I really need help, please anyone
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Seattle Washington
I really need help, please anyone
Ok so i've been trying to fit my front clip on my 69 vette, and have run into a few problems. It is a new clip (like the ones from ecklers or CA, not sure where though) And it seems like the tabs that kind of curve that bond the top of the firewall... when they are lined up correctly, the fender hangs over the door about 3/4 of an inch so it covers any gap that would have been there. Is this just because this is an "aftermarket" clip? and what should I do in this situation... If I line everything up like it should be...( line up the rad support, line up the bondig strips and top tabs. I have ) gappage between teh doors and the fender and the fender hangs over the door about 3/4 of an inch. What do I do?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 71
From: Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
My similar clip had to be trimmed along the door edge I would say a 3/8". There is a step in the new clip at the door edge. Most of that had to come off (see arrow). Have you ground off all the old adhesive from the bonding strips?
Use the drip edge that goes across the wiper door area to line up the clip, that will tell you how much trimming you will have to do. I assume you have most of the drip edge still in place from the old clip as you are supposed to slice it and leave the inner portion bonded when removing the old clip. I also had to take a lot of old bonding material off and then I also had to put in some glass in some areas to build it up where the gap to the bonding strip was to big.
You can see the portion of the drip rail on the new clip. This is how I knew where the clip should be, but you also have to make sure you have the correct distant from the drip rail to the hinge bolts correct per the Ecklers pages.
Use the drip edge that goes across the wiper door area to line up the clip, that will tell you how much trimming you will have to do. I assume you have most of the drip edge still in place from the old clip as you are supposed to slice it and leave the inner portion bonded when removing the old clip. I also had to take a lot of old bonding material off and then I also had to put in some glass in some areas to build it up where the gap to the bonding strip was to big.
You can see the portion of the drip rail on the new clip. This is how I knew where the clip should be, but you also have to make sure you have the correct distant from the drip rail to the hinge bolts correct per the Ecklers pages.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Seattle Washington
I will try to get pics up as soon as possible
69ragvette- the body was never off
RobRace10- That is my exact problem!, I have ground off all he old adhesive. So the only choice would be to grind away material to establish door gaps?
69ragvette- the body was never off
RobRace10- That is my exact problem!, I have ground off all he old adhesive. So the only choice would be to grind away material to establish door gaps?
Last edited by n100; Oct 14, 2010 at 10:55 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Eckler's intentionally leaves the trailing edges of the fenders long on their front clips. Other vendors may do the same. The procedure is to dry fit the clip and determine door gaps. Most people use a compass for this; running the pointy end along the door and the pencil end on the fender. Then remove excess material from the rear of the fenders using your pencil mark as a guide.
Easy does it. Try to remove as little material as possible. In this case, too long is better than short. If you're long, you can come back and remove additional material. If you end up short, you will have to add fiberglass.
Dry fit the clip again. Check door gaps and the fenders where you trimmed them. If everything is where you want it, then bond on the clip.
Easy does it. Try to remove as little material as possible. In this case, too long is better than short. If you're long, you can come back and remove additional material. If you end up short, you will have to add fiberglass.
Dry fit the clip again. Check door gaps and the fenders where you trimmed them. If everything is where you want it, then bond on the clip.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 3
From: Savannah GA
It looks like you got good responses here, but if you want to cruise the bodyworks, scroll down this page until you see a red toolbar labeled "forum jump". You can go directly to any region of CF straight from there.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Seattle Washington
markids77- I will definently look at the bodyworks section, thanks for the tip.
Easy Mike- That is a genious idea! Is there any way to tell where the clip was purchased, as it came with my project. Also, what tool do you reccomend to grind away the excess? angel grinder? sander?
Thanks everyone for all the help, I feel alot better now
Easy Mike- That is a genious idea! Is there any way to tell where the clip was purchased, as it came with my project. Also, what tool do you reccomend to grind away the excess? angel grinder? sander?
Thanks everyone for all the help, I feel alot better now
Last edited by n100; Oct 14, 2010 at 02:50 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
What? The compass trick? Not mine. I think I first read it in Eckler's book many moons ago.
There might be a tag/label on the underside of it stuck in the last layer of resin.
Sabre saw if the excess is a lot. Sander for smaller excesses, fine tuning the fit, and cleaning up the edges.
...Is there any way to tell where the clip was purchased...
...what tool do you reccomend to grind away the excess? angel grinder? sander?...
