now given that they only close onto the latchI can understand they are prone to moving around, but these doors open fully! Swinging into the road without notice & with terrifying force.
This situation alone has got me concerned. However, given that I could not check for movement between the door post & frame when driving - as advised by this site's buying guide, I devised my own test to replace it. The results were startling. We are all familiar with the ridge that runs from gearbox to back seat that holds the hand brake & divides the passenger foot well. Standing on that and jumping up & down, small jumps each time, like I was skipping rope, I noticed the door post & frames moving relative to each other. To such an extent the driver side door sprung open!? I repeated this several times to similar results.
To reiterate, my doors won't shut but will open by themselves. Also, my door posts & frames move relative to each other under the jump test, and presumably under normal driving conditions.
What, then, does this tell me about the structural stength of my convertible? How can I interpret this evidence? What kind of work would it need to rectify it, is it high risk, & can it be done simply!? What are the costs involved in effecting the 'perfect' repair? Can it be done cheaply by patch welding?
I would be most gratefull & enlightened by any advice!
With my thanks in advance, Owen.
At first glance, it comes down to the doors. They just won't shut properly. Even with a huge amount of force, both doors refuse to sut completely. It seems they are being squeezed & pinched by the door frame, the front wings, & the windscreen. Inspecting the hinges reveals no obvious clues as the doors feel solid & secure, with no play at all. It seems that the shape of the car around the doors has changed to such an extent that they will not shut properly.
The irony of this situation is that they won't stay shut either. By this I mean, under normal acceleration the doors will often pop open. Now given that they only close onto the latchI can understand they are prone to moving around, but these doors open fully! Swinging into the road without notice & with terrifying force.
This situation alone has got me concerned. However, given that I could not check for movement between the door post & frame when driving - as advised by this site's buying guide, I devised my own test to replace it. The results were startling. We are all familiar with the ridge that runs from gearbox to back seat that holds the hand brake & divides the passenger foot well. Standing on that and jumping up & down, small jumps each time, like I was skipping rope, I noticed the door post & frames moving relative to each other. To such an extent the driver side door sprung open!? I repeated this several times to similar results.
To reiterate, my doors won't shut but will open by themselves. Also, my door posts & frames move relative to each other under the jump test, and presumably under normal driving conditions.
What, then, does this tell me about the structural stength of my convertible? How can I interpret this evidence? What kind of work would it need to rectify it, is it high risk, & can it be done simply!? What are the costs involved in effecting the 'perfect' repair? Can it be done cheaply by patch welding?
I would be most gratefull & enlightened by any advice!
With my thanks in advance, Owen.