Body back on frame - things seem misaligned
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,472
Likes: 754
From: Laporte, IN
The radiator core support to the body 3 bolts each side. This will help support the nose of the body to reduce its drooping. Also then install the frame support that is under the radiator core support.
Last edited by PJO; Dec 17, 2024 at 08:31 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 370
Likes: 57
Got it - so just to be clear…I should put this on the frame BEFORE putting the body back on, correct?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 274
Likes: 168
From: Pikes Peak region Colorado
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Another thought to ponder is when radiator support is back in and if you at a point when you can bolt the hood on -DO NOT TRY TO LATCH- the front of the hood should fit the front header and should be somewhat level to the hood. A good check of the front end body height is off is to check how the hood sits in comparison to the rear of the front fenders. Example if the front radiator support or frame extension needs to go up or down will be if one of the rear corners of the hood sticks more than the other side. I suspect the side that touches control arm needs to be raised. A quick check is to put a floor jack under the front rail and put a little pressure on it while observing how the rear of the hood acts.
A tool that I have always used is something like a deck of cards or something like that shape. What I do is to look at the deck of cards compared to the horizon and then slightly pushing on a corner down, up or side to side while watching who the other three corners react or move. This little exercise has really helped me diagnosis fitment issues. I will also use same process on a vertical view to help align doors.
A tool that I have always used is something like a deck of cards or something like that shape. What I do is to look at the deck of cards compared to the horizon and then slightly pushing on a corner down, up or side to side while watching who the other three corners react or move. This little exercise has really helped me diagnosis fitment issues. I will also use same process on a vertical view to help align doors.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,239
Likes: 786
From: Redondo Beach, California
Since you may be lifting the body to start over.
When I was dropping my body, the 70, when I had the body about 6 inches above the frame I installed some long 10 inch bolts into the numbers one and 5 body mounts, this to force the body into the exact position when I further dropped the body. Furthermore. I placed some threaded studs into the left and right number 2 and 3 body mounts. These stuck up about 4 inches or so. Since these studs were in relatively inaccessible places, I cleaned the threads of the studs and body holes with a tap and die...cleaning the threads means I could unscrew and remove them with my fingers. I had made some alignment pins with unthreaded bar stock. I found them not to easy to use because you can't insert them too much into the body/birdcage with the doors on. My studs in the number 2 and 3 body mounts worked well.
When I was dropping my body, the 70, when I had the body about 6 inches above the frame I installed some long 10 inch bolts into the numbers one and 5 body mounts, this to force the body into the exact position when I further dropped the body. Furthermore. I placed some threaded studs into the left and right number 2 and 3 body mounts. These stuck up about 4 inches or so. Since these studs were in relatively inaccessible places, I cleaned the threads of the studs and body holes with a tap and die...cleaning the threads means I could unscrew and remove them with my fingers. I had made some alignment pins with unthreaded bar stock. I found them not to easy to use because you can't insert them too much into the body/birdcage with the doors on. My studs in the number 2 and 3 body mounts worked well.
