Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

I've been trying to figure out how to correctly align the passenger front door on my 55 packard clipper custom and I've been messing with the bolts on the door for two days now and I can't seem to get it to align it keeps rubbing against the fender and creasing the door that I just fixed and it's starting to drive me mad! Does anyone have any pointers or actual instructions I can follow cause I'm definitely a bit stuck

How does the spacing compare the the drivers side?

Maybe your fender needs adjustment as well? Maybe the door opening is off? The service manual for my '53 talks about checking body alignment, which included the door openings. Seems to me if your door is rubbing against the fender, and if the other three sides have good spacing, then the fender is probably the culprit. My body guy says to work from the back of the car to the front when working on body panels.

I also noted that when I replaced the body mounts I needed to re align my doors, and that they were better.

Hope your car is on the GROUND.

If it's on jackstands... fuggedaboutit.

One time I saw coincidentally also a 55 clipper custom that apparently had fenders from a 400 on it? And they would clip the doors. But your car looks correct.

The fender itself can be adjusted by loosening the various mounting screws. There are a LOT but it's not terrible.

Send a picture of what is going on!!

Also to adjust the door inward or outward, may require shims between the hinge and where it bolts to the door.

In addition to bolts holding the fender to the body you may need to at least loosen the screws holding the grille in place on the fenders and radiator splasher. Moving a fender more than a tiny bit will be difficult if everything is fastened down in front and the pot metal grille frame is brittle and cracks fairly easily if stressed.. You can check Section X - Fenders and Sheetmetal in the 55-6 servicer manual for the grille screw locations.