Simplest things...door catch

This is the place to discuss restoration problems, post questions or projects-complete or partial.
rodo
Posts: 364
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2014 5:50 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider

Simplest things...door catch

Postby rodo » Wed Jan 17, 2018 6:28 pm

One of those assembly things that should be easy: I've got both door catches and the nuts. The catch bends at the end...and I've no idea which way it should be installed, which way the bend should go. Ought it go in with the bend towards the door or away from the door? (Sorry, hard to describe that might not be doing it well.) And the nuts? I'm assuming the wide flat side goes against the metal, the body, towards the screw, not on the outside. But I just can't bloody tell with either the catch or the nuts.

This should have been easy...and the things I have left to complete...

rodo
Posts: 364
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2014 5:50 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider

Re: Simplest things...door catch

Postby rodo » Fri Jan 19, 2018 7:09 pm

So I went with: installed with the bend towards the inside of the car, as opposed to bending away, and the bushing/nuts with the "cap" on the outside, furthest away from the bolt. Make sense? They are in, they catch the door so it doesn't smash the front edge against the body, no problem, easy peasy. Next job: get the doors aligned. Yeah. Easy.

User avatar
Odoyle
Posts: 440
Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 10:06 pm
Your car is a: 1983 Pinafarina Spider
Location: CA

Re: Simplest things...door catch

Postby Odoyle » Fri Jan 19, 2018 7:33 pm

I spent two full days over the summer gaping the doors...came out great, but it can be tricky. Best advice I can give is use a jackstand (with piece of wood on top) adjusted closest to the desired height and use wooden shims to gradually lift the jack if your still off. Once you find the sweet spot tighten the alan head bolts.

User avatar
RRoller123
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Simplest things...door catch

Postby RRoller123 » Sat Jan 20, 2018 7:14 am

+1, a jack under the door works great.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle

rodo
Posts: 364
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2014 5:50 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider

Re: Simplest things...door catch

Postby rodo » Mon Jan 22, 2018 6:53 pm

Thanks for the good advice on the door. It looks like the guy who painted the car, and then installed the doors, did a good job with the up/down and fore/aft adjustments. Passenger door is pretty much there, I'm fussing with the latch now. Driver's door seems to be too far "out" by the latch and just a tad "in" at the front of the door. I'm assuming that I can still use the jack/wood system, loosen the hinge bolts on the body, and carefully pull "out" the front until I'm on the money.

Sounds easy...


Return to “Restoration Projects”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 52 guests