Making my entery door fit better.

Bob Dunahugh

New member
Sep 17, 2012
2,784
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Three years ago. When I started building the 78 Royale that we use now. I =
notice that the door didn't latch well. Then while I was making the entry d=
oor 36 inches wide from 29. I forgot that latch issue. BIG OVERSIGHT ON MY=
PART. And was dead set on getting that door/door frame welded back in perf=
ectly like it was before. ( Remember what I forgot? ) After I got all the a=
luminum frame structure securely welded. I took my digital caliper. And com=
pared my readings from before, to now. The hinge side of the door gap was d=
ead on. Top, and the bottom of the door was .003 of an inch off. The latch =
side had a variant in the door gap of .005 of an inch. Top to bottom. I wa=
s so proud of how close I got the fit. Then I tried the door latching func=
tion. That was the exact second that I remembered what I forgot from back a=
t the beginning. Thus the latching of the door jam was exactly like it fit =
before I widened the door. I was mad at myself for 3 days on that piece of =
STUPIDITY. Originally. There was no adjustment for the door jam latch pin. =
Or the two hinges. So I made it so I could adjust the latch pin down. Now =
I machined the four door jam hinge bolt holes up. So I can raise the two d=
oor hinges. In this way. I have half my correction in the hinges, and the o=
ther half of the adjustment in the latch pin. Anyone try this idea? Know ho=
w this works tomorrow. Bob Dunahugh 78 Royale, Iowa, member GMCMI
 
Did you replace the latch pin with one that didn't have a rotted center
rubber damper? If you didn't do that, I would recommend using the latch pin
that is solid steel before attempting any adjustments..

Rick "whose terribly fitting door now closes with one finger" Denney

> Three years ago. When I started building the 78 Royale that we use now. I
> notice that the door didn't latch well. Then while I was making the entry
> door 36 inches wide from 29. I forgot that latch issue. BIG OVERSIGHT ON
> MY PART. And was dead set on getting that door/door frame welded back in
> perfectly like it was before. ( Remember what I forgot? ) After I got all
> the aluminum frame structure securely welded. I took my digital caliper.
> And compared my readings from before, to now. The hinge side of the door
> gap was dead on. Top, and the bottom of the door was .003 of an inch off.
> The latch side had a variant in the door gap of .005 of an inch. Top to
> bottom. I was so proud of how close I got the fit. Then I tried the door
> latching function. That was the exact second that I remembered what I
> forgot from back at the beginning. Thus the latching of the door jam was
> exactly like it fit before I widened the door. I was mad at myself for 3
> days on that piece of STUPIDITY. Originally. There was no adjustment for
> the door jam latch pin. Or the two hinges. So I made it so I could adjust
> the latch pin down. Now I machined the four door jam hinge bolt holes up.
> So I can raise the two door hinges. In this way. I have half my correction
> in the hinges, and the other half of the adjustment in the latch pin.
> Anyone try this idea? Know how this works tomorrow. Bob Dunahugh 78
> Royale, Iowa, member GMCMI
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--
'73 X-Glacier 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
Offlist email: rick at rickdenney dot com