S550 Panel gaps (Doors). Need advice.

[holaz50]

Hi folks,

I never paid enough attention to this details, but two weeks ago I took my car to a body shop to repaint a rock chip and they mentioned that my car's door was not aligned properly. They offered to calibrate it for free so I told them to go ahead and get it aligned.

Since I was curious, I started looking for pictures of my car (before the repair) and I found a few. Not to my surprise, the gaps were terrible. Here are some pictures: you will see how the gap shrinks as it gets closer to the rocker. Also, you will see how tight the door closes on the back.

DOOR TO 1/4 PANEL GAP

Now, I noticed that the gaps are wider towards the back of the door (close to 1/4 panel). I understand this can happen because you are moving the door forward to close the gap with the fender but it kinda hurts my eyes to see such wider gaps. I have to say that now the door gaps are completely symmetrical (I assume that is good), but is there a way to shrink the door gaps even more?
Not sure if you will be able to see in the picture below but the red marks show the separation between the door and the panels (1/4 panel and front fender) -- Its 0.3 inches all along on both sides. Even with the wider gaps, do you consider this is an overall good alignment? -- Reason I ask is because the other door is misaligned too (goes from 0.5 inches on top to 0.2 on the mid-low section) and I'm not sure I can judge the body shop's work to trust them to fix the other door.
What do you think? I tried looking at the repair manual for the s550 but could not find what the gaps should be (I could not find the manual, period).
Are 0.3 inches of gap between fender and 1/4 panel acceptable? Is it a good sign that the gaps are completely equal all the way from top to bottom?

Thank you in advance!


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SIDE THAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED

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[Schwerin]

My cars like that too. I just chalk it up to Ford quality lol

Long as its not leaking, its not an issue other than visual to me.

 

[The Demon]

My hood gap was a little off when I got it so I brought it to my friend at Caliber Collision and he corrected it for me no charge.

 

[TrackMustang]

Hi folks,

I never paid enough attention to this details, but two weeks ago I took my car to a body shop to repaint a rock chip and they mentioned that my car's door was not aligned properly. They offered to calibrate it for free so I told them to go ahead and get it aligned.

Since I was curious, I started looking for pictures of my car (before the repair) and I found a few. Not to my surprise, the gaps were terrible. Here are some pictures: you will see how the gap shrinks as it gets closer to the rocker. Also, you will see how tight the door closes on the back.

DOOR TO 1/4 PANEL GAP

Now, I noticed that the gaps are wider towards the back of the door (close to 1/4 panel). I understand this can happen because you are moving the door forward to close the gap with the fender but it kinda hurts my eyes to see such wider gaps. I have to say that now the door gaps are completely symmetrical (I assume that is good), but is there a way to shrink the door gaps even more?
Not sure if you will be able to see in the picture below but the red marks show the separation between the door and the panels (1/4 panel and front fender) -- Its 0.3 inches all along on both sides. Even with the wider gaps, do you consider this is an overall good alignment? -- Reason I ask is because the other door is misaligned too (goes from 0.5 inches on top to 0.2 on the mid-low section) and I'm not sure I can judge the body shop's work to trust them to fix the other door.
What do you think? I tried looking at the repair manual for the s550 but could not find what the gaps should be (I could not find the manual, period).
Are 0.3 inches of gap between fender and 1/4 panel acceptable? Is it a good sign that the gaps are completely equal all the way from top to bottom?

Thank you in advance!


REPAIRED SIDE

SIDE THAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED

Getting the gap to be the exact same at the top vs at the bottom past a curved piece of quarter panel and then the exact same at the rocker is more than likely damn near impossible. The gap looks fine to me (I’m anal af, or at least I thought I was until I saw this) and it doesn’t make my eye twitch.

on a side note, I’m going to show this to my wife so she stops getting pissed off at how neurotic I am about my car…

 

[IPOGT]

Please don't get me started. This drives me nuts.

 

[IPOGT]

I’m going to show this to my wife so she stops getting pissed off at how neurotic I am about my car…

Don't bother. Trust me. They don't understand.

 

[TrackMustang]

Hi folks,

I never paid enough attention to this details, but two weeks ago I took my car to a body shop to repaint a rock chip and they mentioned that my car's door was not aligned properly. They offered to calibrate it for free so I told them to go ahead and get it aligned.

