Mounting Body / Shims
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,524
Likes: 61
From: Medina Ohio
Mounting Body / Shims
Finally trying to get the body secured to the chassis in anticipation of reattaching the front clip and moving on to body work.
I've read plenty of old threads with advice from Alan, etc. on determining the amount of shims. (This body and frame have never met so I am going from scratch.) The concensus seems to shim per door/fender gaps. My problem: No front clip and no drivers side quarter panel leaving me with only one gap, passenger door to quarter.
One of the #1 mounts had an obvious gap which took 2-3 shims and one of the #4 mounts took 2 shims to fill gap. The remaining #1 and #4 were tight with the body resting on the frame. #2s and #3s obviously cannot be seen.
They've all been snugged down and all LOOKS well.
How important are the pos. remaining shims in my scenario being that the front clip can be bonded for proper gaps?
I've read plenty of old threads with advice from Alan, etc. on determining the amount of shims. (This body and frame have never met so I am going from scratch.) The concensus seems to shim per door/fender gaps. My problem: No front clip and no drivers side quarter panel leaving me with only one gap, passenger door to quarter.
One of the #1 mounts had an obvious gap which took 2-3 shims and one of the #4 mounts took 2 shims to fill gap. The remaining #1 and #4 were tight with the body resting on the frame. #2s and #3s obviously cannot be seen.
They've all been snugged down and all LOOKS well.
How important are the pos. remaining shims in my scenario being that the front clip can be bonded for proper gaps?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
if everything is sitting solid no gaps you should be good,continue on, keep them for now,
if you encounter bad door/ fender alignment issues, you may have to go back and readjust later.
if you encounter bad door/ fender alignment issues, you may have to go back and readjust later.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,399
Likes: 792
Mounts
When I was at the stage you are at with no front clip I did not worry to much about the shims. Get the front clip and fit it to the car. Clamp the bottom and see what kind of door seams you have. You may be fitting it a few times to get it right. I started with 2 shims at each location. When I dropped the body on and fitted the clip I had door gap issues. Had to remove shims from #1 to get seams right. Pretty difficult to get it the first go around but that's a start. Don't forget to try the hood for clearance, headlight assemblies. Get it all right before you glue it. I used Fusor for the bonding of the clip. You have about 40 min. before it starts to set. Probably need to fit the quarter also before you go much further. Checking the door seams without the clip and only on 1 side May be a mute point for now. Hope this helps.
R
R
Last edited by SB64; Jul 31, 2015 at 12:48 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,524
Likes: 61
From: Medina Ohio
Thanks guys, feel a little better with the current configuration now. Just wish there was an easier way to confirm no gaps at #2 & #3. I'll have to get out there in the next few days and get creative & contort some fingers in an attempt to verify.
