Hood / Fender Alignment
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
From: Red Deer Alberta
Hood / Fender Alignment
1969 convertible. I need some help with my Left Front fender.
1. Were the hinge bolts to the support bracket on the inner fender there is a space of about 1/2" between the top of the bracket and the underside of the fiberglas. I know it should fit tight.
2. The hood sits about 1/2" higher than the fender right over the LF wheel. I have 3 hoods here and they all fit the same. I know it's the fender.
3. The frame extension that holds on the front bumper with and additional litte bracket seems to be to long. I can't fit the small bracket in.
After hours of searches I have found one guy who cut the frame on the underside of the hood to flatten it so it flushed out with the fender.
I found a second guy who piled sidewalk blocks on the fender and heated up the under side of the hood to smooze it into place.
I really love my car and these remedies seem radical. I can't figure out were or how to make adjustments. Tomorrow it's going up on the hoist and I just do not have a plan.
Any help/ suggestions ?
JR
http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1.jpg&newest=1
http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...4.jpg&newest=1
http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...6.jpg&newest=1
http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1.jpg&newest=1
http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1.jpg&newest=1
1. Were the hinge bolts to the support bracket on the inner fender there is a space of about 1/2" between the top of the bracket and the underside of the fiberglas. I know it should fit tight.
2. The hood sits about 1/2" higher than the fender right over the LF wheel. I have 3 hoods here and they all fit the same. I know it's the fender.
3. The frame extension that holds on the front bumper with and additional litte bracket seems to be to long. I can't fit the small bracket in.
After hours of searches I have found one guy who cut the frame on the underside of the hood to flatten it so it flushed out with the fender.
I found a second guy who piled sidewalk blocks on the fender and heated up the under side of the hood to smooze it into place.
I really love my car and these remedies seem radical. I can't figure out were or how to make adjustments. Tomorrow it's going up on the hoist and I just do not have a plan.
Any help/ suggestions ?
JR
http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1.jpg&newest=1
http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...4.jpg&newest=1
http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...6.jpg&newest=1
http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1.jpg&newest=1
http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1.jpg&newest=1
Last edited by john roth; Oct 11, 2009 at 02:26 PM. Reason: Add Pictures
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Based on your post, it sounds like your alignment problem is the inner skirt. If not fitted correctly, it can affect the brackets you mention, fender line, etc. Post a pic of what you have.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,237
Likes: 4,330
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi JR,
I agree with Mike. It seems like the problem has to be with the fit of the inner skirt to the hood surround.
What confuses me is that if the reinforcement bracket is low how do the hood hinge bolts reach it? Are they long?
If the bracket in the skirt is low, I'd think the hood would be low compared to the surround, not high as you describe.
If the bracket in the skirt is low, how do the core support bolts line up? Do They?
Just questions. I'm sorry, no help.
Regards,
Alan
I agree with Mike. It seems like the problem has to be with the fit of the inner skirt to the hood surround.
What confuses me is that if the reinforcement bracket is low how do the hood hinge bolts reach it? Are they long?
If the bracket in the skirt is low, I'd think the hood would be low compared to the surround, not high as you describe.
If the bracket in the skirt is low, how do the core support bolts line up? Do They?
Just questions. I'm sorry, no help.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
From: Red Deer Alberta
I posted pictures
I am really computer inept but I got some pictures posted. Alan you will notice I cut a hole to get the hinge on the bracket. No answer to why.
I just don't get how to adjust the bracket and fender up.
JR
I just don't get how to adjust the bracket and fender up.
JR
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
From: Red Deer Alberta
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,237
Likes: 4,330
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi John,
After looking at the pictures....
1. The brace for the hood support does look low.
2. The relationship of the skirt to the fender at the hinge looks o.k..
3. Is there ANY chance that all this has to do with a VERY warped HOOD?
Regards,
Alan
After looking at the pictures....
1. The brace for the hood support does look low.
2. The relationship of the skirt to the fender at the hinge looks o.k..
3. Is there ANY chance that all this has to do with a VERY warped HOOD?
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
From: Red Deer Alberta
I think my radiator support is sitting to low. I noticed with the wheel off someone was messing around with green adhesive, It looks like they refastened the inner fender. This explains why the hood fit before the paint shop 2 1/2 years ago and not now.
Do you think I should break the inner fender loose and move the rad support up then glue to match the hood ?
JR
Do you think I should break the inner fender loose and move the rad support up then glue to match the hood ?
JR
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 251
Likes: 3
From: Louisville Kentucky
I think my radiator support is sitting to low. I noticed with the wheel off someone was messing around with green adhesive, It looks like they refastened the inner fender. This explains why the hood fit before the paint shop 2 1/2 years ago and not now.
Do you think I should break the inner fender loose and move the rad support up then glue to match the hood ?
JR
Do you think I should break the inner fender loose and move the rad support up then glue to match the hood ?
JR
Last edited by flyinfree; Oct 11, 2009 at 08:27 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
From: Red Deer Alberta
I have 3 hoods and I tried them all. They all fit the same.
