Rear Door/Liftgate Replacement Issues

[smrcalidiv]

My parents recently backed into something in their '99 XLT, shattering the window and badly denting their rear door. I was able to find a Mercury Mountaineer door in the same color, and what I was told, the same year. The problem is that there is a big gap at the top of the door that I am unable to adjust out. I even changed the hinges thinking that they may have damaged their's, but it remained unchanged. Are there any changes in these years, to either the door mounts or hinges, that I need to know about that may be causing this issue? I'm about "over" this project and want to get it done right for the folks.

Thanks for any help.

 

[MrQ]

There might have been more damaged than just the tailgate with a hit that hard. I would see if there is any other damage to the body. 98-01 tailgatest are the same. 95-97 Explorer or 97 Mountaineers will have the old liftgate design.

1997 Explorer

1998 Explorer

 

[974X4BLACKSPORT]

Is it possible for you to take a picture of the damage, especially of the hinge area, and post it here?

 

[smrcalidiv]

Sorry for the late response...I didn't get a notification that I had received a reply.

I did get the updated door style, without the "T" style handle...so there's that.

When I took the old dented door off the gaps were fine, and as I said I grabbed new hinges as well from a properly fitting door, and there was no change. Have there been any changes in hinge design? Perhaps also having a change in mounting locations???

 

[MrQ]

I highly doubt the hinge design changed. I think its more likely there was some structural damage to where the hinges attached. THe only other thing I can think of is that they are on backwards?

 

[RandomNerd2000]

Did you adjust both sides? If memory serves both sides adjust on the hinges. I will admit though that looks like structure damage, have you looked at your roof closely for any visible damage, or the headliner? Also out on a limb if there's no damage to YOUR truck, what about the donor truck?

 

[974X4BLACKSPORT]

If you can take a picture of the area the hinges mount to, with the door open, good lighting, lets looks at the entire length of the door jam from left to right, and then the area where the hinges actually mount too.