Front Clip Alignment Issue
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Front Clip Alignment Issue
OK, so here is where I am:
Body back on and shimmed, doors on and shimmed to get back gap approx 1/4" top and a little less at the bottom.
I have the hood surround sitting on it but not glued down yet. I have the bolt in the nose in loose, no fenders yet.
For some reason the gap at the top on the right is 1/2" and an overlap on the left?
It also looks like the nose needs to come up a bit to get the rear edge of the surround to come down. Question is Why? I never broke the front bumper support loose and there was nothing wrong with the right side to start with. I took this thing apart to deal with some accident dammage on the drivers side and ran into rust dammage in the #2 pockets and WS frame.
Should I go ahead and break the front bumper extensions loose and get it in line or did I maybe miss something?
TIA
Body back on and shimmed, doors on and shimmed to get back gap approx 1/4" top and a little less at the bottom.
I have the hood surround sitting on it but not glued down yet. I have the bolt in the nose in loose, no fenders yet.
For some reason the gap at the top on the right is 1/2" and an overlap on the left?
It also looks like the nose needs to come up a bit to get the rear edge of the surround to come down. Question is Why? I never broke the front bumper support loose and there was nothing wrong with the right side to start with. I took this thing apart to deal with some accident dammage on the drivers side and ran into rust dammage in the #2 pockets and WS frame.
Should I go ahead and break the front bumper extensions loose and get it in line or did I maybe miss something?
TIA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
You should do some measurments to check the nose center alignment. Also check the cowl and birdcage for deflection. I suspect that it was hit in the LH side and it has a little kink in the frame there. You should also check the center line of the frame.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 2
From: walpole ma
Assuming this is a new surround, are you sure the surround is perfect and not different side to side? The surround might also be shaped a little differently and that's why you need to raise it up a bit. My suggestion is make sure everything is squared off like it is supposed to be and then trim the surround to fit your car.It isnt uncommon to have to trim a little more off one side than the other. After that put your wheelhouses in and set your hood gaps and height. When you are done with that then glue your fenders on.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
RR I was hopeing you would pop in .
This is the old surround, I had to fix a couple cracks along the left side and reattach the bond strips. I played with it a bit more and its fitting better, but still not happy with it. The drivers side still againse the front of the door but the pass side is about right. I have the hood on and it squared up pretty good. I loosened up the bumper extension and that cured part of it.
Thing is I don't see why the surround would not fit back on the same as it came off, seems like it should have centered uo no problem.
This is the old surround, I had to fix a couple cracks along the left side and reattach the bond strips. I played with it a bit more and its fitting better, but still not happy with it. The drivers side still againse the front of the door but the pass side is about right. I have the hood on and it squared up pretty good. I loosened up the bumper extension and that cured part of it.
Thing is I don't see why the surround would not fit back on the same as it came off, seems like it should have centered uo no problem.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 2
From: walpole ma
RR I was hopeing you would pop in .
This is the old surround, I had to fix a couple cracks along the left side and reattach the bond strips. I played with it a bit more and its fitting better, but still not happy with it. The drivers side still againse the front of the door but the pass side is about right. I have the hood on and it squared up pretty good. I loosened up the bumper extension and that cured part of it.
Thing is I don't see why the surround would not fit back on the same as it came off, seems like it should have centered uo no problem.
This is the old surround, I had to fix a couple cracks along the left side and reattach the bond strips. I played with it a bit more and its fitting better, but still not happy with it. The drivers side still againse the front of the door but the pass side is about right. I have the hood on and it squared up pretty good. I loosened up the bumper extension and that cured part of it.
Thing is I don't see why the surround would not fit back on the same as it came off, seems like it should have centered uo no problem.
Ok, so you didnt move the body on the frame at all correct? Assuming that, the next thing is you said you adjusted your doors. If the doors are in a different spot now that would make your gaps different. Also when you removed the upper surround you must have ground off the glue in the bonding area. That would also change where the surround is going to sit after you reinstall it. Look into those things, and then the bottom line is you got to do whatever you need to put it back where you need it. Sometimes you have to add or subtract glass here and there. However in your case only do that when all other options are exausted.
Last edited by Road-Race Vette; Jun 1, 2008 at 11:59 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
I had the body off to replace the #2 mounts and fix the rocker channels. I ground off most of the glue from all the mounting surfaces and I see what your saying. I just haven't figured out why the left side wants to sit further back than the right side. The body is back on centered over the index holes in the frame rails. I have the doors squared up pretty good although I need to put annother shim in the drivers door to get it out to the same level as the front fender will fit.
Height doesn't seem like it will be a problem, just the front to back on the drvers side.
I'll play with it some more today and get it right before proceeding.
If I can't, I'll take the rad support and wheel houses back out and try it that way.
Height doesn't seem like it will be a problem, just the front to back on the drvers side.
