Lifting by jack points binds door

[Boris61]

I lifted my 84 spider for the first time with a Maxjax lift using the four frame jack points and noticed to my horror that the driver door was binding while car was in the air. Back on the ground the bind ceased and door operated normally again. Is there a better way to lift these cars? Could leaving car up like this for long periods lead to long term frame issues? I'm starting work on suspension and am afraid to proceed now so any experience you can share would be very helpful and greatly appreciated.

[azruss]

the doors shouldn't bind. take a close look at the metal and support around the jack points for rust and cracks.

[Boris61]

Thanks for the quick reply. Yeah I knew it was abnormal that's why I freaked. No rust that I can see. The frame still has the original undercoat and is almost like new underneath. PO hardly drove it and always stored in garage and so do I. I did repair the usual door hinge metal fatigue a few years ago though, perhaps the alignment after wasn't ideal. Only the drivers door was binding.

[Boris61]

Forgot to add that the jack points on this model are square metal channels welded to bottom of frame that accept the factory jack. The pads on my lift are flat so I have thick slotted rubber pucks for the pinch weld directly below these points to ride on. Seems to be supporting the same frame member that way.

[dom]

I would not be worried about it. It's not out of my the question for that to happen depending on various things such as the latch position. And it should return to normal even after an extend time.

[zachmac]

Fairly normal for convertibles to flex and if the door is not aligned perfectly to begin with it exacerbates the effect.I had a 62 Cadillac convert where you had to absolutely keep the doors closed if you lifted it to keep it from bending! Should be okay. When you say binding, as in you can open and close it but with effort or it is stuck shut?

BTW, intact undercoating means nothing in my experience. The problem is the moisture wicks in between it and the car from above on convertibles. Intact just means all that moisture is trapped. First thing I do to all Fiats (and any old car) is scrape it all off and see what is really underneath. Lots of times you'll find significant rust. I had a 70 Jag with intact undercoating; looked like Swiss cheese once it was removed. Not trying to scare you, just saying you don't know what's under undercoating until you look.

[Boris61]

Thanks for the advice. The door was sticking while lifted but I agree that the frame does flex some due to the design. I suppose I will just make sure the window is down so I can reach inside if necessary next time. As for rust, aside from a small bubble at the bottom of one door and another at the rear wheel well, both of which were repaired with metal, I don't think there is any significant rust on the car. At least I couldn't find anymore when prepping for paint. It is possible that the undercoating is hiding rust but there is none on the floors, shock towers, or bottom of trunk, I've looked. Fortunately this car was stored inside in a heated garage by the two POs (and currently) and never driven in snow and not even in rain (by me at least).