Hi all,

New member, new to Corvettes.

Could any please tell me if I can find on-line information on aligning the front end bodywork on a 93 C4.

I don’t know why, could be a minor crash (no signs!), could be for mechanical access, but someone has at some time removed and refitted the front end body panels. I can see that the fixing nuts/bolts are not in the original locations. Also the gaps are not even between hood & fenders and also hood & bumper.

I can see lots of places with either shims or elongated fixing holes and to be honest I’ve had a go at adjusting things so have a couple of bodyshops (non Corvette, because there are none in my area!). It seems that one area is adjusted then something else goes out and round and round it goes. I’ve had all sorts of good intentioned advice and suggestions, but nothing has worked.

Does anyone know if I can find somewhere, perhaps an official Corvette procedure for correctly aligning these panels?.

Any help greatly appreciated, many thanks.

 

shims and long holes are used at the factory. which body pannels are you talking about exactly? the side gills, hood, or front bumper? all are somewhat easy to line up. the hood and bumper are easier with a buddy. let me know where you have the gaps and what looks off. pictures would be best.

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=2033877

Post #9

Front bumper alignment...

 

Thanks for the replies Guy’s,

It’s difficult to describe the ‘gaps’ accurately. The hood to bumper is uneven, both horizontally and vertically, it’s as though the bumper is kind of ‘wavey’ rather than level.

Also there is a big gap (1.5”) between the hood and the LH side bumper panel (the panel in front of the wheel). This looks as thought the ‘bumper panel’(?!) has dropped.

Back to the hood/bumper gap, this gap gets really large on the RH side when the hood is opened.

There are marks on all the mounting places where bolts/fixings where originally or have been tried. It’s driving me mad moving adjusting one mounting and then another goes out!.

I’ll try to get some pics, but it’s dark here in euroland. If it stops raining I’ll get some tomorrow.

I was wondering if there is a set/factory procedure for this ie hood in some set position first and then other panels adjusted to that, or perhaps the bumper first!!!???

Thanks again.

 

Okay, I’ve tried to take some representative photos. Somehow the pics make it look better than actually is:-

Photo 1 & Photo 2 are not too bad in respect to hood-door alignment, but the hood – front fender (is that what it’s called?) have different gaps each side.





Photo 3 & Photo 4 show the worst problem. The hood – side bumper alignment on the LH side is horrible.





Photo 5 & Photo 6 show the same problem as it affects the hood – bumper alignment on the LH side.





Photo 7 & Photo 8 show the gap difference between the LH & RH sides on the hood – bumper alignment. These are worst in real life.





Photo 9 & Photo 10 again show the hood – bumper gap difference between LH & RH, this time with the hood open, why should the hood open make a difference!?





What I couldn’t capture on photo, was the slight ‘up/down’ (almost ‘wavy’ effect) where the hood – bumper isn’t flush in places.

Like I said, I’ve tried some adjustments and when I get one thing right, something else goes out. I realise it is only a rough guide, but I’ve looked at the chassis members and the front bumper mounting frame and they all seem to be undamaged and in alignment. My hope was that Corvette/Chevy (or a good bodyshop) have a technique/procedure for getting these panels lined up.

Any thoughts anyone???..... much appreciated.

 

looks like you have too many shims on one side of the hood and too few on the other. have a buddy come over and screw with it till you get it to line up. i think someone left you a hood alignment link. make sure the bumper is solid too, grab it & see if it wiggles. the bumper is attached by 4 bolts you can see down by your airbox. two on each side of it vertically sat into the frame.

 

I do have equal amounts of shims each side, but as mentioned, various bolts/fixings are not in the original positions (paint tell tales etc). As also mentioned, I have 'screwed' with it (incl. bumper), without success, so this is really where I came in... wondering if there was an official or recognised procedure and/or order of adjusting these panels.

Oh well, thanks all for trying.

 

trying? i've done it. equal shims means squat, if they were designed to be equal you wouldn't need shims. pull one out of the high side and move it to the low, keep them a little wiggly, close hood gently to make sure it lines up. you need a buddy since the hood is heavy. this is a big rubix cube. you need to move various pieces to line up others.

 

You are of course correct racebum, my apologies, when I said equal amount of shims, I was trying to say, without protracting matters, that the shims add up (on the latest adjustment attempts) to an equal amount of measurement from the chassis/mounting points and that I and a buddy, plus a couple of bodyshop employees, have been moving the shims as well as the various panel/fixing points, all to no avail.

Perhaps I didn’t explain properly, although I did try, I/we have been attempting to move and align these panels in the ways that you suggest before I asked the question on the forum. I/we might be dummies at it, but all our efforts have so far failed.

If you notice from the pics., the major problem is the LH hood – side bumper panel gap. If I reduce the hood shims to correct this, then the hood – front bumper alignment is way off and this is what I am experiencing generally with all the panels, ie correct one and something goes out. With all of the ‘wiggling’, ‘moving various pieces’, ‘lining up one panel to the next’, etc etc., (with buddies) I still can’t get the combination to have all the panels aligned. This is why I thought, rightly or wrongly, that there may be an official or recognised procedure/order in which it should be done.

 

Check that your hood stops aren't to high. The one in front of the tire and the other near the hood latch. Looks like the one in front of the tire is too high and holding the hood up and pushing the hood out a little.

Mike.

 

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the input.

When you say 'hood stops', are these the things that look like adjuster/locking bolts that point upwards and have a rubber cover on the ends? (sorry, can't take another pic it's dark here).

If these are the things I'm thinking of, that is a good call, but I've previously checked and they are screwed down and not making contact!

Unless hood stops are something else and I haven't found them yet... a possibility.

Jo

PS: I 'think' there is a clue in the fact that the hood to bumper gap increases on one side when the hood is open, also with the hood open the (what becomes the lower edge of the hood) is higher on one side compared to the bumper height... I can't work this bit out though.

 

You may have to take the tire off and look up at the hood from the wheel well. Something is holding the hood up. At least that is what I can see from the pics. After you get the hood down then I would worry about the gaps.

Hope this helps.

Mike

 

Welcome to the forum. In answer to your original post there is NOT an official process for re aligning the front body panels. That being said however you have two great sources for ideas:

The 1st one you've already found in guys like racebum and others who have solved this issue previously.

The 2nd is to go out and purchase the 2-volume set of factory service manuals for your 93. They are for sale all the time here on the forum and on e-bay and go for $75 - $100.00

Keep asking questions ..... that's how we all learn.