Help Putting The Doors Back On

[johndemar]

It was a great day to work on the spider today, 82 and sunshine, and enough of a breeze to keep me working most of the day.

I took the doors off to start working on the jambs and was wondering if there are any tips out there on putting them back on?
I got the door off OK, but had to struggle to get the hinges past the box opening. The only way to get them out was to lower the door enough to give the hinges clearance. And I was constantly checking to make sure I didn't screw up the fender while getting the door off. Would removing the hinges at the door have been easier?

Because of this I'm thinking of painting the jambs separately, putting the doors back on and then get the rest of the car sprayed. Just afraid if everything gets sprayed separately and then try to put the doors back on I'll end up ruining the new paint in the process.

Is the tight clearance of the box opening important? I was considering making the opening a tad larger to get the hinges back in easier.

[narfire]

It is easier with two for sure but doable with one if careful.(glass is heavy) Perhaps put some green paint tape on the edge of the door and if you want on the fender around where the door might make contact. A bit of preventitive tape is good,that way you likely would not have needed it.
It is a tight fit where the hinge goes into the door but wrestle with it anyway and get a couple of the allen bolts in. I tust you have not mucked with the hinge bolts on the "A" post of the car? Once the door hangs with firm but you can still move a bit tension, slowly close the door and see how the curves and gaps line up. If/when I was happy I went in through the other door and tightened up what allen bolts I could from the inside and then opened and finished tightening. If you are using the same doors, the bolts on the post should not have to be mucked with and the alignment can be done with the allen bolts and perhaps the positioning lug at the bottom of the door. The catch moves when loosened as well.
Good luck,perhaps others have had a wrestling match with the doors and won as well.
Chris

[johndemar]

Same doors are going back on and I removed the them by taking out the 6, 13mm bolts. Didn't mess with the allen head bolts in the doors.

[narfire]

Ohhh ok, I'd think two would be better to get the doors aligned then. I've taken the door panels off to get at the allen bolts as I can then tighten them or enough of them when the door is closed and gaps are good ect. The next time I have to do the door thing , I will mark the hinge on the door post if I have to pull the hinges for any reason (worn pins for example)
Hope it all works out regardless.
Chris