[Frank69]

Have been looking for a post I have seen on step by step alignment of the
front bumper and lite assys for 69 Firebird. Does anyone have this info?
My car needs a little adjustment and the assy manual and other manuals I have do not have usable info. Thanks, Frank69

[ANDYA]

Adjusting the front end on a 69 Bird can be a real PITA. I don't think there is a set procedure. You just need to start loosening some of the fasteners and make small adjustments a little at a time. The problem I noticed when I aligned the nose on my car is when you adjust a bad area you will throw off a good area. It's a good idea to have a helper that can hold things still while you tighten bolts. It takes time and patience to align the nose on a 69. You may need a good weekend to play with it to get it nice.

[Frank69]

Thanks for your reply and good advice. Right about the PITA! 5 yrs ago had car repainted and they dis assembled the front. It has not been the same since. Will not go back to shop for many reasons so am trying to adjust this myself. Assy has a 1/4" gap at the bottom on driver side and 1/8' gap on pass side bottom and no gap at top. Looks pretty good across top and hood aligns good. I think shop tried to align bumper straight up & down not knowing it should be in at the bottom.
Have no lacky to help with holding parts while I wrench. Am thinking of taking car to a body man that has a good reputation and see if he can help. Have had some advice that says "its not that bad just live with it". I know this was perfect before dis assembly and it can be again I hope! Thanks again for your advice!
Frank69

[Toms bird]

I remember using Jacks and rags and shims to help hold one side and tightening the other it was a pain. Got it all lined up and just took it all apart for final paint. So I'm looking forward to doing it all again now with freshly painted parts.

[Frank69]

Congrats on your alignment job! Take your time and it should be perfect! Thanks, Frank69

[maxepr]

Did three cars, take your time... when it starts winning walk away... when you come back later things seem to come together easier... you will get it it takes time....

[Frank69]

Thanks for the advise and pics. My car is Midnight Green w/no vinyl top. Your cars look good! Will keep trying for the perfect look...
Thanks again, Frank69

[DOC]

Recommend to put tape on all painted areas that will be near the fender or the front bumper. Very easy to scratch the paint doing this.

[Frank69]

Thanks, one of my greatest fears is a scratch. Will protect all painted areas. Frank69

[ws6speedpaul]

I aligned the front end perfectly on my 69 bird up on jack stands and when I put it down all things went bad.

My advise, along with the others, is to make sure the final alignment is done with all tires touching the ground with the full weight on the chassis.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Make sure to add pics when its done!

[Frank69]

Thanks for your advise and info. This proves aligning the front end is no easy task. We should not feel too bad as the pros don't do much better! Mine was a mess when it came back from the paint shop! Thanks again for your input..Its good advise... Will post some pic's when I have it perfect again.. Most things that are worth while are not easy.. Nice Red Bird! .Frank69

[MikeNoun]

Yes sir, aligning the nose on a 69 Bird is a PITA!! I spoke to Level One Restorations at the MCACN show about their 1969 Firebird RAIV ragtop front end, and he said that it took them 2 days to line everything up, and these guys are resto experts. It took me 6 days on my own Bird.

As previously stated, patience, and a swear jar, help.

Mike

[Frank69]

Thanks Mike.. This is about the most difficult thing to do on this car. I like the swear jar. I need a swear bucket! Thanks, Frank69

[maxepr]

2 days for my first one 1.5 for my second. My second had original re chrome bumper and a repro headlight surrounds. Like I said walk away if it gets tough. You will get it. I wonder how long they had to do it on the assembly line.

[Frank69]

Max, Thanks for the support . Talk about pressure! They had to get it and get it right!. Wish they would have passed on some of the wisdom it took to get this done!
The assy manual and the body manuel don't help much.. Thanks again, Frank69

[gtobird]

I don't know if this information is publicly available or not. A long time ago I bought a 69 Firebird assembly manual. . It is a really poor photocopy of original GM documents. Let me know if you are looking for any particular dimensions in a PM with your email address and I will see if they are in the manual.

I wish you well and I am about to reassemble my 68 in a couple of months.

OJ

[Frank69]

Thanks OJ for the kind offer to assist in this project. I have the Assy Manual for 69 Firebird and the best part of it is the drawings. It does show the parts but no instructions like where should you start first etc. Factory guys had to be very clever or they would have kept the line stopped a lot!!! Thanks again for your help. Frank69

[Lou]

Hello Frank, I am also looking for this info. The 1/2" gap between the filler and the Light bezel is driving me crazy when I look at it. Did you ever get the steps on readjusting nose and can you please share it. Thanks

[StevenK]

Took me many, many hours to complete my TA as I never liked the way it lined up after paint. Every winter I had to adjust this n that and one problem was a worn hood hinges as well as bent headlight surround.. To much slop throws every thing off. Tape everything off like DOC said B4 reinstalling pieces. Never ever jack by the front bumper, push the car by front end.

[turbo69bird]

When I adjusted mine years ago I felt I had it pretty well perfect. I swear every time I launched the car at the track RAIV stick car. It moved a little . It’s amazing how far off it is now after all those years of racing.

So I’d be interested in the best practices of this process as well .