[Skip Fix]

Swapped a Shaker hood on the 81 TA this weekend. It is about 1/8" narrower than a factory hood at the front. It is square and the fit is pretty darned good.

Down side when my daughter was drivign the 81 a neighbor at her Grandmother's house backed into the driver's door. Had the body shop replace with a skin I git I think through Ames. Body guy said front edge was too short. He said he added metal I could not see it. Never **** "good". When I was redoing power windows and locks I decided to align it better so pulled off the fender , had to get new hinges (repops are actually good. Noticed previous bushings were too loose and broken and a stop was welded on one to keep it from opening completely. Got it lined up with rear quarter and body line and contour there. Striker adjusted great. But BIG gap at rocker but even. Then adding fender back in had to move it 3/8" forward and add 3/4" shims at top bolt so the door would not rub fender at full open-why the old hinge had a welded stop! So since it is way forward there is 1/2" gap driver's front corner. But not the hood's fault. Probably try and add some metal there when I paint it.

[Aus78Formula]

Can you pull the fender adjustment in at the front? Normally the nose skin has shrunken to less than them anyway.

[burd]

Why not just buy a GM shaker

[Aus78Formula]

What?

[Skip Fix]

I have an extra GM Shaker hood little difference. GM base and Shaker extras also(Got an Olds scoop if anyone needs one, no base just scoop) The hood is good just a bad door skin or adding the skin.

Problem with the fender is the door skin and the fender do not the exact same contour and to clear the door edge at full opening(why the body guy tacked metal to make a stop, the entire fender is almost 1/2 forward-visible at the rocker too. Hood gap is front to rear, even gap down each side. Since it abuts the nose there is no way the nose can come back at the front corner unless you section the fender to make that mounting surface come back.

[Scarebird]

Originally Posted by Skip Fix

...Problem with the fender is the door skin and the fender do not the exact same contour and to clear the door edge at full opening...

My Lemans certainly would not have made those early Lexus ball bearing commercials, they would to have to use a damn beach ball...

[Skip Fix]

I know the car got hit before I got it on the RF as the fender has some brown paint under the black and the brackets and the steel bumper on that side are a little bent but straightened.

Car is mainly a "driver" but I am pretty anal about getting gaps close and an easy shutting door. And these F bodies were never real straight from the factory.

['ol Pinion head]

Skip, after reading your issues w the door to fender fitment, I'd source another door/ a nice clean used one.

[Skip Fix]

Roger my friend helping me and I debated that, he actually was up for it. But we have enough time and actually have it shutting in the striker nicely , sonot sure it is worth all that. But might have to hunt up a good driver's door.

When I was upgrading the front suspension I also noticed that fender the body shop tack welded one of the bolts vs putting a new clip nut in there! Why over the years I have to do lots of stuff myself-just not enough time to do it all

[Skip Fix]

Some pictures