Body Contour
- Thread starter cadtech
- Start date
crashtech
Combo Man & Mod
It's typical for this to happen, but it's also typical for fenders to be bowed and not the perfect contour when taken off and then set back on the vehicle. SOP for door skinning is to align the door with the quarter and fender before skinning it, doing all the hinge repairs etc prior to this point. Leave the fender in its aligned position while the door is removed and skinned. Then when the door is put on prior to any welding, you can see where the skin is supposed to be and work the door frame until the skin fits the same way as the old one did.
'68 Coronet R/T
Oldtimer
It's hard to tell now since you have ground on it a bit, but often these issues are more hinge related. A slight in/out adjustment where the door attaches to the hinge will affect the alignment at the rear of the door as well.
I used a hammer and dolly a little at a time.
If you go the knocker way with something hooked behind the door edge--best to start not where the depression is the greatest but where it just starts to dip in alternating top and bottom with minor pulls and work toward the center. The idea is to "work from fix points to a free point". You "set" where it has the least amount of pull to remove and work toward that requiring the most stretch.
crashtech
Combo Man & Mod
Yeah a slide hammer with a thin hook attachment is what should be used. But if the fender has been off, it is likely not in the same shape it was from the factory. It's hard to explain, but the contour of the fender is easily changed by simply unbolting the bottom and adding or subtracting a bit of shim. In your case it would be adding.
If I add shims at the top or bottom won't the body creases move out of alignment?
RosharonRooster
Promoted Users
im not expert but i would first try to adjust using shims and or adjusting where the door bolts to the hinges. i know on the cars i work on, there is about 1/4 inch of play either in or out where the door meets the hinge. i like to tighten the bolts just a little more than hand tight to where u can still bump them with your palm.
crashtech
Combo Man & Mod
Yes and no. Contour and alignment are controllable by shimming, but I think it might be something that has to be taught. I don't know how to explain it. Has the fender been off, or is it in its original position?
Its actually the first time the fender has been on since a bought this project. The fender came with the cat but not on it.
crashtech
Combo Man & Mod
Okay, you might try to see if the fender needs another shim in the bottom. The rear top bolt controls height for the most part, and the bottom controls contour (mostly). If there is not enough shim in the bottom, the fender can get compressed and will bow outward too much.
That's not to say I know it's a problem, it's just something to keep in mind.
That's not to say I know it's a problem, it's just something to keep in mind.
Well I tried another door and it fits pretty good and matches the fender pretty close. With some more adjusting I think I can get it right on. I may need to do some metal work to get the gaps correct. I guess cutting, grinding, and welding changed the shape of the other door quite a bit. I don't know if I mentioned it. But the other door I had to rebuild both lower corners due to corrosion, so that was some more cutting, grinding, and welding. I'm just happy I figured it out.
