QuestionDriver's side door is sagging and hits the latch about 1/8 low and is wearing a notch in it. How can I raise the door to align with the latch? The hinges seem to be worn.
AnswerAside from the right way--to replace the worn parts; I've had luck with the following since I bought my first '72 Chevelle Malibu.
Get a two ton jack...open the door just enough to expose the underneath section of the door that swings over the rocker panel.
Because the two ton jack hoisting platform would be to localized, lay a 18" section of 2 x on the two ton jack's hoist...from nearly the outer most part of the door (the part that is sagging)...gently apply upward pressure...basically bending the door back...usually I have to jack the end of the door up about 1" above where it should be to bend it up to a position where it will shut properly.
NOTE: You might want to roll your window down before lifting the door up.
NOTE: Don't let the car coming up away from the ground fool you--its going to come up about a 1' before you start bending the door in shape...you need to lift the door, and that only happens only after you take the weight off the car's springs.
NOTE: This is a two man job--one to pump the two ton, the other to apply closing pressure to the door...as it can get ugly if the 2 x 4 sitting on top off the jack slips off the bottom side of the door (if you have some rope, tie the door down so it can only open enough to slip the 2 x4 under the door).
