Nightmere with series door tops !

Hi I’m new to all this so not even sure if I’ve posted in the correct place ! Iv recently brought a series 2a with a tilt and having dramas getting door tops to fit as they seam to angle in towards the windscreen to much and flex allot!! I brought the car as a project so not sure if a previous owner has made a massive cock up some where’re! I’m sure it’s something simple, i have removed top part of frame of tilt thinking the rubber was to think but this hasn’t helped either!! Any advice would be appreciated!

They do flex, can you fit them and post a few pics? Can you get antoehr series parked next to it and compare measurments

Will do rob thanks for taking time to reply I thought there must be an element of flex as when the top of the hood frame is removed the door top goes right into the car ! Think the best thing is to check the measurements like you said . Trying to correct past bodge ups !

if the angle between the top and bottom is too great do not be afraid to bend the whole door, carefully of course. But you can be quite brutal bending and twisting the door to get a better fit before then doing the fine adjustment with shims and hinge adjustment. This is a how they were fitted and adjusted at the factory.

They are indeed designed to flex. They should lean in a little so when closed provide a pressure seal. Not that it ever worked very well.

Many after market door tops have a slightly different profile than the original ones. It seems the newer profile is easier and naturally cheaper to produce. There is of course no guarantee that the ones you are replacing are of original design.

Some retailers do advertise their doorstops as ‘the ones that actually fit’. The cheaper ones rarely do. A bit of research should turn up if you have the correct ones, even comparing them with a known original.

It’s s bit of a ‘thing’ is series doors. More of a never ending fight to keep dry. I got there in the end but I have a solid roof and changed the door seals for modern continuous neoprene tubes. Even they remain a little draughty round the tight curves but keep the water out.

Thanks that’s brilliant advice the door tops came in the tub all boxed and glazed when I brought the Landy so haven’t got the originals unfortunately to check if there the same , i will post some pictures as soon as possible think those seals might help though i have the ones Riveted around and they seem to be on the chunky side these were fitted by they previous owner.

The other thing to note is that door tops should be classed as a consumable rather like oil and filters.

They rarely last very long as they trap water like a bucket. I spent an age rolling paint round the insides and sealing with one thing and another. Within two weeks I had a little orange streak out of the drip hole outside.

Same goes for the window tracks, replaced them all as they were in a terrible state, only to find they looked like that again within 18 months.

When I replaced my original door tops, it looked odd cos they curved in towards the windscreen as you describe. I was a bit worried about slamming the door closed. I think you just get used to the way the old ones look like in the worn out way and the contrast between that and the look of the new ones is significant. I agree with Bobsticle, they don't last a long time, I don't even bother painting mine.

Col

Brilliant thanks everyone makes so much more sense now ! Would any of you recommend the later style door rubbers ? I believe they come in one piece? Once again thanks for your help regarding the doors !

Is the rubber in place between the door and the door top?

Yes that’s correct the one fitted looks to be quite thick it’s a riveted type.

The tube door seals come in one piece that has a 90 degree join in them for the top corner above the door latch.
You can buy them by the meter but I didnt trust myself to be able to miter it myself and keep it joined together.
Unfortunately you also have to remove the small lip on any of the door surround so the new seal can slide onto the bodywork. This of course means that you probably wont be able to go back to the original type once done. I cant remember where I got mine but Im pretty sure it was one of the ebay suppliers.

Thanks that’s brilliant I may just stick with the ones I have and maybe just try and change the top ruber for maybe a softer one I believe there are two sorts one being slightly more forgiving! , cars not outside in rain much as kept in garage so not sure it’s worth cutting panels unless I really need to .

I wouldn't cut the lip off because I can't trust myself with a grinder, I'm bad enough sharpening a pencil, always end up with a stub.

Col