The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs 52 GMC Barn doors

I'm in need of some advice/help/guidance etc. I installed the driver side barndoor and it went on just fine. Thought this is going great! Hung the passenger side door and Oh my what a surprise! Door hits the body up in the right corner, middle of the door and the lower right corner. Has anyone had this kind of trouble with the rear doors?? Everything fit when I took it apart ? years ago. Looks like they were not made to adjust fitment. All the hinge holes are just the right size. So we drilled out the body and door holes larger and even egg shaped in the door to get some adjustment but not much help. Haven't been back out in the shop since last week. Too bummed or scared to try again. Any help greatly appreciated.

azcornman

Sir, You have several options that you may want to try: 1) bend the hinges; 2) try different hinges; & 3) get the doors to fasten together enough to go down the road without flying open. Your problem isn't a new one, as I too have issues but have chosen to ignore it for the time being. You may want to visit Desert Valley Auto Parts (DVAP)'s Casa Grande, AZ yard too. Why? There was a Panel Truck that had doors & hinges still available when I visited last year. Thanks azcornman. V/r, Nick

Thanks Nick. I've been down to Desert Valley a time or 2. I may give them a try. Maybe they'll sell me just the hinges. My doors are all finished and painted. There is also a fellow in Tucson that has suburban parts. May give him a call too. Speaking of him, he has seat frames and hardware for suburbans posted on CL.

Thanks again.

Richard

Sir, I've sent you a PM regarding hinges. Thanks Richard. V/r, Nick

Thought I'd give an update to our door dilemma. Thought about press bending the hinges to position the door towards the other door and away from the opening. Nah, they are way to thick. Heat them to bend? How to get the same angle on both hinges? Nah. Decided to tack weld a shim to it to kick the door over. After 2 tries with different thicknesses we said good enough. Had to die grind the openings in the body to get the thicker hinges in but the rubber boot covers it up well. Not bad gaps for a 70 year old body. My 71 year old body has gaps and wrinkles I can't do much with either. Added a pic of the progress.

Richard

azcornman

Sir, So essentially: 1) you beefed up each one of the passenger side rear door hinges thickness; 2) you did this be welding shims on the hinge's part that goes into the body of the 'burb; & 3)
you had to create a larger opening on the burb body that was hidden using the rubber hinge boot covers. Have I clearly got that procedure down? Please advise. Thanks Richard. V/r, Nick

Using a press makes less of a mess. Less labor involved, too.

Yes Nick that's basically it. The tacked on shim was added to inside of hinge tip only. That held the hinge at a small angle to kick it over toward the center of the opening. Upper hinge needed a little thicker shim than the lower one. Trial and error. Air dye grinder took just a little bit off the interior body sheet so the shimmed hinge would go in.

Mark, I would have gone the press route but the hinges were already painted and didn't want to do all that over again. Son says we should have done all the parts fitting before paint like the pros do it. Live and learn.

richard

Yeah, mine will need some tweaking before I tear down for paint. They're close, but I want them closer!