Body panel gaps?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 373
Likes: 0
From: Belews Creek N.C.
Body panel gaps?
Has anybody tightened up the gaps between the body panels? The problem I have is the door gaps are fine at the door to the rear fender but excessive at the front fender. it appears that the front fenders need to move closer to the door, but how do you do that when you take into consideration the front nose. Can the nose be moved back the same distance as the fender? I need help!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 373
Likes: 0
From: Belews Creek N.C.
I have been all over the car and have not seen any signes of it being in an accident. I have seen signes that the car may have been painted. The car was and still is Sebring Silver. Im not sure adjusting the door will solve the problem because it will increase the gap at the rear fender. The gap at the front fender is about 3/8" and would like to decrease it to about a 1/4". what is the standard panel gap in this area?
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 552
Likes: 0
From: Alton Illinois
i checked mine and it is 1/4 to 3/8 all around.(99 vert) i know mine has not been wrecked and i have never really noticed what i would call an unusual gap. don't notice anything unusual when i look at it either.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 479
Likes: 2
From: Hollywood Maryland
Adjustable
I had gaps up front also. Car was wrecked and repaired correctly but, Body shop got lazy, did a poor alignment. Get ready for a frustrating afternoon. If the door bottoms and back gaps look uniform, don't fool with them. You can 'move' the front pieces (Hood, fenders, front fascia) North/South and East/West by loosening the bolts and screws that hold them to the car. I realigned my fenders perfectlly to the hood and doors only to find the hood's off east/west about 1/8" when compared to the headlight covers. So, I plan to remove the front fascia (I need to repaint it, too many curb stone run ins and stone chips), align the hood to the headlight covers, realign the fenders to the hood and doors, then install and align the front fascia as close to uniform as I can get. You'll need a helper to align the hood. It's not hard, but time consuming. Patience is a virtue.
PS watch your bolt and screws torque specs, don't over torque them. If a screw or bolt isn't holding, you tend to want to tighten it more. I bought SS locking star washers that gave better grip to keep the plastic parts from sliding or moving.
Good luck.
PS watch your bolt and screws torque specs, don't over torque them. If a screw or bolt isn't holding, you tend to want to tighten it more. I bought SS locking star washers that gave better grip to keep the plastic parts from sliding or moving.
Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Rember that the composit body pannels expand and contract with heat and cold. If you leave your car in the sun facing east. The body pannels on the south, sunny side, will expand more then the pannels on the north, shaded side.
