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-   -   need some tips on fender alignment (https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=863086)

grd777 11-26-2022 08:40 PM

need some tips on fender alignment
 
3 Attachment(s)
tried everything but i cant this any better , any tips

Formulabruce 11-26-2022 08:57 PM

That door a 72? I have seen, and I set these up in the later 70's and early 80's , wide gaps like that from the factory. There needs to be enough gap in the middle to shut the door at the style line area or the fender has to come out some. You can run a bead of weld on the door or fender and re radius it. Some folks get it down to metal and use short strand fiberglass ( "bondo") to do this. If not close to hitting, this will last if prepped and mixed right.
At Sema shows, the "Riddler" Award cars 99% of the time have perfect gaps and they are made from filler where needed. yeah I said that, and its 100% true. Can show videos to you if needed.

grd777 11-26-2022 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Formulabruce (Post 6389313)
That door a 72? I have seen, and I set these up in the later 70's and early 80's , wide gaps like that from the factory. There needs to be enough gap in the middle to shut the door at the style line area or the fender has to come out some. You can run a bead of weld on the door or fender and re radius it. Some folks get it down to metal and use short strand fiberglass ( "bondo") to do this. If not close to hitting, this will last if prepped and mixed right.
At Sema shows, the "Riddler" Award cars 99% of the time have perfect gaps and they are made from filler where needed. yeah I said that, and its 100% true. Can show videos to you if needed.

it is a 72 is a very big gap at the top of the fender to the door every where else it fits good the driver side is very good

694.1 11-26-2022 09:06 PM

Looks like factory gaps to me! To improve takes welding & grinding.

grd777 11-26-2022 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 694.1 (Post 6389316)
Looks like factory gaps to me! To improve takes welding & grinding.

i will take a photo of the drivers side so we can compare

HoovDaddy 11-26-2022 10:26 PM

4 Attachment(s)
Not being there and only 3 pics makes it a little tough. How many shims are on the cowl to fender bolt in the upper door jam? How many shims are on the front of the firewall? Judging by the size of the upper lip, it looks like a GM fender, correct?

Just for kicks I attached these gaps on my brand new '71 Camaro. Not perfect by todays standards, but shows how the got parts to fit quickly. Next pics are how I repair gaps especially with repop panels. I weld welding rod to one side, grind it flush, and use lead to fill it. I would avoid any type of plastic filler on the edge of jams. This would be the very last resort for you. Need to figure out the simple stuff first.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1669515218
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1669515230
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1669515551
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1669515580

grd777 11-26-2022 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoovDaddy (Post 6389331)
Not being there and only 3 pics makes it a little tough. How many shims are on the cowl to fender bolt in the upper door jam? How many shims are on the front of the firewall? Judging by the size of the upper lip, it looks like a GM fender, correct?

Just for kicks I attached these gaps on my brand new '71 Camaro. Not perfect by todays standards, but shows how the got parts to fit quickly. Next pics are how I repair gaps especially with repop panels. I weld welding rod to one side, grind it flush, and use lead to fill it. I would avoid any type of plastic filler on the edge of jams. This would be the very last resort for you. Need to figure out the simple stuff first.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1669515218
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1669515230
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1669515551
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1669515580

great photos . i will take a look at the shims , your gap on the camaro are much better than my photo, do u know how i can rotate my photo

HoovDaddy 11-26-2022 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grd777 (Post 6389333)
how i can rotate my photo

Hold the phone sideways. The long side of the photo needs to be top and bottom.

grd777 11-26-2022 10:54 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Quote:

Originally Posted by HoovDaddy (Post 6389339)
Hold the phone sideways. The long side of the photo needs to be top and bottom.

here is a untouched car much better gaps

ID67goat 11-26-2022 11:26 PM

Are you aligning the fenders with the weight of the car on all 4 tires on the ground? If on jack stands the subframe could sag and make the gap larger at the top.

Make sure to align doors to body, align fenders to doors, and then shim the core support to the fender.

grd777 11-26-2022 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ID67goat (Post 6389343)
Are you aligning the fenders with the weight of the car on all 4 tires on the ground? If on jack stands the subframe could sag and make the gap larger at the top.

Make sure to align doors to body, align fenders to doors, and then shim the core support to the fender.

yes i had the car on all 4,s spend hours trying to get the gap better at the top. i guess i will keep tiring

JUDGE3 11-27-2022 09:30 PM

On all my gaps I welded a small bead, then used micro fiber fiberglass filler to fill the weld and smooth and blend as needed.

had the exact same gap in your pics also.

like seein the pics of original new gap and door alignment. I have learned to work them to what I will be satisfied with instead of trying to duplicate experienced professionals.

jhein 11-28-2022 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grd777 (Post 6389333)
great photos . i will take a look at the shims , your gap on the camaro are much better than my photo, do u know how i can rotate my photo

https://i.imgur.com/K3b3bZDl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/QsArJ7Pl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/KIZ6EbJl.jpg

grd777 11-28-2022 03:27 PM

you are a great guy ,thanks for this . i think this gap is way to big ,the driver side is way better . not sure what to do next to fix it

HoovDaddy 11-28-2022 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grd777 (Post 6389625)
you are a great guy ,thanks for this . i think this gap is way to big ,the driver side is way better . not sure what to do next to fix it

Are there any shims on the bolt that goes into the firewall below the hood hinge?

How much gap between the quarter and door?

Which of these parts are original to the car and which ones have you installed?

grd777 11-28-2022 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoovDaddy (Post 6389660)
Are there any shims on the bolt that goes into the firewall below the hood hinge?

How much gap between the quarter and door?

Which of these parts are original to the car and which ones have you installed?

if i remember correctly, there is a few shims in the firewall ,the gap is good below the gap on the door and the hood and fender are oem that i installed

HoovDaddy 11-28-2022 08:45 PM

If there are shims on the bolt I'm talking about, the shims are moving the fender forward. Please verify, or take a pic. Also that fender mounting tab needs to be 90 degrees. If it's bent it will compound the problem. Let me know, then we can move forward, or backward. lol

grd777 11-28-2022 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoovDaddy (Post 6389701)
If there are shims on the bolt I'm talking about, the shims are moving the fender forward. Please verify, or take a pic. Also that fender mounting tab needs to be 90 degrees. If it's bent it will compound the problem. Let me know, then we can move forward, or backward. lol

ok will do thank you for helping me .i will be going to me shop soon and take photos

dld 11-30-2022 02:50 PM

you can close that gap at the top buy lifting the core support .

the gap down the door is largely controlled buy the location of core support . tip don't bolt the front of fender until last

first align door to quarter and rocker . then align the fender to the door . you can budge center or flatten it buy the shimming the bottom of fender.

the fender should be a little out further then the door for clearance and air into the jam

grd777 11-30-2022 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dld (Post 6390057)
you can close that gap at the top buy lifting the core support .

the gap down the door is largely controlled buy the location of core support . tip don't bolt the front of fender until last

first align door to quarter and rocker . then align the fender to the door . you can budge center or flatten it buy the shimming the bottom of fender.

the fender should be a little out further then the door for clearance and air into the jam

thanks a lot ,this is great info i will try this on the weekend


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