need help w / body alignment
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 926
Likes: 2
From: chandler az
need help w / body alignment
My son bought a 76 that had hit something in the front end. They did a poor job of lining up the parts.
Are the headlight buckets and the hood attached to something different than the nose and the fenders?
If my logic is right to fix the gap at the drivers door and the rear of the hood on the passenger side - the front of the drivers fender needs to come up about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. yes ?
Are the headlight buckets and the hood attached to something different than the nose and the fenders?
If my logic is right to fix the gap at the drivers door and the rear of the hood on the passenger side - the front of the drivers fender needs to come up about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. yes ?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Omaha NE
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There is something going on with your front end.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,991
Likes: 3
From: Piscataway NJ
Either the bonding adhesive has let loose or the front clip was not setup right I would look for any separation in the door area. The hood flushness is controlled by the inner fenderskirt. Then the hole front would have to comeup to meet the doors. That is controlled by the rad support to the frame extension.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Ok, let start from scratch.
To fix your headlights. There is a bolt under the headlights(Center bracket) just loosen it a couple of turns and the front of the headlights will go down.
To fix the hood. At the front of the hood hinges there is porbably shims between the hinge and hood. Remove them.
Second. There should be rubber bumpers down the side of the fender that push the center of the hood up. Buy those and reinstall them.
Third. The back of the hood can be adjusted down via the bracket and bumper.
To fix the door gap. Open the door and at the further most edge of the door, lift on it. If it moves up any, the door hinge bushings are worn out. They only cost about $20 - $30 to replace. That is DYI.
I think your front clip is fine, you just need to replace some critical parts that align it.
To fix your headlights. There is a bolt under the headlights(Center bracket) just loosen it a couple of turns and the front of the headlights will go down.
To fix the hood. At the front of the hood hinges there is porbably shims between the hinge and hood. Remove them.
Second. There should be rubber bumpers down the side of the fender that push the center of the hood up. Buy those and reinstall them.
Third. The back of the hood can be adjusted down via the bracket and bumper.
To fix the door gap. Open the door and at the further most edge of the door, lift on it. If it moves up any, the door hinge bushings are worn out. They only cost about $20 - $30 to replace. That is DYI.
I think your front clip is fine, you just need to replace some critical parts that align it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,429
Likes: 20
From: Kingston Ontario
Imho
I wouldn't be looking to align the headlights or hood, your hood looks fine, you have much larger problems than that. It looks like something may be bent. Maybe your front clip supports that bolt to the frame, maybe even the frame itself. . It looks like the whole front has dropped, find out why it has.
Also, I wouldn't be adjusting anything until you find out what your problem is because you'll end up just putting it back to the original position when the clip is straight.
Also, I wouldn't be adjusting anything until you find out what your problem is because you'll end up just putting it back to the original position when the clip is straight.
Last edited by BB72; Feb 25, 2007 at 09:01 PM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I wouldn't be looking to align the headlights or hood, your hood looks fine, you have much larger problems than that. It looks like something may be bent. Maybe your front clip supports that bolt to the frame, maybe even the frame itself. . It looks like the whole front has dropped, find out why it has.
Also, I wouldn't be adjusting anything until you find out what your problem is because you'll end up just putting it back to the original position when the clip is straight.
Also, I wouldn't be adjusting anything until you find out what your problem is because you'll end up just putting it back to the original position when the clip is straight.
That's exactly how I see it too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
I see it as poor alignment by a body man.. (Look how the bumper is attached) The car was probably wrecked and not re-assembled correctly.
BTW-The radiator support and bumper support hold the front clip up. Unless someone forgot to install the bolts in the radiator support, there is no way it will just droop.
Now is the frame is bent, that another story.
BTW-The radiator support and bumper support hold the front clip up. Unless someone forgot to install the bolts in the radiator support, there is no way it will just droop.
Now is the frame is bent, that another story.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,429
Likes: 20
From: Kingston Ontario
Hmmm
I see it as poor alignment by a body man.. (Look how the bumper is attached) The car was probably wrecked and not re-assembled correctly.
BTW-The radiator support and bumper support hold the front clip up. Unless someone forgot to install the bolts in the radiator support, there is no way it will just droop.
Now is the frame is bent, that another story.
BTW-The radiator support and bumper support hold the front clip up. Unless someone forgot to install the bolts in the radiator support, there is no way it will just droop.
Now is the frame is bent, that another story.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 926
Likes: 2
From: chandler az
My guess - and the reason for the questions is that after the accident ( I am assuming due to the salvage title) that it was re-assembled incorrectly.
Is there a body assembly manual? I know there are parts missing - the front of the fenders at the bottom are loose(no supports).
Is there a body assembly manual? I know there are parts missing - the front of the fenders at the bottom are loose(no supports).
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I would suggest getting this car to a body shop that has experience with Corvettes. Don't give anyone the impression that you don't know what you're doing though.
They should be able to determine pretty quickly what the problem is.
They should be able to determine pretty quickly what the problem is.
