I lifted the body of my 64 coupe to replace body mounts. All shims were gone and am having problems aligning right front fender height, and hood sits 1/8 to 1/4 inch higher than fender now on the right front corner. Any sugestions or books on the subject?

 

The body mount shims should have no effect on the hood fit especially on the front corners. I dont quite understand what the problem is with the fenders as there was little description, but If you are attempting to get them all exactly equal from the ground, you may be in for a long fight. The best way to do this is to just set the body down on the mounting pads and note if there are any gaps. If the body does not sit as level as you like you can shim it at the corners and add shims in the middle as required to fill the gaps. Tighten them down a little at the time and watch the door fit for flexing. You probably wont see much on a coupe anyway.

 

I will get a picture put on here 1st part of next week. Then maybe you can see what my problem is. Thanks for now. I appreciate any help.
Arnie

 

There's only one reason I can think of that the hood sits higher than the surround panel at the front............the inner skirt isn't in the right position in relation to the rest of the front end. This would seem to indicate that the car has had previous repair, not properly aligned before bonding. I've seen someone butcher hood hinges to fix such a problem, but it's a bandaid approach at best.


[Modified by Solidlifters, 3:16 AM 8/30/2002]

 

gaser,
Maybe this will help if I understand correctly. Now, just asking, when you lifted the body off, did you support the front clip? The only reason I ask, is there is a chance the inner fender on that right side is no longer in the position it was before you started pulling up. Another words, in relationship to the surround. Below the side gutter on the surround, is your inner fender. This is where, before the bonding adhesive is applied, you get your fender to hood relationship. I can go into more detail, but take a good look at it first. Also, Eckler's has a great book called Eckler's Complete Guide to Corvette Fiberglass Repair. I've been around fiberglass for years and thought I had a handle on it, not so. Mr. Ralph Eckler has done a superior job in this book, no matter what level you are. :cheers:
Craig

P.S. I'm assuming this problem came up after the lift and was viewed after the body was lowered, let me know.




[Modified by Cmacsvette, 4:53 AM 8/30/2002]

 

gaser,
Just checking in to see if you've looked your car over yet. Remember when I said fender to hood relationship, I hope I didn't loose ya. Just a recap, before any bonding adhesive is applied, you can take your hands and change the distance or gap between inner fender and your surround. You know that little area where your hood hinges mount to your inner F., you can change that mounting pad area height. The bonding between inner. F and surround is done for a distant of approx. 20", starting at the hood hinge area. Now, this gap when correctly adj., is filled with bonding adhesive. When cured YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE IT. :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash:
The only way you can, is to break or grind it out. The factory applied various amounts of adhesive in these areas, because hood height adj. were diff. AS Solidlifter said, maybe bad REPAIR? YOU BET YA! If anybody has been DINKING with it :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash:
it may have broke away on your lift or even fell out, who knows! Some guys make adj., to the hinge w/ shims, factory did too, thats fine. But there are the HINGES frome h&*l out there, well I'm not going there!
The shims, were for very small changes, ( to adj. the hood UP to a level point with the surround)I'm not talking 1/4 " here. Anyway, you got a handle on it now and thats whats important. :seeya
Craig :cheers:
P.S. This is the problem you run into sometimes when you change hoods, a GOOD fix is done the same.


[Modified by Cmacsvette, 4:29 PM 9/1/2002]

 

I did some checking on the car. Looks like Right front fender was repaired in the past. Also looks like inner fender liner may be separating from under fender. Took some pictures,may be able to get them to attach.( Haven't done it before) Any idea on how to repair? Will be repainting over winter anyway.
All help is much appreciated!!! No luck attaching pics.Will try to e-mail to some of you.
Arnie

 

gaser,
When you say "looks like" If you could expand a bit on that, would help. Also I forgot to tell you, but from behind hinge(meaning surround side) for approx. 4-5" forward, the inner skirt is still mating with the surround. It may be bonded, it may not, depends who's been dinking with it. Kinda tough to see real good with hood on. You can go inside of wheel well to get a look see. They might have already smeared 5 gal. of under coating on it. Take wheel off, clean off the 5 gal. of under coating :reddevil and get a pic of that general area would be nice. We might even see that repair your talking about. Alsc you will see, just around the corner from that 4-5 " I was talking about, to the right, since were talking about the right side, you will see a rubber seal stapled to the top of the inner skirt, this is where skirt also meets surround. Try to include this area in your pic. This way the guys here can mull this over. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Thanks again Craig
Just kidding about the 5 gal., I hope?


