[dz01]

Is it best to adjust a door with the weather stripping on or off? I’ve seen many videos that don’t really say. Assuming it shouldn’t matter.
My door needs to come up a little and I plan to install new weather stripping along the bottom.

 

[myfirstcar66]

I don't think it matters. Most of us have aligned doors and fenders on cars that were already together. I do that with the door jamb latch off, window down and vent window often loose so I can align the door without any interference, then reattach the latch, then align the vent window and side window so they fit the corners and top well to weatherproof as much as possible when closed.

 

[Rhythim]

When I was assembling mine, I adjusted the doors to fit the body fully assembled, but without the weatherstripping. I figured it would be best to do it with everything bolted in so a change in weight wouldn't affect the alignment in any way. Once I put the weatherstrips in, initially the doors didn't close up exactly the same way, but after being squeezed for a couple of weeks they sat in the jambs nicely. Still have to be "firm" with them to close due to the new rubber, but overall that strategy seems to have worked well. I still have some adjusting to do on the glass, but that will have to wait until I put the top on it.

 

[Wiseguy59]

I adjusted my doors without weatherstripping installed.
You don't want that fighting you when you're trying to get everything aligned.
Once they're aligned, install the weatherstrip and let the doors smash it.

 

[jrock]

I always read to have the weatherstripping on first then align. I tried that. Didn't like it. Door wouldn't close all the way in so it was hard to try and align the doors so I took it off and aligned without. We'll see how it turns out when my car is in final assembly after paint and the weatherstripping on.

 

[Klutch]

I adjusted my doors with no weatherstripping. Got everything lined up perfectly. After I installed the weatherstripping, the doors didn't align at all. That was just my experience.

 

[Kjsmitty]

I had zero issues installing and adjusting doors with weatherstrip installed. If your doors are off, much easier to install and/or replace weatherstripping than waiting till on the car. Even my restoration shop did much of the door/gap modifications etc with new weatherstrip temp installed.
Yes, the door will shut harder but you’re going to get that regardless. Might as well have a perfect fit from the get go. Not all weatherstrip is created equal for sure.

 

[dz01]

Thanks everyone. Since I have to replace anyway, I may pull off old weatherstrip, adjust door, install the new weatherstrip, then make sure door still aligns before I put fender and front end back on. Both my doors do require a pretty decent push to close. I'm always surprised to see some of the videos where doors shut effortlessly with weatherstrip on. Seems like I would want a tighter fit.

 

[Matter]

Easier to adjust the doors with no weather strip and then drill a couple 1/8" hole through the face of the hinge all the way through to give you alignment reference if you choose to remove the doors. You can wipe a dot of sealer over the hole and dab some paint if you want, but not really an issue. After you install your weatherstrip you may need to adjust the striker but wait a couple weeks to finalize. If you have bad hinges the weatherstrip may alter your adjustment.

 

[Tanker74]

I aligned mine before paint without weather strip, then put the seals on prior to reinstalling all the panels after paint. The only thing your seals are going to change is how easily the doors close, they aren't going to change the alignment up down/ front rear. They may stick out a little more until the rubber relaxes into its final fit, but that's normal. I have had mine on since June, and they are just now to the point where they close easily and line up where they should. This is just part of putting new seals on... and as @Kjsmitty said, not all seals are created equal... Some will be much more stiff than others depending on the compound used. Mine are Daniel Craig and they have been great.

 

[mikemstang66]

after painting or replacing a panel/door I normally Adjust the door without weather stripping in place . It's a lot easier to move door around without the Virgin weather strip in place. Once you have it in place add weather stripping . You might have to change just the latch depth to compensate for the Weather stripping.
Oh be sure to protect door jam paint with thick towels or cloth diapers taped in place.

 

[SWPruett]

Easier to adjust the doors with no weather strip and then drill a couple 1/8" hole through the face of the hinge all the way through to give you alignment reference if you choose to remove the doors. You can wipe a dot of sealer over the hole and dab some paint if you want, but not really an issue. After you install your weatherstrip you may need to adjust the striker but wait a couple weeks to finalize. If you have bad hinges the weatherstrip may alter your adjustment.

THIS! ALWAYS do your gapping and fitting and final surfacing without weatherstrip. No other way to get it right. At the same time, hinges absolutely must be tight and right or you will never reproduce your results properly. Remember that even what may seem is a tiny amount of play in the door hinges translates to a huge amount at the back (striker end) of the door. If you ignore it, it will always haunt your final finish.

