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Softer door closing

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Old 03-23-2003, 07:06 PM
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Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: 305 TPI
Softer door closing

Is there anyway possible to make the sound of closing the door quieter with the windows door? Its embarrassing to hear that loud clang.
Old 03-23-2003, 08:36 PM
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Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
Take the door apart and apply a couple layers of dynamat on the inside of the outer shell.
Old 03-25-2003, 01:53 PM
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New weather stripping around the door will also make the doors shut much nicer.

Andrew
Old 03-25-2003, 02:21 PM
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Car: 1987 IROC-Z
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Re: Softer door closing

Originally posted by devianb
make the sound of closing the door quieter with the windows door?

what does that mean!!??!!??
Old 03-25-2003, 02:22 PM
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think he meant windows down, not windows door
Old 03-25-2003, 03:05 PM
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Car: 1991 Formula
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You can also buy new window guides from GM. There are two or three of them along the top of your door. They have pads and can be adjusted sungly against the window. If you get them too tight, they can damage the tinting. Their pads seem to wear with time and loosen the window which causes some of the clanging and also wearing of the tint).
Old 03-26-2003, 07:32 AM
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Car: 00 TA, 91 Formula, 89 RS
Engine: LS1 / 305 / 2.8, respectively
Transmission: T-56 / auto / auto
I imagine that if the doors are sagging, whenever you get your SFC they'd shut nicer too.
Old 03-26-2003, 08:38 AM
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SFCs probably won't help the sagging doors. Doors sag because the hinges are shot, not because the chassis is tweaked. If the doors are sagging, new hinges will work wonders too.
Old 03-27-2003, 08:55 PM
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change the outside door handle if you feel its loose, it made a big difference in my car
Old 03-27-2003, 09:30 PM
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I wish I could know how these doors sounded when they were NEW, right off the assembly line.

Hey, speaking of SFC's; any worries about welding them in if the doors are sagging? The passenger side door (of course it's never the driver's side) is sagging like hell, and the driver's side is starting to go.
Old 03-27-2003, 10:19 PM
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Tom, if you install the sfc's correctly (IE on a drive-on lift so the chassis is under no torsional load) the SFC's will be of no concern in regards to the sagging doors.

I have wondered that for years and would give money to go back in time to find out many things about the strange characteristics of these cars.

If you end up repairing those doors, which is smart to do before you ending up tearing up paint and the door striker, I found the kit at http://www.3rdgensolutions.com/ worked EXCELLENT. I fixed the '86 with this kit which included an upper and lower hinge repair kit for ~$75. Each kit does one door. To do the job right, you need this kit. Otherwise the repair involves removing the door hinge that is welded on to the body.

Last edited by JMatlock88; 03-27-2003 at 10:21 PM.
Old 03-28-2003, 10:02 AM
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Car: 1986 Firebird
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Good point, JM... I forgot the doors only affect the twist of the car. Thanks! I'm actually going to scout after two "new" junkyard doors again; these have rusted out (again, dammit!) at the inside bottom. Now that I know about (and have used) POR-15, when I get this next set, I'm por-15'ing the friggin heck out of the inside bottom of the doors. Good thing I'm painting my car this summer or I'd be really ticked off. Hopefully the hinges will be okay- but if I have to replace them, I'll check out the kit you mentioned. Thanks!!
Old 03-28-2003, 10:41 AM
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Originally posted by TomP
I wish I could know how these doors sounded when they were NEW, right off the assembly line.

My friends 82 sounds like it is new when the doors shut.
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