Body mount shims help, please
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,136
Likes: 8
From: Chichester, UK
Body mount shims help, please
Before I took the body off my 1980 in order to replace the old rubber body mounts the Rear Left was approximately 1” lower than the Rear Right.
I am ready to reunite the body with the chassis now and want to make sure that it will sit as straight as possible, as this was one of the reasons why I took the body off in the first place.
In the past I have tried to straighten the body by replacing and adding more shims to the #4 RL body mount, however this did not work.
To make the matter worse I have lost the count of the original shims previously used to space the rear end so now I do not know how many shims there were.
When I finally removed the body I have collected all of the remaining shims and put them aside.
This is how the body was shimmed before I took the body off.
Right side: Body mount #1 - 3shims, #2 - 4, #3 - 4, #4- ?
Left Side: #1 - 2 , #2 - 3, #3- 0, #4 -?
I understand that I should replace all of the original shims with the same amount, however this will mean that the body will be lower on the Rear Left again.
What do I need to do to make sure that the body is as straight as possible?
Thank you
I am ready to reunite the body with the chassis now and want to make sure that it will sit as straight as possible, as this was one of the reasons why I took the body off in the first place.
In the past I have tried to straighten the body by replacing and adding more shims to the #4 RL body mount, however this did not work.
To make the matter worse I have lost the count of the original shims previously used to space the rear end so now I do not know how many shims there were.
When I finally removed the body I have collected all of the remaining shims and put them aside.
This is how the body was shimmed before I took the body off.
Right side: Body mount #1 - 3shims, #2 - 4, #3 - 4, #4- ?
Left Side: #1 - 2 , #2 - 3, #3- 0, #4 -?
I understand that I should replace all of the original shims with the same amount, however this will mean that the body will be lower on the Rear Left again.
What do I need to do to make sure that the body is as straight as possible?
Thank you
Last edited by C3Paul; May 28, 2009 at 05:43 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 7
From: Beringen
I had to replace my body with another one, so there was no way in telling what number of shims I needed. I used a laser level to project a plane above the frame. Then I jacked up the extreme rear and the hole behind the front crossmember (with iron sticking through them) to the right heigth as per dimensions in the workshop manual. Then you measure the difference in distance to the laser projected plane above your vette. You put shims on the bodymounts untill the difference is almost none.
When you put your body back you will be pretty close. You may have to remove a shim or add a shim as required.
From what I've read most of the variations was in the frame. The birdcage and body was pretty close to the specs.
Hope this makes sense
When you put your body back you will be pretty close. You may have to remove a shim or add a shim as required.
From what I've read most of the variations was in the frame. The birdcage and body was pretty close to the specs.
Hope this makes sense
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
the easy option method, is to but 2 shims under the inner 4 cabin corners.
then add shims as needed on the outer corners, that you can get to.
good luck....69VETT
then add shims as needed on the outer corners, that you can get to.
good luck....69VETT
