Perennial door fit issue - rectification sources

[bloodknock]

I’ve tried to live with it….i thought “ that’s originality, it’s how it left the factory, but it’s gnawing away at my OCD. The car looks pretty good even if I say so my self, but no matter what or how I try, I can’t get a satisfactory door fit, if anything my efforts to get it right have made it worse.
So, does any one out there in U.K. have happy experience of body shops that could do a Pucca job of correcting this issue? And also indicate cost. Both doors of my coupe require attention.
Thanks
Bob

[atthelimit]

I’ve been restoring my S4 and decided to take the plunge to make the doors fit. Having fettled the fit with the hinges, door rubbers and the door catch as best as possible the bottom corner was still out so it was a hacksaw cut to the bottom of the door and extending it right up to where the door lock and window frame are. When pulling the door skin in you have to make sure that the window motor and frame do not foul. Assuming all is good, you glass it up and then you will need to fill, fettle and paint the door. The door will have been on and off many times to check the fit, it’s a bit trial and error, and you may need to cut and shut more than once.

In summary it’s lots of work, labour intensive so no doubt it will not be cheap, option 1, spyder cars can all do the work but I dread to think how much they would charge, I’m sure they are more experienced and quicker at it than me, (this was my first time doing it) so they will do it in a much shorter time. Unfortunately for me the doors were only part of the journey in the quest for great fit and good equal shut lines on all panels.

[ill_will]

Nice job atthelimit.

Useful to have some photos of the process (I've only read about it on one of Mick Miller's tips sheets, from Sue, but it's on my to-do list.)

[Andy8421]

Atthelimit,

Slightly off topic, but how did you strip your paint? The finish in your pictures looks great.

Thanks,

Andy.

[JonB]

I’m pretty sure the door mod is shown in Brian Buckland’s book. I didn’t bother, but I’ll probably regret it. Car’s painted now, so too late anyway.