Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

This question is for you body guys -
I have a 1969 SRL. Everything is perfect on the body except one thing. The passenger door seems a little low. When I close it the latch seems to hit a bit below the matching body latch. I have to lift/slam to make it seat. After closing, the body lines match up nicely. I tried loosening the hinge bolts on the body side and lifting the outer door edge to no avail. It seems there is no adjustment in the bolt holes of either latch so I can't move those.
Any suggestion on how to adjust this?? Thanks!

jschoenky wrote: Thu Nov 05, 2020 10:01 am This question is for you body guys -
I have a 1969 SRL. Everything is perfect on the body except one thing. The passenger door seems a little low. When I close it the latch seems to hit a bit below the matching body latch. I have to lift/slam to make it seat. After closing, the body lines match up nicely. I tried loosening the hinge bolts on the body side and lifting the outer door edge to no avail. It seems there is no adjustment in the bolt holes of either latch so I can't move those.
Any suggestion on how to adjust this?? Thanks!

I have the same problem and replaced the hinges as the pins get worn over the years.

Yes and the pins can actually break in two and you don't know it. I'd check them for sure

The nuts 'float' inside the body , so there is 'some' adjustment there.

Hinge pins

Or someone leaned on the door while it was open and bent the tops of the hinges out of plane.

+ hinge pins... I'd say easiest fix is to buy another hinge (actually I have a few extras I can check my storage and send you one if I can find it)

This happened to me - I bought 4 "new" (used) yellow zinc plated hinges - and passenger door wouldn't close. It was very easy to see the hinge had too much play. I reinstalled my old hinge and no more sag. Door shut perfect.

easy way to test pins ?? Lift door and see how much play there - ??

Very little play in door as is. Rather than replace both hinges I plan to loosen all hinges and latches (lightly) and close door to see if things line up !

mraitch wrote: Fri Nov 06, 2020 4:37 pm easy way to test pins ?? Lift door and see how much play there - ??

Yeah you will know - if ANY play I’d be looking to replace soon. If the hinges are working properly it should be solid and tight (but obviously not so tight that the door won’t move at all open or closed)... think of a house/room door hinge - same idea

jschoenky wrote: Sat Nov 07, 2020 9:11 am Very little play in door as is. Rather than replace both hinges I plan to loosen all hinges and latches (lightly) and close door to see if things line up !

Do not loosen the hinges even just a little!!! It takes a lot of very careful fine tuning to get them just right in and out, up and down, side to side, front to back. Bottom in a little top out a little. I had my drivers door off and on a good 25 times over the course of four different times working on it. Move just one at a time and have a plan of exactly what direction you need the latch point to move to before you loosen a screw.

Another tip is to do the same thing for the trick on dropping in the engine and trying to align with the frame and motor mounts.... basically get a bolt that doesn’t have a hex head - but has an Allen type head so the thickness is all the same. Sorry bad explanation but basically you will screw in all but 1. Then slide the door on the 3 bolts. Now take an actual hex head bolt you plan to permanently install and screw that in the empty slot. Continue to remove temporary bolt and replace with permanent bolt. I can add pics if needed for when I changed my hinges.
Also it helps and definitely suggested to place something under the door so it prevents any sagging while installing.

2x4 and padding on a floor jack under door will be your friend. The 6mm studs on the hinges like Makn367 said and you should be good to go. Plan on being there a while to get it fit up just right.