Since I was curious, I started looking for pictures of my car (before the repair) and I found a few. Not to my surprise, the gaps were terrible. Here are some pictures: you will see how the gap shrinks as it gets closer to the rocker. Also, you will see how tight the door closes on the back.

DOOR TO 1/4 PANEL GAP

Now, I noticed that the gaps are wider towards the back of the door (close to 1/4 panel). I understand this can happen because you are moving the door forward to close the gap with the fender but it kinda hurts my eyes to see such wider gaps. I have to say that now the door gaps are completely symmetrical (I assume that is good), but is there a way to shrink the door gaps even more?
Not sure if you will be able to see in the picture below but the red marks show the separation between the door and the panels (1/4 panel and front fender) -- Its 0.3 inches all along on both sides. Even with the wider gaps, do you consider this is an overall good alignment? -- Reason I ask is because the other door is misaligned too (goes from 0.5 inches on top to 0.2 on the mid-low section) and I'm not sure I can judge the body shop's work to trust them to fix the other door.
What do you think? I tried looking at the repair manual for the s550 but could not find what the gaps should be (I could not find the manual, period).
Are 0.3 inches of gap between fender and 1/4 panel acceptable? Is it a good sign that the gaps are completely equal all the way from top to bottom?

Thank you in advance!


REPAIRED SIDE

SIDE THAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED

Just a side note, it might need a bigger gap where there is sharp angels for clearance when you open the door…?

 

[TrackMustang]

Don't bother. Trust me. They don't understand.

She didn’t care.

 

[holaz50]

@TrackMustang The fact that the gap is completely even from top to bottom blew my mind (fixed door). I took the time to re-measure (this time using cm, not inches) and it came out to about a 5mm gap. I think I'll take it back to the place that fixed it to do the other door too.
It looks like they did a good job.

**Here is a picture of my previous mustang, I never noticed this until now lol. Doors gaps were uneven too.

Back to the topic, does the gap look a bit wide to my eye? YES, but its probably because im used to see tight gaps where the door meets the 1/4 panel (because the door is misaligned). Once you get the door aligned and the gaps even from top to bottom, makes sense to have wider gaps.

 

[TrackMustang]

@TrackMustang The fact that the gap is completely even from top to bottom blew my mind (fixed door). I took the time to re-measure (this time using cm, not inches) and it came out to about a 5mm gap. I think I'll take it back to the place that fixed it to do the other door too.
It looks like they did a good job.

**Here is a picture of my previous mustang, I never noticed this until now lol. Doors gaps were uneven too.

Back to the topic, does the gap look a bit wide to my eye? YES, but its probably because im used to see tight gaps where the door meets the 1/4 panel (because the door is misaligned). Once you get the door aligned and the gaps even from top to bottom, makes sense to have wider gaps.

I wonder if the hood is easier because of shape and where it meets the quarter panel? I never really put much thought into this but I’m probably going to be obsessed with it if you’re saying it’s possible. Obviously just mass production issues. That pic absolutely drives me insane.

 

[IPOGT]

@TrackMustang The fact that the gap is completely even from top to bottom blew my mind (fixed door). I took the time to re-measure (this time using cm, not inches) and it came out to about a 5mm gap. I think I'll take it back to the place that fixed it to do the other door too.
It looks like they did a good job.

**Here is a picture of my previous mustang, I never noticed this until now lol. Doors gaps were uneven too.

Back to the topic, does the gap look a bit wide to my eye? YES, but its probably because im used to see tight gaps where the door meets the 1/4 panel (because the door is misaligned). Once you get the door aligned and the gaps even from top to bottom, makes sense to have wider gaps.

The inconsistency of the gap which many times ends up large as the door reaches the top of the fender is something I see a lot of.

 

[holaz50]

The inconsistency of the gap which many times ends up large as the door reaches the top of the fender is something I see a lot of.

Yep, I stopped at a dealership to check a few mustangs (of course, they had only one lol) and it had the same issue but worst.
Guess I’ll be one of the few mustangs with symmetrical door gaps lol

 

[Cobra Jet]

Here ya go, start at #38 and read down… post #41 has the door panel alignment guide:
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/th...with-a-happy-ending.19261/page-3#post-2510104

 

[5ohjax]

Can someone please look at my post, i am having similiar issues

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