MkII Front Door fit

[rdmstewa]

Hi everyone, first-time poster here...couldn't find an existing topic covering this. My 76 2500S estate is in pretty good condition but the n/s front door is a lousy fit. If you look along the door from the rear edge (where it closes quite well) to the front, it's anything but parallel to the gutter - and if you sit inside the car and look upwards at the top of the door you can see daylight! Needless to say the wind noise is amazing. My question is - do I need to replace the door? Or is there a (possibly brutal) way of bending the window frame in about half an inch at the front without actually breaking anything?
Thanks in anticipation!

[Alec]

Hello Rdmstewa,

how does the door line up with the front wing, as it could be moved in on the top hinge a bit? The window frame itself can be bent a bit also but you may have to adjust the window runners inside the door if the window is a bit too tight afterwards.
I use a soft faced hammer to adjust the fit of the frame by the way.

Alec

[rdmstewa]

Thanks Alec - the door itself lines up spot on with the wing, it's the window frame that's out of line. It's more "upright" at its leading edge than it should be, like it's twisted slightly from rear to front, if you see what I mean. So you can see more of the back of the gutter at the bottom than you can at the top. I reckon that this is what needs a bit of bending. I thought about thumping it with a suitable hammer, but I was a bit reluctant to do that! I think my main concern is how the frame is attached to the door - there's not a lot of metal there, I guess it's welded, and I'm worried about detaching the frame from the door! Oh yes, and breaking the glass...
Cheers
Malcolm

[tony]

Wind the window right down. put a bit of wood between A pillar and top of solid bit of door and give the top frame a gentle nudge inwards, should do it !

[Alec]

Hello Malcolm,

the frames look as if they are brazed, but they do bend reltively easily, I've never cracked the door to frame joint yet

Alec

[rdmstewa]

Guys
Thanks for the advice! If I become the first to separate the frame from its door by giving it a tweak as suggested you'll be the first to know...
Cheers
Malcolm

[CAR]

Knee to the door by the wood capping and yank the frame in a little. I have done it to big saloon doors and capri ones too without problems.
If you are the Malcolm I think you are I can show you tomorrow night

Colin

[rdmstewa]

Hi Colin
I am indeed the Malcolm you think I am! See you tomorrow evening. I can bring a lump of wood if you like...!
Cheers, mate

[owen1183]

From both mine and my fathers 2000's it would appear that the passenger front door never fitted correctly from the factory. Maybe they had problems / poor manufacture on that one door frame originally? Both of our cars have since been corrected by the body shop

[rdmstewa]

Thanks Owen - I'm with you there, panel gaps were never a strong point at Canley! I'm going to exercise Colin's knee tonight and I'll report how we get on.
Cheers
Malcolm