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Help! The Doors Don't Fit!

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#1 MrsButton

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Posted 27 July 2015 - 10:32 PM

Hi everyone!

I have a huge problem with our little 1972 Austin Mini 😒
It's a huge long story but our mini was hit by an idiot on a roundabout then drove off.
This meant a new front end and due to the age of the car a full body spray.
We had a friend who offered to help us with the restoration of the body, turns out he was a jealous tool who was trying his best to right the car off.
He had fitted the front end for us but had deseemed it and hadn't test fit the doors.....

We ended up taking it to the worst body shop, £2,400 later the body work and paint was done but......

None of the doors fit 😓

As I'm sure all of you will know we adore our mini but sadly we have spent far too much money on her and can't afford more on the body.

The doors will sit right but not open and there isn't much space to add anymore Shims.

Anyone have any idea on cost to fix this? I'm guessing the body will need cutting in to?

I really don't want to sell her but I'm running out of options.

#2 MrsButton

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Posted 27 July 2015 - 10:36 PM

Here's some pictures to show how tight the door is.

Attached Files



#3 frodmyster

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Posted 27 July 2015 - 11:17 PM

I would look at having the doors modified personally. Buy a second hand cheap set and have them modified to fit. Be a shame to cut into the bodywork. Where are they catching?

#4 sonikk4

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Posted 28 July 2015 - 05:48 AM

You could slot the holes slightly and move the front of the door in slightly towards the A post. Then remove some shims and try that.

The fact the door is so far back could mean the A post is pushed back slightly due to the impact.

#5 MrsButton

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Posted 28 July 2015 - 11:35 AM

Thanks for your replies!

We have a new driver door and a repaired passenger door so would be rarther annoying to buy another set of doors. Possibly modifing the doors is an option.... It's just the cost as I'm no expert.

The A post has been replaced along with a new front end, the driver door when offering up to the car the rear quarter panel overlaps the body work. The passenger door interferes with the A panel so elongating the holes my remedy that!

I'm no door fitter so I'm really learning as I go along.

#6 ibrooks

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Posted 28 July 2015 - 11:55 AM

Surely after paying nearly two and a half grand you have some comeback on the bodyshop along the lines of do it properly or give the money back?



#7 Shifty

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Posted 28 July 2015 - 01:13 PM

If it were my car I'd probably remove the a panel and the try and get the door fitting better.

That would only involve repainting the a panel. The next thing would be to alter the door to fit the hole.

None of the above is an ideal way of going about it though

#8 Carlos W

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Posted 28 July 2015 - 01:16 PM

Where's the door catching?



#9 Ben_O

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Posted 28 July 2015 - 03:11 PM

I guess the door is catching on the b post/quarter panel from the photo.

 

I would wither remove the A panel, allow the door to come forward by removing shims until it fits and the replace the a panels modifying them if needed.

 

You could remove the hinges from the door frame and take some material away from the hinge face if removing shims doesn't quite cut it.

 

If it's not too far off, you might be able to spread the door aperture slightly with a porta power but you will be very restricted to how far it will move so this will only be suitable if only slight movement is needed.

 

Maybe put up a closer photo of the way the door sits to the quarter panel so we can get a better idea how far it needs to go.

 

Another option that *might* work is to take a grinder and flap wheel to the back edge of the a panel where it folds round the a post and grind it away until i good door fit is achieved and the, slowly weld up the back of the a panel and grind to shape.

 

Either way, i think you will need to take material away from the hinges to allow the door to go forwards enough.

 

Neither option is the correct way but it's got to be better than having major reconstruction work done to get the doors fitting.

 

Ben



#10 Ben_O

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Posted 28 July 2015 - 03:12 PM

Also, is the doorframe hitting before the door gets anywhere near to shutting?



#11 Ben_O

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Posted 28 July 2015 - 03:15 PM

ah... you might be restricted to how far forward the door will go because of the window frame on the door hitting the windscreen frame/upper a post

 

Bummer



#12 Ben_O

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Posted 28 July 2015 - 03:17 PM

Also, i doubt you would be able to modify the doors to fit if the frame is hitting the b post or door catch before the skin comes into line.

 

I don't think there is going to be an easy solution unfortunately.

 

sorry for my repeated posts but i keep thinking of more stuff. 



#13 Shifty

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Posted 28 July 2015 - 03:30 PM

I reckon I could make them fit, modify the hinges till the door fits in the aperture and then mod the a-panel to suit.



#14 Carlos W

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Posted 28 July 2015 - 03:32 PM

How many shims are on the top hinge?



#15 Ben_O

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Posted 28 July 2015 - 03:34 PM

The front of the window frame worries me though. There is only a certain amount you would be able to move the door forward before it hits the upper A post







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