I'll play with it some more today and get it right before proceeding.
If I can't, I'll take the rad support and wheel houses back out and try it that way.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 2
From: walpole ma
I had the body off to replace the #2 mounts and fix the rocker channels. I ground off most of the glue from all the mounting surfaces and I see what your saying. I just haven't figured out why the left side wants to sit further back than the right side. The body is back on centered over the index holes in the frame rails. I have the doors squared up pretty good although I need to put annother shim in the drivers door to get it out to the same level as the front fender will fit.
Height doesn't seem like it will be a problem, just the front to back on the drvers side.
I'll play with it some more today and get it right before proceeding.
If I can't, I'll take the rad support and wheel houses back out and try it that way.
Height doesn't seem like it will be a problem, just the front to back on the drvers side.
I'll play with it some more today and get it right before proceeding.
If I can't, I'll take the rad support and wheel houses back out and try it that way.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
OK< here is what I have:
Drivers side rear door edge, looks pretty good, 1/4" at top little less at the bottom, door is all the way up on the door side of the hinge.
Problem area, front edge of drivers door. The rear of the clip overlaps the door edge, original door and clip, this should have dropped right back in place
Wondering if this might be the problem, I had to remove the bond strip and fix several cracks anong this edge. Wonder if I let the fender stretch out a bit, relaxing the curve to much? That would make this side longer than the other side, I'll have to measure it
Rear of pass side door, gap is about the same as the other side
Front of pass door, pretty much drops in place, might need to raise the nose a little bit to get it to fit a bit better
thanks for the help guys
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Well, this has pretty much eaten my lunch this weekend!
But, all is not lost, I have a neighbor with 30 odd years in the custom body business and he stopped by today! Seems that RR's advice to "Do whatever ya got to do" is spot on. So tomorrow I'll put it together back to the point I had it yesterday and he will give me hand lining it up.
Seems that just because a front end came off a given car has no bearing whatever on it going back on the same car unmodified, which was exactly the conclusion I was coming to.
So, stay tuned, more mahem to come...
But, all is not lost, I have a neighbor with 30 odd years in the custom body business and he stopped by today! Seems that RR's advice to "Do whatever ya got to do" is spot on. So tomorrow I'll put it together back to the point I had it yesterday and he will give me hand lining it up.
Seems that just because a front end came off a given car has no bearing whatever on it going back on the same car unmodified, which was exactly the conclusion I was coming to.
So, stay tuned, more mahem to come...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Aparently you really have to manipulate these things a LOT to get it on there straight. Got it pretty much straight yesterday. Taking it off the jackstands tomorrow to let it settle a bit before proceeding. Flex in the frame, however slight, will affect the gaps.
More pics in a day or two
More pics in a day or two
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Nope, core support is in.
Neighbor says because it was off for so long and I had so much apart that things moved around a lot. It has new body mount bushinge, new #2 mounts, reinforces rocker channels.
Didn't get anything done today, but tomorrow is annother day.
Neighbor says because it was off for so long and I had so much apart that things moved around a lot. It has new body mount bushinge, new #2 mounts, reinforces rocker channels.
Didn't get anything done today, but tomorrow is annother day.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 33
From: ct
First you need to get that car off the jack stands. These cars move like a rubber band when they are on stands or a lift. Second make sure your wiper door is on and lined up where it needs to be.
Then bolt your hood on but leave the bolts loose. Put your surround on and line it up with your hood. If the hood is lined up on all four sides then you do what is needed to make the door gaps right. The hood is the important part.
Most times I put the surround on by myself. Thats why I put the hood on first. I turn the surround around the hood then drop to hood to start fitting things.
Also. Its to late for this but when you remove a nose or any panel don't grind all the old glue off. When you start grinding leave small blocks of it so you do not loss the height from the old panel. It can be a help when installing your new panel. You can always grind more off.
Brian G.
Then bolt your hood on but leave the bolts loose. Put your surround on and line it up with your hood. If the hood is lined up on all four sides then you do what is needed to make the door gaps right. The hood is the important part.
Most times I put the surround on by myself. Thats why I put the hood on first. I turn the surround around the hood then drop to hood to start fitting things.
Also. Its to late for this but when you remove a nose or any panel don't grind all the old glue off. When you start grinding leave small blocks of it so you do not loss the height from the old panel. It can be a help when installing your new panel. You can always grind more off.
Brian G.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
It's a good idea to make sure the side and height alignment of the core support is right on, by temp checking the fan alignment with the radiator shroud. Once glued, there is almost no wiggle room for adjustment. The rad/support/shroud position can cause all kinds of problems for sway bar lower hose fit, fan and shroud fit etc. I usually start there and grind or add glass as needed to the front clip to fit to that, once the car is grounded and the doors fit perfectly at the back and bottom.
It can sometimes test your patience.
