Author Topic: What is the ideal gap between door and quarter panel?  (Read 2870 times)

Online Murf

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What is the ideal gap between door and quarter panel?
« on: March 02, 2014, 02:01:41 PM »
Just curious as to what the consensus is about the proper door gap on a Mustang?  Many other gaps are determined by the space between the 1/4 panel and the rear of the door.  The top (and therefore the bottom) gap is pretty much determined by the height of the quarter panel but the quarter to door gap can  vary.  What dimension do you shoot for at this point?  The FAM seems to not give this spec - is it published somewhere else?  Thanks. 
John Murphy

1965 "K" GT fastback Honey Gold exterior, Ivy Green and White Pony interior, many options
1966 Conv., high option, removeable hardtop, thermactor "C" engine, AC, Springtime Yellow exterior, Black Pony interior
1968 California Special, "J" code, ,many options, white with red interior

Offline Brian Conway

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Re: What is the ideal gap between door and quarter panel?
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2014, 05:04:08 PM »
Looking at my cars; 65 & 69 Fastbacks looks like a cat hair over 1/8" will get this conversation started.  Brian
5RO9A GT  4 Spd Built 5/29/65
9TO2R SCJ 4 Spd Built 9/19/68
Owner Driver Mechanic
San Diego, Ca.

Offline cobrajetchris

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Re: What is the ideal gap between door and quarter panel?
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2014, 05:28:00 PM »
The quarter panel to door gap & rocker to door gap are the starting points for alignment of the sheet metal as the quarter and rocker are not adjustable. The gaps on the old cars varied a lot however the main thing you want to achieve is consistency. For example you don't want to have a tapered gap were the gap is wide on the top and tight on the bottom. A good starting point is to get a even gap on the door the rocker panel. These tend to run a little wide but not usually a problem, again look for consistency. If the door to rocker gap is tapered this will show up in the quarter to door and fender gap as the door is not level. In my opinion the quarter to door gap should be at least an 1/8 and no more than 1/4 inch. Rule of thumb for me is if it looks to tight or wide it probably is. Getting good gaps on a mustang is not easy and even harder if you are dealing with reproduction parts and replacement welded on panels that may not be correctly installed. The good thing there is a lot of adjustment on the old cars and with patience good gaps can be attained...Chris
CHRIS KNOBBE
69 MUSTANG COUPE, DEARBORN BUILT 06/10/69 OWNED SINCE 1978
70 BOSS 302 MUSTANG, DEARBORN BUILT 10/24/69 OWNED SINCE 1987
69 R CODE MACH1 AUTO, DEARBORN BUILT 10/10/68 OWNED SINCE 2006
69 R CODE MACH1 4 SPEED (factory black) SAN JOSE BUILT 12/30/68 OWNED SINCE 2007