Body panel alignment
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Union Grove Wi.
Body panel alignment
Hi all,
I just purchased my 1st vette. It is a 1980. I am new to the forum and was hoping to solve probably the 1st of many problems. I am having a problem lining up the hood with the drivers side fender. The gaps are looking really good but the hood sits a half of an inch higher then the fender. It is flush at the hinge and the hood latch but tapers up in the middle. The hood is fine and level. I measured the inner lip of the fender to the top A arm on both sides and the drivers side is a half an inch lower then the passanger side. The passanger side is perfectly flush the whole length of the hood. Can the middle of the drivers side fender be raised a bit and how? Are there any other options. Unfortunately I do not know the history of the car as far as accidents, but it does not look like anything was taken apart.
Thanks for any help, Larry.
I just purchased my 1st vette. It is a 1980. I am new to the forum and was hoping to solve probably the 1st of many problems. I am having a problem lining up the hood with the drivers side fender. The gaps are looking really good but the hood sits a half of an inch higher then the fender. It is flush at the hinge and the hood latch but tapers up in the middle. The hood is fine and level. I measured the inner lip of the fender to the top A arm on both sides and the drivers side is a half an inch lower then the passanger side. The passanger side is perfectly flush the whole length of the hood. Can the middle of the drivers side fender be raised a bit and how? Are there any other options. Unfortunately I do not know the history of the car as far as accidents, but it does not look like anything was taken apart.
Thanks for any help, Larry.
Last edited by guidorr73; Apr 29, 2010 at 09:28 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
Hi all,
I just purchased my 1st vette. It is a 1980. I am new to the forum and was hoping to solve probably the 1st of many problems. I am having a problem lining up the hood with the drivers side fender. The gaps are looking really good but the hood sits a half of an inch higher then the fender. It is flush at the hinge and the hood latch but tapers up in the middle. The hood is fine and level. I measured the inner lip of the fender to the top A arm on both sides and the drivers side is a half an inch lower then the passanger side. The passanger side is perfectly flush the whole length of the hood. Can the middle of the drivers side fender be raised a bit and how? Are there any other options. Unfortunately I do not know the history of the car as far as accidents, but it does not look like anything was taken apart.
Thanks for any help, Larry.
I just purchased my 1st vette. It is a 1980. I am new to the forum and was hoping to solve probably the 1st of many problems. I am having a problem lining up the hood with the drivers side fender. The gaps are looking really good but the hood sits a half of an inch higher then the fender. It is flush at the hinge and the hood latch but tapers up in the middle. The hood is fine and level. I measured the inner lip of the fender to the top A arm on both sides and the drivers side is a half an inch lower then the passanger side. The passanger side is perfectly flush the whole length of the hood. Can the middle of the drivers side fender be raised a bit and how? Are there any other options. Unfortunately I do not know the history of the car as far as accidents, but it does not look like anything was taken apart.
Thanks for any help, Larry.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
Is the inner skirt (wheel well) still bonded to the upper fender where the hood is high on that side...or is it loose.
Does the hood have a crack in the under structure where it gets thin right near the hood support area? or on the other side?
"DUB"
Does the hood have a crack in the under structure where it gets thin right near the hood support area? or on the other side?
"DUB"
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Union Grove Wi.
The fender is still attached and solid. No noticeable cracks or flaws in the spot under the hood. Even the hood is very solid. Maybe it was a bad repair job. I just need to rectify the problem.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
Possible issue is the area where the inner skirt bonds to the inside edge of the rain gutter area ABOVE where your control arm is located needs to be seperated and lifted to flush and re-bonded....BUT without very good photo's ...this is the only answer I can advise you with at this time.
If you hood is flush at the hinge then the area further back will be lifted to correct this issue when the panels are seperated....and then bonded.
"DUB"
If you hood is flush at the hinge then the area further back will be lifted to correct this issue when the panels are seperated....and then bonded.
"DUB"
