Door is out of Alignment

I recently purchased a 1986 Ford F-250, with a driver door that when opened it drops down slightly. I can not shut the door normaly, I must lift up on it inorder to get it in a alignment to shut. This is very inconvenient, especially from the inside.

I can not figure out how to fix this, I hope someone may know.

what you have to do is losen the hinge bolts slightly, just enough that you are able to shift the door position without dropping the door. use a jack and some blocks of wood to get the door set at the right height, tighten the bolts. You may have to adjust the striker plate and striker post thats pretty well the same just no jack is requeired (a #3 phillips bit and maybe a t50(?) bit I think) its not really that hard. another part of the problen could be thats its a ford! :P

Ghostguy6 gave you good information, but there is another possibility: Take a good look a the hinges. Do they look like perhaps a strong wind caught the door and over-extended the hinges beyone full open position? Sometimes if a strong wind catches the door it will swing open so hard that the hinge attachment points will actually be bent slightly out of position. If that's what it is, simply roll up a rag, or get a thin piece of metal or small bolt....anything to jam into the open hinge. Move the door toward the closed direction to pinch whatever you put in the hinge, and then using the door itself as a lever, force the door slightly to the closed position. Do this in little steps while continually checking the alignment's progress. You'll have to tweek it a little, and then remove whatever you used as a spacer and close the door to check alignment. Just don't overdo it. From what you describe, I'd do this with the lower hinge first. Some auto shops sell a tool to jam into the hinge. That tool is nothing more than a small metal bar with a flexable coil handle. Save your money....just about anything works.

Let us know if this solved your problem. We're always curious about that.

I just went out and checked to see if the door was effected consistant with your wind example, and it does not appear to be the problem. I have not yet tackled ghostguy6 suggestion yet.

I thank both of you for your help, I will update with the results after I attempt the repair.