Body alignment question??????
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 83
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From: ST AUGUSTINE FL
Body alignment question??????
The hood on my 78 does not line up with the left fender. I have
seen these hard rubber bumpers in catalogs that they claim are
used "by the factoery" to align the hood with the fenders. I even
saw a couple of cars at this past weekends NCRS Meet with these
bumpers on the fender flanges. My questions is, if I put these things on my car will I crack the paint on the hood or worse damage the fiberglass?
Thanks,
Pat
seen these hard rubber bumpers in catalogs that they claim are
used "by the factoery" to align the hood with the fenders. I even
saw a couple of cars at this past weekends NCRS Meet with these
bumpers on the fender flanges. My questions is, if I put these things on my car will I crack the paint on the hood or worse damage the fiberglass?
Thanks,
Pat
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
If you have a slight misalignment they should be OK. But if you're talking 1/4 inch or greater I would start by shimming the hinges on the hood and making sure the latches are adjusted correctly.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: ST AUGUSTINE FL
I've got more than .25 inches. I've tried adjusting the hood
but that seems to create more problems than it fixes. The hood fits great except in this one spot. I may just have to live with it! The bumpers would be the ideal fix but I'm really afraid that they too will create more problems.
Thanks
but that seems to create more problems than it fixes. The hood fits great except in this one spot. I may just have to live with it! The bumpers would be the ideal fix but I'm really afraid that they too will create more problems.
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Well, they are cheap enough ... try using a bumper to bring it up
about 1/8". This will make the difference much less noticable.
You're supposed to trim them to the height needed.
IMO - I don't think 1/4" is too much, but use your best judgement.
about 1/8". This will make the difference much less noticable.
You're supposed to trim them to the height needed.
IMO - I don't think 1/4" is too much, but use your best judgement.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Mine is the same on the right fender. Mine started to crack the pain where it is low.
Is the area in question near where the hood support mounts?
Look for cracks on the inside of the hood. Mine cracked on the passenger side directly opposite the hood support.
I think the rubber spacers are the way to go Try it out with some small pieces of faom taped there first. If the height looks right then order the rubber and cut to the same size.
Good Luck
Is the area in question near where the hood support mounts?
Look for cracks on the inside of the hood. Mine cracked on the passenger side directly opposite the hood support.
I think the rubber spacers are the way to go Try it out with some small pieces of faom taped there first. If the height looks right then order the rubber and cut to the same size.
Good Luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 0
From: pr, frederick md.
of course it will crack the paint if you go to far. i have about a 1/2 piece about half way between hinge and lock. all your looking for is a little nudge, not a great adjustment. truth is these fiberglass bodies were poorly/quicly made. and just need some tlc 
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,408
Likes: 792
From: Redondo Beach, California
Has your car ever been in a front collision? When I bought my 1968 Corvette in 1973, the hood also did not fit the body. The seller did tell me that it had been in an accident and the car had not been properly repaired. Anyhow I bought the car. (very low price and like new interior). I assumed that repairing it wouldn't cost very much.
The small mismatch in hood to body, turned out in fact, to be much more expensive to repair than I guessed. There were a lot of unseen things in the body work that can often need to repaired when you have a noticeable hood/body fit poblem. I paid to have the body work redone. Anyhow as of this date, the repair work is 30 years old and has not cracked and everything is a perfect fit. The man who did my repair was truly a professional craftsman.
Perfect fit?? Actually maybe too perfect of a fit. My front bumper, which actually looks really good, does have some slight signs of age. I have a new replated front bumper that I bought from someone at NCRS.org. It doesn't seem to be a repro bumper. I thought I'd just bolt it on. Didn't work. The guy that did my front end repair, custom fit the front of the car to the existing front bumper! The match of the body work of my car to the bumper is exact, but only my existing bumper will fit!!!
The small mismatch in hood to body, turned out in fact, to be much more expensive to repair than I guessed. There were a lot of unseen things in the body work that can often need to repaired when you have a noticeable hood/body fit poblem. I paid to have the body work redone. Anyhow as of this date, the repair work is 30 years old and has not cracked and everything is a perfect fit. The man who did my repair was truly a professional craftsman.
Perfect fit?? Actually maybe too perfect of a fit. My front bumper, which actually looks really good, does have some slight signs of age. I have a new replated front bumper that I bought from someone at NCRS.org. It doesn't seem to be a repro bumper. I thought I'd just bolt it on. Didn't work. The guy that did my front end repair, custom fit the front of the car to the existing front bumper! The match of the body work of my car to the bumper is exact, but only my existing bumper will fit!!!
Last edited by 68/70Vette; Jan 24, 2005 at 10:18 PM.
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