I have a 1991 Z28 vert. Ever since I bought the car, I've noticed something funny about the doors that my 88 Trans Am w/ t tops doesn't do.

If I'm going down the road and go over any bumps, no matter how small, the doors seem to "jump" around, even in the fully shut position. I have verified that the doors are fully shut. I have also checked the door hinges, pins, and bushings, all appear to be tight and I think are actually failry new, replaced just before I got the car in March of 07.

Any of you vert owners have this problem and an idea how to fix it? It's kind of annoying, and since it's winter and the car is parked in my garage, I'd like to fix a few things, this is the only one that so far is bugging me. Thanks!

 

Check the back of the door, look for the reinforcement door jamb pieces used on T-top cars. Basically they are .75" high x 1.5" long pieces that wedge the door when closed. IF you have a gap between them when closed, then you may want to pit some spacers in there to make them touch. Spacers are plentiful as 1/2 the cars out there got T-tops and all T-top cars got the wedges...

sorry for the fuzzy pix.





John

 

Hey thanks for that info. I just went out and looked at my car, and yes, it does have both pieces on each door. And sure enough, both have a gap between each other. I can see some rub marks on the metal piece, probably from the door wiggling back and forth while driving it. If I read your post right, it sounds like I want the spacers on the rubber piece. Do the cars have the spacers under them, and I can just pull them off another car, or will I need to make my own? Maybe out of a washer or some rubber would work...

 

In my experience you want them to JUST TOUCH... if they bind the doors close too hard. My vert did the same thing that you are talking about and there is a fine line between touching and binding...

I suspect that when ASC cut the top off of the cars they sprung the car so that when they put the car back on its wheels it would go back to its resting position where it was originally with the top on it. If they over sprung the car then they would no longer touch until it settled back into position. I cannot think of any other explanation as the car should want to settle causing them to bind at the doors and not start to gap when you cut the tops off...

John