JR
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 251
Likes: 3
From: Louisville Kentucky
I looked at the pictures and have a few things for you to look at. First, it appears that the inner fender is damaged in the picture that shows the hood bracket sitting low. THe fiberglass will eed to be repaired. Second, in the pictur that shows the inner fender from inside te wheel well. It appears that the radiator core support hood bracket is not rivited to the inner fender. I can see the screws going through the inner fender into the core support but you should have rivets holding the bracket to the inner fender. Third, your problem may be the fender height. The radiator could be pulling down on the fender skirt in turn possible pulling the fender down with it. That could make the hood look high. I think you need to ensure bracket is riveted on the side and it may have a rivet on top under the hood hinge. To do this it looks like you will have to lay some fiberglass to repair the section where the hood hinge is sitting low.. Once the fiberglass is repaired and the rivets are in place you may have to reset the inner feder to the correct height. I am not an expert by any means. Good Luck.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 251
Likes: 3
From: Louisville Kentucky
2 rivets on the side one on top
there are actually 2 rivets on the side and 1 rivet on the top under the hood bracket.
I looked at the pictures and have a few things for you to look at. First, it appears that the inner fender is damaged in the picture that shows the hood bracket sitting low. THe fiberglass will eed to be repaired. Second, in the pictur that shows the inner fender from inside te wheel well. It appears that the radiator core support hood bracket is not rivited to the inner fender. I can see the screws going through the inner fender into the core support but you should have rivets holding the bracket to the inner fender. Third, your problem may be the fender height. The radiator could be pulling down on the fender skirt in turn possible pulling the fender down with it. That could make the hood look high. I think you need to ensure bracket is riveted on the side and it may have a rivet on top under the hood hinge. To do this it looks like you will have to lay some fiberglass to repair the section where the hood hinge is sitting low.. Once the fiberglass is repaired and the rivets are in place you may have to reset the inner feder to the correct height. I am not an expert by any means. Good Luck.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
From: Red Deer Alberta
Yesterday I put the car up on the hoist and got right in there. I spent hours checking frame dimensions with drawings I got off the forum.That front corner of the car was low 5/8" each way I checked.
The bracket had no rivets and was just sandwiching the fiberglas with the rad support. I removed the 3 bolts holding the bracket and the top bolt from the frame extension below. Then I lowered the car down with a jack stand under the front of that extension. It rotataed up quite easily. Now the fender should lift 5/8" when I put it back together.
I am working out of town the next 7 - 10 days so I have to wait and see how this works out.
HAVE I DONE ANYTHING DUMB ??
JR
The bracket had no rivets and was just sandwiching the fiberglas with the rad support. I removed the 3 bolts holding the bracket and the top bolt from the frame extension below. Then I lowered the car down with a jack stand under the front of that extension. It rotataed up quite easily. Now the fender should lift 5/8" when I put it back together.
I am working out of town the next 7 - 10 days so I have to wait and see how this works out.
HAVE I DONE ANYTHING DUMB ??
JR
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,429
Likes: 20
From: Kingston Ontario
Couple of questions, are the inner fender upper seals tight against the top of the fender and is your triangular bracket from the front of the inner fender bolted to the headlight bar? Do you see any holes clearanced that support the rad cradle to the inner fender on that side? Keep checking both sides, you'll find a difference somewhere. This is so hard to troubleshoot with not being there.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 251
Likes: 3
From: Louisville Kentucky
No I don't think you have done anything dumb. You definately want to get the rivets in place. Also I think you will need to patch the fiberglass on the top of the inner fender right below where the hood bracket mounts. There is also a rivet at this point.It seems this would have some effect on your hood height. Good Luck let us know jow this turns out.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
From: Red Deer Alberta
Progress
I took a scraper and broke the inner fender loose. It came loose very easy and with a lot of noise. I thought my front clip was blowing up. Then it kept on crackeling geez.
Nothing did blow up, and the fender popped up almost to were it was supposed to be. I have wooden wedges holding it perfectly in place.
Can I just mix up some fiberglas to bond it back on ?
JR
Nothing did blow up, and the fender popped up almost to were it was supposed to be. I have wooden wedges holding it perfectly in place.
Can I just mix up some fiberglas to bond it back on ?
JR
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 251
Likes: 3
From: Louisville Kentucky
2 part epoxy
[QUOTE=john roth;1571852213]I took a scraper and broke the inner fender loose. It came loose very easy and with a lot of noise. I thought my front clip was blowing up. Then it kept on crackeling geez.
Nothing did blow up, and the fender popped up almost to were it was supposed to be. I have wooden wedges holding it perfectly in place.
Can I just mix up some fiberglas to bond it back on ?
JR[/QU
You want to use a 2 part epoxy. There are several different brands I am
using 3M 8115. Did you get the rivets installed and the fiberglass repaired on the inner fender?
Nothing did blow up, and the fender popped up almost to were it was supposed to be. I have wooden wedges holding it perfectly in place.
Can I just mix up some fiberglas to bond it back on ?
JR[/QU
You want to use a 2 part epoxy. There are several different brands I am
using 3M 8115. Did you get the rivets installed and the fiberglass repaired on the inner fender?