1941 Ford door

[albjerryg]

I have a 1941 Ford 2 door and the passenger door will not shut completely. I have adjusted the latch all the way in and it helped but still not enough. Is there another adjustment? I will enclose a few pictures. Thanks Jerry

 

[edhd58]

That flipper part is your safety latch.
The tongue on the door should actually drop out when is passes the back of the plate. Move the latch plate way out (away from the interior) until you can get the latch to catch on the back side of the plate AND the safety latch, youll have some slop.
Then move it in in what ever increments until it keeps the door closed as you need it.

 

[albjerryg]

I went and looked at it and it I catching on the plate but it cannot be adjust any further to get the door closed flush. Thanks Jerry

 

[FortyNiner]

Do you have any rubber seals installed? I can't tell from the pics.

 

[albjerryg]

Yes there is a flat rubber seal around both doors(passenger and drivers side). Thanks Jerry

 

[edhd58]

Can you easily push the door closed just to the point of catching on the safety latch
There are two points of catching, 1st on the safety latch, then when pushed further the tongue on the door will fall behind the pillar plate?
You will have a lot of movement on the door at the safety latch point.
I had the latch plate in too far at first when reassembling the car.
I thought mine was not adjusting in far enough too, but i soon found i had it in too far for the second catch.

 

[albjerryg]

I will have a look today and let you know .Thanks Jerry

 

[albjerryg]

OK I went and move the latch plate on the pillar all the way forward(toward the outside of the car) and then close it and it is closed but not flush I can push it and get it close but to get it flush I have to really push it? jerry

 

[edhd58]

I think I am following what you are wanting, the two doors to be even with each other when they are closed.
The new seals will take a little time to compress and this will make it easier in the near future to make both doors even.
If you can easily push the one door in "to bottom" what you may have to do is move that latch on a little and move the other door all the way out and make the same adjustments to that door.
Once everything is adjusted good, there will be a slight pressure (and this is subjective, what you call light may be more or less than what I call light) turning the door handle to open the door. You shouldn't have to use a lot of pressure to turn the handles.
One of my rear doors takes a little more effort than the front door on the same side.

Am I understanding what you are wanting?

 

[albjerryg]

Not quite. The drivers side door closes flush with the frame, the passenger side has a 1/2" gap. I have moved the latch plate on the pillar post all the way in and it helps but still not flush. It is a 2 door coupe. Thanks Jerry

 

[rust runner]

might have to bend top of door in

 

[albjerryg]

OK thanksJerry

 

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Jerry I've had the same problem with the drivers door (right side on my car). I've just read this post and moved the latch on the pillar inward and what a difference. I've been trying to sort this before I got it on the road a year ago, I moved it in and out at the time without being able to get the shut line right and had to settle for the best I could do where the catch caught. It is still not perfect but is a "ton" better than before. I don't know how new your rubber seal is but that appears to have been my problem. As with a new resto things take time to settle down and I have noticed in the last couple of months the door was closing more freely although the fit was still poor. I would just adjust it the best you can for now and then adjust it again when your seal has "worn in" if your seal is relatively new.

GB

 

[albjerryg]

OK thank I will do. Jerry