My wiper door has never been on since I got my 72. I just had the threads drilled and inserts put in and test assembled it, and things are not lining up well. The door is off center in the car (you can see the big difference in gap in the pics below), and it's too far forward, so my grill won't quite fit in the gap in front of it without binding the door.

The holes were re-drilled by a reputable machine shop, so I trust they got them in the right place. You can see in the pics that the hinge assy appears to be off center too.

My question is, where do you guys start with issues like this? The car has really been around the block body-wise, so I'm not surprised things are off, but how to address things like this? I mean, I can start fabbing shims and adapters to get the wiper hinge assy in the right place, but should I be looking further before that? Are my fenders off? The front of the wiper well, the holes in it? Is the frame twised? How can I tell what part(s) of the car are off and adding up to this problem?






Thanks!
-Eric

 

Hi Eric,
I would begine by loosening (but not removing) all the fasteners that secure the door MECHANISM to the cowl.
This will allow you to slide everything back and forth until you get the door centered between the fenders.
You can then loosen the screws that mount the wiper bay grill to the mechanism and move the grill until it is centered too.

The gaps MAY not be the same as the door fender gap but strive to have the door and grill both centered in the opening in the hood surround.

Remember that the grill mounts to the door mechanism too. So when you move the mechanism to set the door gaps the grill moves to.
Set the door gaps first and then the grill gaps.

Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

Door mechanism fastener locations.



Grill fastener locations.



Making some shims from 3M putty spreaders (vary their thickness with layers of tape) to help hold the door and grill in the position you want them while you tighten the fasteners.

 

Oops! Forgot the pictures. Added them now.

Thanks Alan 71, I didn't realize the joint between the mechanism and the cowl was adjustable. Maybe I just didn't look hard enough. Your engine bay is a thing of beauty, by the way!

 

I hope you have a factory assembly manual...and that is IF you are concerned about getting the measurement that GM outlined in teh manual.

I myself....I do not care about what GM states ( unless the customer wants it so it can be judged...even if they measure that area or not) and it is all a matter of how it fits and me getting the door frame assembly installed correctly...so when the wiper door is down...and the grille is installed....the body lines and gaps and moldings all look very good.

I would advise doing this when the car is on the ground and obviously with aired up tires.

The area of the wiper door frame that attaches to the plenum and the bracket for your wiper door vacuum pod is attached...there is a special shaped shim for that area.

On your wiper door frame GM also had added brackets at the ends of the wiper door frame assembly so it can be secured to the windshield frame area....these are adjustable and IMPORTANT. Watch out for the hex head 10-24 machine screw that threads into the frame assembly for these brackets..because they can seize and snap off easily.

When I do these frame/door installations....it is a 'in and out' scenario and I can do it numerous times until I feel I have to and tighten everything down...only to find I need to fine tune it.

Due to the age of your car and not knowing what it has been through...do not be surprised that you might need to add a large washer on one of the studs that will allow the frame to tilt a little bit. I have made my own square shims that can slide onto these studs at the outer mount points...because I want as much surface area for the shim instead of a small washer with a small surface area.

Then if I know the hood is adjusted correctly and I am getting the door assembly installed. I look for a nice visual gap between the wiper door and grille..and a good gap between the wiper grille and the hood.
If I am doing this on a painted car that was previously painted by someone else...I do the best I can by trying to get it even as possible in regards to gap widths. BUT if the car has been screwed up by someone else..there is only so much I can do without doing body work.

When I am doing these during a major paint job....I can correct all flaws and get it so the gaps and fit are perfect.

I know some people prefer to have the gap between the wiper door and grille rather tight...maybe the thickness of a paper matchstick...and they can do as they wish..I prefer giving it a little bit more and getting more like a wood matchstick if not a hair bit more. I am not afraid to get this gap to 3/16".

The gap between the hood and wiper grille I try to make it so it is not a royal pain in the backside for the owner to grab the hood and raise it. I get it also to about 3/16".

I adjust the wiper grille so the gap between the door an hood are even as a possible. But that is just me.

DUB

 

Thank Ya'll for the explanations and to the OP for asking the question.....My gaps are much the same and it's good to know it can be fixed.

Brian

 

Hi,
These gaps are probably pretty typical of what can be achieved, but it takes some time and effort….. maybe quite a bit of time and effort!?
Regards,
Alan

 

Great thread.

On the very outermost portions of the wiper area, what goes between the wiper Area and the recess into the engine/under body area?

Dub of course knew all of this but sadly he passed away and I got my car back unfinished. So since I didn’t disassemble it I have very little idea how to get it back together. Yes I have the assemble manual.

 

5 yr old post,I think.

 

Yep, but Alan71’s pictures are always the best!


Miss him here.