[Modified by Cmacsvette, 12:23 AM 9/6/2002]

 

gaser,
May I make a suggestion. The problems that you might be having, are the same problems that thousands of these cars across America are having. If the owners of these cars are not into body align., body work, etc., and I understand, it's not for everybody, it might be helpful for them to see pictures too. These high hoods and low hoods seem to be attracting a bit of attention lately. Whatever pics you guys with these problems can get, will be helping many, many other guys with the same questions. So take a little time and find someone to post them if you can. I would help you, but I don't know how either. This is only a suggestion and my opinion. Thanks, Craig :cheers:


[Modified by Cmacsvette, 1:55 AM 9/6/2002]

 

Send them to me and I'll post them.

IM me for eMail address.

 

67HEAVEN,
Sorry, I forgot "and across Canada", I hate it when I do that. I'll try harder. I get so da%^ wrapped up on an issue. :smash: :yesnod:
Craig :cheers:

 

Hey, no problem here. Whenever I see "across America" I think me, 'cause Canada is in America too.......North America. :jester

 

From gaser:

 

Gaser,
What wheels and tires do you have on that coupe? The car looks nice. Almost made me want to run out and check my garage, until I realized my 64 hood is still in primer..
Oh and mine has been tapped in the right front as well and lets just say I wont be taking pictures of the hinges to make everything line up all nice and pretty.

Don

 

jump 150,
Wheels are 2000 vette. Chassis is Car Creations 1986 Vette with new Bilsteins,all poly-graphite bushings, and Rack & Pinion steering. Engine is 1994 Lt1. Tranny is BW T-56 6spd (aftermarket version). Bell Housing/Hydraulic Clutch 1985 Vette. Flywheel/Clutch/Pres.Plate are Centerforce. Sport Seats 1998 Vett.
Gaser

 

Gaser you are trying to annoy me now arent you.. :yesnod: Thats exactly what I would love to do to mine but the new frame alone is too much for me at this point.. but she sounds like an awesome ride. Congratulations and drive her often.. I know I would :cheers:

Don

 

gaser, you state "higher than fender now" so am I correct in assuming this did not exist at all before lift? In your pic, the right rear corner looks high, going forward, midway on hood, appears to be level with surround and then of course high at right corner. I also assume that the hood becomes flush with the surround in left front corner. I'm curious, what was the align. like at these points, before lift? Just looking for input, so I can mull things around :rolleyes: Thanks, Craig :)

 

I had to mod the hood hinges on my 66 to put an nos hood on it. The front end is completely original and never hit. I have pictures of the glass. The plastic sags/warps with age and heat. Rather than mess with a $1000 nos hood I improved on the hinge design by making them rattle proof (the factory spring washers are cr@p) using .25 bolts and nylok nuts. The diameter change allowed me to lower the front of the hood in the process.

If you want me to, I can post pictures of the hinges.

 

[I improved on the hinge design by making them rattle proof (the factory spring washers are cr@p) using .25 bolts and nylok nuts. The diameter change allowed me to lower the front of the hood in the process.

If you want me to, I can post pictures of the hinges.[/QUOTE]

This seems like a easey fix definatley post the pictures of the hindge for others

 

Cmacsvette,
Before body lift the hood alignment was good, not enough to mess with.

Changes didn't start to show up until body was put back on frame, bumpers were put back on and a few miles were put on car. Hood would not latch correctly at that time and some latch adjustments were made. Have had to adjust Right front bumper a couple times since, so fender must still be moving some.
Gaser :cry