One piece rear clip alignment
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
One piece rear clip alignment
This should probably be in the body and paint section but I think there are only 3 regulars hanging out there....
So here I have a one piece 'vert rear clip that has been bonded in place. All other areas are aligned straight and level. Problem is the door lines not matching the fender crown and deck lid.
This is a view of the drivers side. See how the door lines go one way while the fender and deck go another
Passenger side view when the deck lid is raised to match the door line
The door and fender crown line match nicely but when the deck is raised to match the top of the fender is lost.
Clip is from a reputable manufacturer and otherwise has been correct. Anyone with experience hanging a one piece?
Blain
So here I have a one piece 'vert rear clip that has been bonded in place. All other areas are aligned straight and level. Problem is the door lines not matching the fender crown and deck lid.
This is a view of the drivers side. See how the door lines go one way while the fender and deck go another
Passenger side view when the deck lid is raised to match the door line
The door and fender crown line match nicely but when the deck is raised to match the top of the fender is lost.
Clip is from a reputable manufacturer and otherwise has been correct. Anyone with experience hanging a one piece?
Blain
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
Something is wrong here......
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 8
From: Sumter South Carolina
What you are going to need is a blunt object that weighs anything between 5 and 50lbs. Then hit it repeatedly until it lines up... you may have some cracks once you are done but that is expected...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,237
Likes: 4,328
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Blain,
I'm NOT a bodyman!!!!
If I had your situation I believe I'd cut the one piece clip apart so you can move the various pieces to make all of it line up with the doors and rear deck lid. I'd then use glass mat and resin to bond the clip back together. It'll sort of be what you would have done if you had a 'built-up' rear clip rather than a one piece.
Regards,
Alan
I'm NOT a bodyman!!!!
If I had your situation I believe I'd cut the one piece clip apart so you can move the various pieces to make all of it line up with the doors and rear deck lid. I'd then use glass mat and resin to bond the clip back together. It'll sort of be what you would have done if you had a 'built-up' rear clip rather than a one piece.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
I'm not seeing a "Ah-Ha" answer here.
Looking for someone to point out something I missed or didn't consider.
You know the one that make you go "Crap, I didn't see that"!
I have a factory door and a clip from a reputable manufacturer. One or the other is incorrect as far as I can believe.
I have made a couple of educated assumptions;
A coup and 'vert door are the same '68 through '80
Quarter fender crown lines are the same '68-'74 (probably '77)
Vanacors builds a good product
Any of these assumptions wrong?
Blain
Looking for someone to point out something I missed or didn't consider.
You know the one that make you go "Crap, I didn't see that"!
I have a factory door and a clip from a reputable manufacturer. One or the other is incorrect as far as I can believe.
I have made a couple of educated assumptions;
A coup and 'vert door are the same '68 through '80
Quarter fender crown lines are the same '68-'74 (probably '77)
Vanacors builds a good product
Any of these assumptions wrong?
Blain
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
I'm not seeing a "Ah-Ha" answer here.
Looking for someone to point out something I missed or didn't consider.
You know the one that make you go "Crap, I didn't see that"!
I have a factory door and a clip from a reputable manufacturer. One or the other is incorrect as far as I can believe.
I have made a couple of educated assumptions;
A coup and 'vert door are the same '68 through '80
Quarter fender crown lines are the same '68-'74 (probably '77)
Vanacors builds a good product
Any of these assumptions wrong?
Blain
Looking for someone to point out something I missed or didn't consider.
You know the one that make you go "Crap, I didn't see that"!
I have a factory door and a clip from a reputable manufacturer. One or the other is incorrect as far as I can believe.
I have made a couple of educated assumptions;
A coup and 'vert door are the same '68 through '80
Quarter fender crown lines are the same '68-'74 (probably '77)
Vanacors builds a good product
Any of these assumptions wrong?
Blain
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
I'm not seeing a "Ah-Ha" answer here.
Looking for someone to point out something I missed or didn't consider.
You know the one that make you go "Crap, I didn't see that"!
