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The gap between the passenger side fender and windshield is way off. The gap on the driver side is exactly a finger width. The gap on the passenger side is much more. What is the solution?
Hi cg,
Has that fender or the clip been off the car?
What's the hood fit and gap like?
It looks like if the fender were moved back it would help the windshield gap and also the fender to door gap.
If it's bonded in place I'd say it needs to be broken loose, repositioned, and re-bonded.
Regards,
Alan
The car was likely hit at one time, and the repairs weren't done right. This is pretty common, on 68-82's that have had front end damage. For some reason, a lot of shops seem to have a hard time getting 68-82 noses, glued back on correctly.
To fix it, the panel has to be removed, and then re-glued. Keep in mind that if your hood and door gaps are good, re-positioning the fender, will effect those gaps too.
Hi cg,
Has that fender or the clip been off the car?
What's the hood fit and gap like?
It looks like if the fender were moved back it would help the windshield gap and also the fender to door gap.
If it's bonded in place I'd say it needs to be broken loose, repositioned, and re-bonded.
Regards,
Alan
Yes, that area has been worked on in the past. The hood alignment seemed to be pretty good from memory. The hood is one of the first things I took off when I got the car, so I can't check it right now. Bubba just added about 1/2" of black silicon to the rubber gasket to fill in the void between it and the windshield. I don't understand why they didn't just correct the gap in the first place before they re-bonded it.
Hi cg,
It's likely all the bond material was cleaned off the fender and cowl when it was replaced so the old bond material acted like a spacer.
The person doing it had probably charged to little to do it right and because it was taking longer than he'd planned he was hurrying, or he was inexperienced…. or both.
There will NEVER be a better time than now to fix it.
Regards,
Alan
It could just be that the front clip was poor quality and the fender is too short. If it fits good otherwise with nice gaps , I would just rework the rear edge . If you move the fender back it could throw everything else off. Can't really say without personally seeing it. I've had real good success with just reworking panels and making them fit. I'm working on one now with major fit problems in the door and pillar area.
Panel misalignment is expected if the car has not been properly repaired from a collision.... Panel misalignment can also be expected from a stone stock unmolested C3!!. When I had my 68 painted, they did body work ...the hood was matched to the front clip...the front clip and inner wheel wells were broken loose for this realighnment. Also fiberglass/resin was added to the front clip and hood for ultimate grinding down for perfect alighnment. The juncture of the rear door edges, the rear quarter panes, and the convertible lid didn't match up...this was a 68 production problem. They fixed this so these all junctures all match up. The creases on the door panels didn't match up correctly with the front quarter panels...another 68 production problem...the doors were reskinned ( I think) to match up.
Fender to Windshield Gap
