- Aug 2, 2014
- 181
- 44
- 38
So I've purchased new fender extensions, a new bumper, bumper brackets, valance, stone guard support brackets, and stone guard (which was way off from factory, I've tried to tweak and salvage it).
I've got the rear hood (original) to cowl gap set @ 5/16". Fenders (original) to hood gap is approx. 1/4". The new fender extensions actually fit pretty well to the original fenders. Standing there looking at the front of the car from the top, it looks pretty good.
The issues I'm having are with the new valance sheet metal and bumper. Do I align the bottom of the fenders in/out in relation to the poorly fitting valance? Or is there a measurement I should start from for the in/out of the bottom of the fenders and beat the valance into position? The same goes for the stone guard. I cut and bent it out a bit to match the original piece better. There is a 1/4" of adjustment on each end for the fenders to adjust.
As it sits now, I just bolted everything together as best it would fit to see where I stood. I then bolted the bumper on and it is 3/8" of an inch to far to the drivers side and it is adjusted all the way to the passenger. Is this a symptom of the sheet metal being out of whack, the brackets, or the frame?
Note, most of the front clip that I've replaced is due to what looks like a fender bender. Nothing major that I see. I've taken a couple diagonal dimensions across the engine bay and everything is close. Worst was 1/4" off, but that was also the least accurate points I picked (cowl to firewall flange to center of fender bolt head). Not sure how to check the frame but there isn't any evidence of buckles, cracks, welding, etc.
There is a rule about engine alignments in boats; "The tail wags the dog". Where ever the shaft coupler ends up during setup, all the machinery is adjusted to fit that. You do not pull the coupler to the motor. Is there such a rule about aligning the front clip?
Please help! I'm not trying to restore her right now, I just don't want to look to bad going to shows this summer I will post pictures later.
Thanks!
I've got the rear hood (original) to cowl gap set @ 5/16". Fenders (original) to hood gap is approx. 1/4". The new fender extensions actually fit pretty well to the original fenders. Standing there looking at the front of the car from the top, it looks pretty good.
The issues I'm having are with the new valance sheet metal and bumper. Do I align the bottom of the fenders in/out in relation to the poorly fitting valance? Or is there a measurement I should start from for the in/out of the bottom of the fenders and beat the valance into position? The same goes for the stone guard. I cut and bent it out a bit to match the original piece better. There is a 1/4" of adjustment on each end for the fenders to adjust.
As it sits now, I just bolted everything together as best it would fit to see where I stood. I then bolted the bumper on and it is 3/8" of an inch to far to the drivers side and it is adjusted all the way to the passenger. Is this a symptom of the sheet metal being out of whack, the brackets, or the frame?
Note, most of the front clip that I've replaced is due to what looks like a fender bender. Nothing major that I see. I've taken a couple diagonal dimensions across the engine bay and everything is close. Worst was 1/4" off, but that was also the least accurate points I picked (cowl to firewall flange to center of fender bolt head). Not sure how to check the frame but there isn't any evidence of buckles, cracks, welding, etc.
There is a rule about engine alignments in boats; "The tail wags the dog". Where ever the shaft coupler ends up during setup, all the machinery is adjusted to fit that. You do not pull the coupler to the motor. Is there such a rule about aligning the front clip?
Please help! I'm not trying to restore her right now, I just don't want to look to bad going to shows this summer I will post pictures later.
Thanks!