Door Alignment Problem - 65 Dart Convertible

65DartGTConv said

I measured diagonally from the bottom of each quarter to the top of the opposite quarter. It's 60 1/2" to the top of the passenger quarter, but only 60 1/4" to the top of the drivers quarter.

There was some evidence of collision repair just behind the drivers door and their was also some bondo in the original drivers door.

This would all suggest that the driver's quarter has been pushed in a bit and needs to come out.

BUT that would make my door alignment problem even worse. Also, I'm having the same door alignment problem on the passenger side.

I think the next step is to measure another car and see if the interior distance between the tops of the quarters is the same as mine or different..

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Interesting! I have had the same problem with my car. As 1968FormulaS340 mentioned the tollerances were horrible.

To adjust the door so if will fit the side panels on the body is no problem. Ad the weatherstrip and the striker too and this is where I believe that the problem lies!

You need to close the door pretty hard to get it closed. That will make the upper part of the door coming closer the striker over the years but the lower end will pop out due to the weatherstrip!!

To adjust the door to the body I used a 2x4" wood block between the door and the body. I then added a ratch and a strap on the inside of the doors and pulled them in a little. I did this several times until I was satiesfied with the fitting to the quarter panel. But I have left a sloopy tollerance so it wouldn't fit too good!!