67 ambassador entry door bent

[jonvon]

We are just starting the process of trying to bring life back to our airstream.

Our entry door is bent, po repaired by gluing some small cracks on inside frame, and replacing interior skin? with thin wood. Also there are 2 peices of wood that are about mid way up in the frame where the cracks are. About the level of the lock. Does anyone know if they are supposed to be there? it seems like they shouldnt be, they sort of interfere with the curve of the door.

We have the screen, it is not attached.

Would replacing the screen help the seal and curve of the door?

Can you re-curve a door if it is bent?

What should we use to replace the inside skin of the door?

Right now it is leaking and I just dont know where to start.
Any help would be great thank you all so much!

[A-Merry-Can]

i'm about to undertake the same thing on our trade wind. it's a suicide door, and blew open a month ago on a trip to NC (mental note: LOCK THE DOOR, DUMMY!!!!). we bent it back by hand, and carried on our way.

anyway, what i plan to do to fix it is take a 2X6, and use the hinge side of the door to trace the curve on it (that side was undamaged from the blow open). Then with several C Clamps, i'll tighten the bent side down to the curve to get it to match, and have a buddy weld up the crack.old aluminum does NOT weld as clean as new, i've learned from a window i had to get fixed, but it should hold. i'm probably going to get to this in a few weeks (or months!) i'll post pics once i get there!

the only wood in your airstream should be the cabinets and the floor.

jp

[ZoomZoom]

You have a cast aluminum frame making up your door, the only way to repair it is to have any cracks heli-arced. Check the area of the hinge and the lock striker, these are the most likely spots, sometimes people put deadbolts in the door, usually removing a large portion of the frame, if this is so remove it and have the hole heli-arc filled. Best place for a deadbolt is in the body with a small bolt going into a small hole in the frame. The skins will act as tensioning for the door if installed properly...like a bow being strung. Or maybe you can find someone who's made a jig like this.
ZoomZoom

[BIGED52]

jonvon, you may want to skip the hassle of trying to repair that door and check page 3 in the classifieds here. A member has one for sale. It is from a 1968 trailer but should be interchangeable...Good Luck. Ed