I have a factory door and a clip from a reputable manufacturer. One or the other is incorrect as far as I can believe.
I have made a couple of educated assumptions;
A coup and 'vert door are the same '68 through '80
Quarter fender crown lines are the same '68-'74 (probably '77)
Vanacors builds a good product
Any of these assumptions wrong?
Blain
Looking for someone to point out something I missed or didn't consider.
You know the one that make you go "Crap, I didn't see that"!
I have a factory door and a clip from a reputable manufacturer. One or the other is incorrect as far as I can believe.
I have made a couple of educated assumptions;
A coup and 'vert door are the same '68 through '80
Quarter fender crown lines are the same '68-'74 (probably '77)
Vanacors builds a good product
Any of these assumptions wrong?
Blain
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
Take some measurements where you have the problem. Like a reference point to top of door, top of quarter etc. Post them and then we can do the same measurements on cars that line up well. That should isolate the problem pretty quick.
My money is on the rear clip being wrong.
My money is on the rear clip being wrong.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Is the body now back on the frame? Do not attempt any major panel replacements with the body off the frame. They could get away with it on the assembly line because they used jigs and fixtures which held everything precisely in place.
Leave the doors as they are. Leave deck lid in place, but be prepared to wiggle with it. Rehang the rear to align with the doors and decklid.
Alan's idea also has merit.
The Glas-Ra volumes might also help.
http://www.glas-ra.com/rearhl1968thru1982.html
Leave the doors as they are. Leave deck lid in place, but be prepared to wiggle with it. Rehang the rear to align with the doors and decklid.
Alan's idea also has merit.
The Glas-Ra volumes might also help.
http://www.glas-ra.com/rearhl1968thru1982.html
Last edited by Easy Mike; Jul 14, 2011 at 11:09 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,447
Likes: 371
From: Maryville TN
St. Jude Donor '06-13,'16-'17, '19
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
Is the body now back on the frame? Do not attempt any major panel replacements with the body off the frame. They could get away with it on the assembly line because they used jigs and fixtures which held everything precisely in place.
Leave the doors as they are. Leave deck lid in place, but be prepared to wiggle with it. Rehang the rear to align with the doors and decklid.
Alan's idea also has merit.
The Glas-Ra volumes might also help.
http://www.glas-ra.com/rearhl1968thru1982.html
Leave the doors as they are. Leave deck lid in place, but be prepared to wiggle with it. Rehang the rear to align with the doors and decklid.
Alan's idea also has merit.
The Glas-Ra volumes might also help.
http://www.glas-ra.com/rearhl1968thru1982.html
I get what your saying about body off of frame- I'm going to leave my door gaps tight until it gets back on the frame for final cut. But if you look at the angles of the door compared to the clip there isn't anything the the body could be doing to make this happen.
The body was leveled when bonding the clip. Under the Oak tree now to keep the dust off of the shiny cars!
Not practical to reset the clip. I used about 5 cartridges of Duramix.
Doors are from a '78 so the '68 differences are not an issue. Just some minor bracketry on the inside.
Blain
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
So I think I'm beating a dead horse.
The door will dictate the fender line. So I think my solution will be to build up the fender to meet the deck lid.
I don't have a vert to refer to other then some pics' on the forum. Can any of you vert guys tell me if this angle is correct or should it be flatter?
The masking tape represents the new angle or contour if I fill to the deck lid.
If I build up to the deck the angle will be less and it will appear flat compared to the current crown line. This has been my struggle to keep it that way but if this is wrong for the factory line I'll throw in the towel.....
The door will dictate the fender line. So I think my solution will be to build up the fender to meet the deck lid.
I don't have a vert to refer to other then some pics' on the forum. Can any of you vert guys tell me if this angle is correct or should it be flatter?
The masking tape represents the new angle or contour if I fill to the deck lid.
If I build up to the deck the angle will be less and it will appear flat compared to the current crown line. This has been my struggle to keep it that way but if this is wrong for the factory line I'll throw in the towel.....