Adjusting Studebaker Doors

Adjusting Doors on a Studebaker   

by Pete Yuen

Door misalignment on a solid car is usually

cause by worn hinges. To check yours, open the door to

about 30 degrees august angle. Lift the rear of the door

upward.

A 1/16” movement at the hinges will translate to

almost a half inch at the rear of the door. If you

feel “play” in the hinges, that is the problem and

you must replace them or have them rebuilt

before the door adjustment will mean anything.

Remove the door trim interior panel. Go after the

three bolts on the top-hinge-to-door mounting

point.

They are #3 Phillips head bolts. After so many

years, they may be a bit stubborn to loosen. You are

quite likely to break off the bolts. It’s a good idea to

spray them with WD40 and let them sit a day or so and

re- peat a couple more times. 

Then you take your

time and use an impact driver and a big hammer. You will

either knock the bolts loose enough to remove

them or you will break them, in which case,

you’ll have to use an easy-out or drill them out

and re-tap the hinges.

Once they are loose, raise the rear of the door

until at least 1/16”. Forward movement is noted

the door and the hinge. Re-tighten the bolts. Do Not slam

the door to check the “new” fit. Rather, slowly close

the door and note the fit around the adjacent panels

and the door strike plate. Adjust or readjust as

necessary. 

Adjusting the door post striker plate may now be

required. Worn hinges usually mean worn striker

plates.

Fortunately, reproduction striker plates are

available from several SDC parts vendors. Use a 30

weight oil on the hinges and the mechanisms

from time to time to preserve them and you are

all set.

“All the above” assumes your car’s floor and

structural integrity are sound enough so the

hinge post is solidly attached to the driver’s side

floor. Obviously, if the hinge post has rusted

away from the floor, it will not be possible to

adjust anything to fit and operate properly until structural repairs are

made.