I found a local salvage yard that has my door I need. One problem though do you really need to strip the old clear coat and paint off to repaint it? I want it to really stay not just a few months. There is no scratches on this door nor dents or dings but it is metallic Gray and my truck is red. This is why I ask as I want to do the prep work if it is needed to paint the truck and last for some time. I figured if I did the prep work and slapped a coat of primer on it then the cost to get it painted professionally would be cheap?

Thoughts please on this.

EDIT: Sorry please move this to the first Fen section.

Thanks

 

in my experience, if you take enough of the clear off and sand it properly you can then paint over it without sanding down to bare metal, but be careful in the body lines of the door that you get it all sanded evenly because painting magnifies EVERY little imperfection in a surface

 

Yea I talked to a buddy of mine and he has a air compressor and the guns needed to just sand blast most of it then said it would be wise to do a little light sanding with a 600 grade paper by hand. Put the door on today as it came off of a 2000 model didn't need aligned or nothing just bolted right up but the hinges were not on the bought door so that may be why? Had to buy a new window motor though as the other went out and now I need a new one on the passengers side that will take place on the sixth or seventh of next month. Still got to get the paint and primer for the door but may just get enough and redo the whole truck. Also how would I go about pulling in on the railing above the mirror to the top some? It seems like someone used a pry-bar on it or something it isn't bad but I can hear air when driving. I was thinking just pulling by hand or using some sort of padded cheater bar? Is it okay to use a sandblaster on it? This isn't an industrial one but for around the home and such. Kind of like one that you would get and use if you restored cars from home as a hobby I guess. Door is a good close match as it is extremely hard to find a door with my color already it seems.

 

looks like you did a pretty good job of it sounds like you will not have any problems

 

I still need to pull in the upper part right above the mirror area to the arched area but not sure how, cause when I am driving down the road there is air sound right there, I looked at it closer and it has been forced out some so how would I go about pulling it in?

 

got any close up shots of what you are talking about? seeing it would help (at least me) to have ideas

 

Here is the passengers side to see what it should look like.



Here is the Driver's side which has the issue.



Here is the side to show it is just right and even.

 

is it even at the front of the door too? maybe the hinges need to be slid in closer to the body

 

Sorry for not getting that pic for you too. By close I assume you mean like close like it is on the pic I posted? If so yes. Inspecting the door more right above the handle about an inch or two from the bottom part of the window it starts to flare out a bit like someone tried to get in as if they locked their keys in the car? To be honest taking a closer look at it just now I think the whole door (just where the window framing area is) can use a push in for a better snugness. But the left where the hinges are and the right look great and even.

 

well i meant loosen the hinge and slide it in so that the door would move closer to somebody sitting in the drivers seat, maybe just slide the top one in a little bit and see if that does the trick, without seeing this one in person its a tough one to try and solve