Rusty Bowtie
General Category => Early Chevy/GM Discussion => Topic started by: RCstang on November 04, 2014, 07:02:14 AM
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I've been looking at this 1933 Chevy Coupe that has been in storage for decades. It's currently jacked up on one side more than the other and the wooden top came down. Both of the doors are stuck so I can't fully see the interior, flooring, framing. It seems like the problem with the doors has to be related to the uneven position, wood frame warp or the door latch...doesn't it? Have any of you run into this problem and if so how did you fix it? I don't own the car so I can't do anything damaging.
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I would think using a bottle jack with only minimal lift at a determined body/frame mounting point would align the gaps. At which points is up to you to determine.
From what I understand, shims at the mounting points is the method used to align body panels on these old cars.
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How about starting with getting the car level on the ground. Then, if the door doesn't open from the outside, maybe you can slip in through the roof and try the inside door handles. If neither handle opens either door EDNY's bottle jack idea may work. Also, the strikers on that car are a double wedge (not the most secure). So, I think a combination: level car, bottle jack, jiggle handle (and maybe even slight pressure with a pry bar at the striker) should get one of those doors open. I don't think there is one sure-fire way, you just have to play with it a little. Good luck.
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These old cars still had lock on the doors. Maybe they locked it before closing the doors years ago?
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GHOST....These old cars still had lock on the doors. Maybe they locked it before closing the doors years ago?
GHOST...that sounds like what happened, doors got locked after parking it. Just pull up one of the DOOR LOCK KNOBS if you can access it in any way. Other than that you will need a key to open the door.
mike ----------- 8)
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Look at the door gaps! If they are uniform...probably locking mechanics. If the gaps are closed at one end..probably body twist..
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I have found on my 32 that tightening the body mounting bolts will adjust body gaps. If the gaps are close, I believe I would check the door locks as stated above.
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Thank you for the suggestions. Hopefully I can make it back out there tomorrow and....
level it up.
Jacking up the mounting points
check for locked doors
Check body mounting bolts
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PB Blaster on the hinges and latches just in case. I ruined the hood on my '38 Ford because of a hinge like the one on the Hudson. Well actually the hinge was stuck and I ruined the hood because I was impatient. I've had frozen pins in door hinges too.