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Old 11-26-2022, 08:40 PM
grd777 grd777 is offline
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Default need some tips on fender alignment

tried everything but i cant this any better , any tips
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  #2  
Old 11-26-2022, 08:57 PM
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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.

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Old 11-26-2022, 09:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Formulabruce View Post
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

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Old 11-26-2022, 09:06 PM
694.1 694.1 is offline
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Looks like factory gaps to me! To improve takes welding & grinding.

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Old 11-26-2022, 09:18 PM
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Originally Posted by 694.1 View Post
Looks like factory gaps to me! To improve takes welding & grinding.
i will take a photo of the drivers side so we can compare

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Old 11-26-2022, 10:26 PM
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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.




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Old 11-26-2022, 10:32 PM
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Originally Posted by HoovDaddy View Post
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.




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

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Old 11-26-2022, 10:49 PM
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Originally Posted by grd777 View Post
how i can rotate my photo
Hold the phone sideways. The long side of the photo needs to be top and bottom.

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Old 11-26-2022, 10:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HoovDaddy View Post
Hold the phone sideways. The long side of the photo needs to be top and bottom.
here is a untouched car much better gaps
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Old 11-26-2022, 11:26 PM
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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.

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Old 11-26-2022, 11:33 PM
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Originally Posted by ID67goat View Post
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

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Old 11-27-2022, 09:30 PM
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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.

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Old 11-28-2022, 03:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grd777 View Post
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





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Old 11-28-2022, 03:27 PM
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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

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Old 11-28-2022, 05:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grd777 View Post
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?

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Old 11-28-2022, 07:52 PM
grd777 grd777 is offline
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Originally Posted by HoovDaddy View Post
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

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Old 11-28-2022, 08:45 PM
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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

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Old 11-28-2022, 08:54 PM
grd777 grd777 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HoovDaddy View Post
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

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Old 11-30-2022, 02:50 PM
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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

  #20  
Old 11-30-2022, 06:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dld View Post
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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