Improperly stored Door/Sprung Door?

[TTait]

I've been talking with a private seller about purchasing a NOS door and everything checks out, but I have one final concern.

I'm told that doors need to be stored resting on their backs with the front edge of the door up in the air. I understand that if they are stored in other positions the door can warp over time and it will not fit properly once finally installed onto the car.

Well - that's a scary thought. Its not like you can just pop a door in place in 10 minutes and see.

I do know that this door has been in storage for 10 years but the seller reports that he does not know how it was stored.

How common a problem is this? How hard is it to fix? Has this happened to anyone here?

I have 2 cars... I went out and measured both... from the lower/outer rear hinge bolt on the door to the lower corner of the door skin at the rear is 3' 8" on all 4 doors. In the front from the lower/outer hinge bolt to the front tip of the bottom of the door is 3' 9.5" on both doors. Would we consider these to be a reliable way to measure against the door being sprung?

Tom

[Rich]

I'm told that doors need to be stored resting on their backs with the front edge of the door up in the air. I understand that if they are stored in other positions the door can warp over time and it will not fit properly once finally installed onto the car.


Haven't heard of this nor seen any evidence of it. Formed, spot-welded stainless steel isn't known to have any creep or compression set properties when there are no significant loads on it. Gravity force on a door, no matter which end it up when stored, would not be a significant load.

A bent door is what it is - bent. Slight variations in door geometry were normal when the cars were built. That geometry does not change with age alone.

Here's a photo of doors stored at DMCMW. Resting on their sills. I think I've seen similar photos of doors stored on their sills elsewhere. Doors that will presumably fit.

[TTait]

Well, the dimensions on the door match all 4 of the doors on my cars here, so I guess I'm in. Stand by for an update on whether or not a door can truly be shipped by Greyhound.

Anybody Near the San Fernando valley have the jig made up for removing a torsion bar?

T