Re: Stewart's 1955 Packard 400

Posted by TxGoat On 2023/7/1 19:22:32

Concerning the door alignment, some earlier pics show heavy rust in that area and some repair work. It looks like active rust may still be present.

Given the issues you're having with door alignment, I'm guessing that the door post is not in correct alignment with the rest of the body. There may also be heavy rust around some of the body to frame mounts, and that can result in misalignment problems.

A permanent fix for the rotted door post would be to obtain a good doner piece and cut out the rusted and patched up parts and replace with a larger, solid piece, paying careful attention to correct alignment.

The replacement piece would need to extend beyond the rust area, and could be tacked in place and the door hung to test alignment, then final welding, rust-proofing, and finishing done. The door post is a stressed structural part of the body, and it needs to be properly repaired.