panel alignment
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 396
Likes: 3
From: Buffalo New York
panel alignment
The right front fender on my '76 is not aligned properly. In the rear, the lower body line is about 3/8" higher than the bottom of the door. The front is aligned correctly. How do you seperate the fender from the bonding strip, in order to lower the rear of the fender 3/8"? Or is it too much work for the result?
Also the bottom of both doors is not even with the rear fenders. One is out 1/4", and the other is in 1/4". All other door gaps are ok. I'm planning a re-paint next year, and want to get it as straight as I can, without going crazy. Are there any body repair books out for C-3's?
Also the bottom of both doors is not even with the rear fenders. One is out 1/4", and the other is in 1/4". All other door gaps are ok. I'm planning a re-paint next year, and want to get it as straight as I can, without going crazy. Are there any body repair books out for C-3's?
Pro
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 582
Likes: 1
From: Madison Wisconsin
This book is what I use when I needed any info on fiberglass repair.
Do you really need to remove your fender and reposition it to align it with the door. You may want to try first loosening you're door hinge bolts and reposition you're doors and try to get you body lines to line up and even out your door gaps. I just went through this today on my 71 after edging all of the jams getting ready to paint the body. It takes a little time put usually with two people to work on it you can get the gaps closer.
Do you really need to remove your fender and reposition it to align it with the door. You may want to try first loosening you're door hinge bolts and reposition you're doors and try to get you body lines to line up and even out your door gaps. I just went through this today on my 71 after edging all of the jams getting ready to paint the body. It takes a little time put usually with two people to work on it you can get the gaps closer.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 396
Likes: 3
From: Buffalo New York
Mad Vette: There is a 3/16' gap on the drivers side between the lower door and the top of the rocker panel. This gap continues on the front fender indent. On the pass. side, there is the 3/16"gap at the door, but a 1/2" gap between the rocker panel and the indent on the fender. Raising the door would put the door out of alignment with the rear fender. If I can't adjust the front fender properly, it would be better to leave it the way it is. I may try the book you suggested. I need to find the location of bonding strips, and suggestions for doing this repair.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,110
Likes: 4,174
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi BF,
From your description I believe it might be a good idea to find someone who is VERY familiar with the way the body is put together and how to adjust the gaps to assess your issues. Your problems could be the result of 1 major problem or the result of a number of small problems. Paying someone to look at your car could save you a lot of work and $$$.
Regards,
Alan
From your description I believe it might be a good idea to find someone who is VERY familiar with the way the body is put together and how to adjust the gaps to assess your issues. Your problems could be the result of 1 major problem or the result of a number of small problems. Paying someone to look at your car could save you a lot of work and $$$.
Regards,
Alan
Pro
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 582
Likes: 1
From: Madison Wisconsin
There is the possibility that the car was in an accident and someone has done a lousy repair to the fender and it's positioned wrong. On my 71 the passenger door aligns pretty good so that the gaps are only off by 1/8" and the mid body line lines up and down the side of the car. The drivers door not so good, 1/4" to 3/8" variance, mid body line way off. The car has never been in an accident and all of the panels are original. I think Alan can verify this and thats that some early C3's had panel alignment issues. But yes it would help if we could see some pictures and maybe we can give you some better feedback.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 396
Likes: 3
From: Buffalo New York
Thanks guys. I'll work at getting a few pictures posted. The car seems straight, with no visible signs of rot or collision damage on the body or frame. It must have received a hit to the fender, which was then removed and replaced (no sign of any fiberglass repair.) The work seems fine, and would not be noticed, except for the misaligned fender, and a loose bonding strip above the wheelwell.
