60 series door gaps

[georgebj60]

Hi all. I did a search but didn't find too much on this. I'm considering the purchase of a BJ60, but it has some rust issues. The frame has been repaired professionally and looks good, but the rockers, quarters and doglegs all have issues.

My question though is about door gaps. I'm not familiar enough with these trucks to know what is normal. Seems a small thing, but I feel it could be telling of more serious issues. The truck I'm looking at has very large gaps between the back of the rear doors to the C pillar. Large as in a heavy 3/8" to 1/2". I can see the black weatherstrip between the door and body.

Is this normal? Are the gaps generally kind of all over the place? Or would this indicate something possibly amiss with the frame repair?

Or, am I totally over-thinking this altogether.

Sorry I don't have and pictures to post....

 

[CaptClose]

Here's the gap at the driver's side C-Pillar on my unwrecked cruiser it's consistent with the passenger side as well. You can see the door seals here. The cruiser you're looking at is probably okay. But be weary of "rust issues" either way.

 

[87CRUSR]

Here's the gap at the driver's side C-Pillar on my unwrecked cruiser it's consistent with the passenger side as well. You can see the door seals here. The cruiser you're looking at is probably okay. But be weary of "rust issues" either way.

View attachment 1394762

Ditto

 

[roscoFJ73]

Is this normal? Are the gaps generally kind of all over the place? Or would this indicate something possibly amiss with the frame repair?

Or, am I totally over-thinking this altogether.

I have a 75 series which were introduced in the same years the 60 series were introduced. These also have rather large gaps. My drivers door gives me steady draught of cold air in winter on my knee and neck.. I thought my 1st one had been accident damaged and repaired badly, but now I'm on my 3rd 7* series and they all did it exactly in the same place.
My theory is that is allows the body to flex without the doors being crushed against the frame.
When the door hinges are worn they sag, and when ever you hit a bump, you get a popping noise. I think that's what you would get all the time if the doors were tight in the frames.

 

[georgebj60]

Thanks for the replies. It's very helpful.

As for the comments regarding rust, I am a bit weary of that myself. Unfortunately up here in Canada, these trucks don't really exist without some amount of rust. As a buyer, it's difficult to assess how much it will take to repair it properly and then work that into the overall budget. No one wants a money pit.

The rear on these trucks seem to be a problem almost everywhere except the desert. I'm just starting my search so I'm not sure how much rust on these rigs is fixable, or when it makes sense to deem the vehicle a "parts truck" and move on.

I need to do a bit more research. It's just that everyone has a different tolerance for such repairs. Myself, I want something as close to all original, and I would be willing to pay more for the right truck.