 

[Boss5Oh]

THIS! ALWAYS do your gapping and fitting and final surfacing without weatherstrip. No other way to get it right. At the same time, hinges absolutely must be tight and right or you will never reproduce your results properly. Remember that even what may seem is a tiny amount of play in the door hinges translates to a huge amount at the back (striker end) of the door. If you ignore it, it will always haunt your final finish.

Sven: Good to hear this is how you recommend setting the gaps. Given my car is getting fully painted. Old weather stripping is gone and not going to install new weather stripping until car is fully painted and ready for reassembly. I have my doors aligned now and I will drill alignment holes before they are removed again.
After my hinges were rebuilt with the Mustang Steve kit, the doors hold their alignment well. Anyone have instructions on reinstalling the strikers as I was having a heck of a time before just removing them?

 

[Matter]

Sven: Good to hear this is how you recommend setting the gaps. Given my car is getting fully painted. Old weather stripping is gone and not going to install new weather stripping until car is fully painted and ready for reassembly. I have my doors aligned now and I will drill alignment holes before they are removed again.
After my hinges were rebuilt with the Mustang Steve kit, the doors hold their alignment well. Anyone have instructions on reinstalling the strikers as I was having a heck of a time before just removing them?

Not sure what you mean, but adjust the door for a perfect fit with no striker, then fit the striker as close as you can eyeball it and keep moving it until it doesn't alter your alignment and the door closes where it should. That will keep the striker from forcing the door up or down and binding. The striker is only to control the closing distance.

 

[Boss5Oh]

Not sure what you mean, but adjust the door for a perfect fit with no striker, then fit the striker as close as you can eyeball it and keep moving it until it doesn't alter your alignment and the door closes where it should. That will keep the striker from forcing the door up or down and binding. The striker is only to control the closing distance.

I think the process will go better after I replace the door latches. They are worn and probably beyond use. I have the drivers side already, but need to buy the passenger side. I just wasn't ready to disassemble and reassemble the doors as they must be fully torn down to paint.

 

[dz01]

THIS! ALWAYS do your gapping and fitting and final surfacing without weatherstrip. No other way to get it right. At the same time, hinges absolutely must be tight and right or you will never reproduce your results properly. Remember that even what may seem is a tiny amount of play in the door hinges translates to a huge amount at the back (striker end) of the door. If you ignore it, it will always haunt your final finish.

Thanks! My hinges are pretty tight. Seems to be zero play. In fact when I try and rock the door up and down, the whole car moves. I think my issue is that at least one of the body side hinge bolts was never tightened down or maybe adjusted without glass, then when adding glass, it dropped about 4 horse hairs.

 

[dz01]

Well that job wasn't as easy as I thought! First, my car does have the original sheet metal and hinges (looks like PO added a bushing kit) so I would have anticipated less of a fight. I pulled old weatherstrip off and removed striker on body. Oh, and what I was trying to fix is the door handle side of my door was about 5 horse hairs too low so the door window would slightly hit the quarter window when both were rolled up all the way. I could also feel the door drop a tad when opening it so I knew it was just slightly low (I did fine one of the hinge bolts very loose and a second moderately tight).

I'm a perfectionist so I know this isn't 100% spot on, but door handle side gap looks pretty good. Up at the top next to handle is probably slight larger, but I don't think it's enough for me to mess with the body side hinges again.

I do have a slightly recessed look at the top of the door near the latch and the bottom of the door below the latch. I think the weatherstrip will correct this or I might adjust the striker on body out just a little.

The bottom corner of the front of the door next to the fender is out just slightly from the rocker. I'm not sure I should worry too much about this especially since I have rocker modeling to go back on.

Next step is to get weatherstrip on, then dry fit fender. The fender did fit perfectly before so I hope to have an easy go.

Here are some pics. Let me know your thoughts....

 

[Tanker74]

Looks like you're getting there! Once I had mine all aligned, I must have had the fender off and on a dozen times once I got to that point as well...lol Good luck!

 

[Klutch]

Looks pretty spiffy to me. You're already better than it came from the factory.

 

[dz01]

Looks pretty spiffy to me. You're already better than it came from the factory.

Thanks, appreciate that! Doors seems to work 10x better. If I can get the slightly recessed adjusted via rubber, I'll be golden.