PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA

Shiny is Good! => General Pinto Talk => Topic started by: Pinto5.0 on June 26, 2012, 11:51:31 AM

Title: Is there a way to adjust a steel hatch?
Post by: Pinto5.0 on June 26, 2012, 11:51:31 AM

I'm not there yet but I want to plan ahead for this. My '80 hatch needs to go forward 1/4" or so to line up. My '79 hatch was like this as was another '79 I was looking at. They looked like Ford built them this way.
 
I'm hoping there is adjustment under the headliner but if not there will be when I get done. Those overhanging hatches look awful & it lets water in around the top hatch seal when the seal gets dry rotted.

Title: Re: Is there a way to adjust a steel hatch?
Post by: postalpony on July 09, 2012, 01:20:42 AM

Hey P5.0---There is no adjustment!  Just holes in the roof panel. I have the same problem on my 80. One of the studs was stripped out in the hinge, so I repaired it by re-tapping the hole to 3/8 16  & using stainless all thread I cut & installed new studs in the hinge.  This also reduced the adjustment available, so maybe in the future I will have to elongate the holes to make the hatch fit.  Mine is just a cosmetic issue as I have a new seal on the hatch & it doesn't leak, so I may just let it hang out--I'm getting too old to worry about the small stuff.  I hope this helps.
                                                   Dick Mathias aka Postalpony

Title: Re: Is there a way to adjust a steel hatch?
Post by: Pinto5.0 on July 09, 2012, 07:48:30 AM

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping the roof holes were elongated already but I'll just have to do it myself. That overhang drives me nuts & I can't believe Ford built them this way. Oh well, just one more thing I have to fix on my list.....