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Softer door closing

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Old Mar 23, 2003 | 07:06 PM
  #1  
devianb's Avatar
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From: Illinois
Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: 305 TPI
Softer door closing

Is there anyway possible to make the sound of closing the door quieter with the windows door? Its embarrassing to hear that loud clang.
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Old Mar 23, 2003 | 08:36 PM
  #2  
Jim85IROC's Avatar
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From: Readsboro, VT
Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
Take the door apart and apply a couple layers of dynamat on the inside of the outer shell.
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Old Mar 25, 2003 | 01:53 PM
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New weather stripping around the door will also make the doors shut much nicer.

Andrew
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Old Mar 25, 2003 | 02:21 PM
  #4  
5SIZ's Avatar
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From: Tucson
Car: 1987 IROC-Z
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: T5
Re: Softer door closing

Originally posted by devianb
make the sound of closing the door quieter with the windows door?

what does that mean!!??!!??
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Old Mar 25, 2003 | 02:22 PM
  #5  
300hpse's Avatar
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From: Englewood, CO
Car: 1990 Trans Am
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: factory T5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 limited slip
think he meant windows down, not windows door
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Old Mar 25, 2003 | 03:05 PM
  #6  
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From: Stillwater, OK
Car: 1991 Formula
Engine: 355 DFI Superram w/ R-Trim
Transmission: Probuilt 700r4
You can also buy new window guides from GM. There are two or three of them along the top of your door. They have pads and can be adjusted sungly against the window. If you get them too tight, they can damage the tinting. Their pads seem to wear with time and loosen the window which causes some of the clanging and also wearing of the tint).
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Old Mar 26, 2003 | 07:32 AM
  #7  
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From: Huber Heights, OH
Car: 00 TA, 91 Formula, 89 RS
Engine: LS1 / 305 / 2.8, respectively
Transmission: T-56 / auto / auto
I imagine that if the doors are sagging, whenever you get your SFC they'd shut nicer too.
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Old Mar 26, 2003 | 08:38 AM
  #8  
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From: Readsboro, VT
Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
SFCs probably won't help the sagging doors. Doors sag because the hinges are shot, not because the chassis is tweaked. If the doors are sagging, new hinges will work wonders too.
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Old Mar 27, 2003 | 08:55 PM
  #9  
rodrigo diaz's Avatar
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From: queens ny
Car: 92 rs
Engine: 5.0
Transmission: 5 speeds
change the outside door handle if you feel its loose, it made a big difference in my car
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Old Mar 27, 2003 | 09:30 PM
  #10  
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From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
I wish I could know how these doors sounded when they were NEW, right off the assembly line.

Hey, speaking of SFC's; any worries about welding them in if the doors are sagging? The passenger side door (of course it's never the driver's side) is sagging like hell, and the driver's side is starting to go.
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Old Mar 27, 2003 | 10:19 PM
  #11  
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From: Stillwater, OK
Car: 1991 Formula
Engine: 355 DFI Superram w/ R-Trim
Transmission: Probuilt 700r4
Tom, if you install the sfc's correctly (IE on a drive-on lift so the chassis is under no torsional load) the SFC's will be of no concern in regards to the sagging doors.

I have wondered that for years and would give money to go back in time to find out many things about the strange characteristics of these cars.

If you end up repairing those doors, which is smart to do before you ending up tearing up paint and the door striker, I found the kit at http://www.3rdgensolutions.com/ worked EXCELLENT. I fixed the '86 with this kit which included an upper and lower hinge repair kit for ~$75. Each kit does one door. To do the job right, you need this kit. Otherwise the repair involves removing the door hinge that is welded on to the body.

Last edited by JMatlock88; Mar 27, 2003 at 10:21 PM.
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Old Mar 28, 2003 | 10:02 AM
  #12  
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From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
Good point, JM... I forgot the doors only affect the twist of the car. Thanks! I'm actually going to scout after two "new" junkyard doors again; these have rusted out (again, dammit!) at the inside bottom. Now that I know about (and have used) POR-15, when I get this next set, I'm por-15'ing the friggin heck out of the inside bottom of the doors. Good thing I'm painting my car this summer or I'd be really ticked off. Hopefully the hinges will be okay- but if I have to replace them, I'll check out the kit you mentioned. Thanks!!
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Old Mar 28, 2003 | 10:41 AM
  #13  
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From: Norfolk, VA. USA
Car: 86 Trans Am, 88 Formula
Engine: 95LT4, 305TPI
Transmission: T56, T5
Originally posted by TomP
I wish I could know how these doors sounded when they were NEW, right off the assembly line.

My friends 82 sounds like it is new when the doors shut.
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