Front Clip Alignment Help...

[jeremywrags]

Hi All,

I am having a hell of a time lining up my front clip after a bunch of sheetmetal work and new body mounts.

I have my top fitting perfect and doors close with perfect gaps all around. The problem is the front clip. If I have it "centered" meaning that the bolts for the core support are centered'ish in the holes the clip seems like it is off by about 2-3 inches. Also the hood pin is off by about the same amount so wont hit the hole without shifting the whole hood over. The result is that I cannot get my hood lined up and my passenger tire sticks out 2-3" further than the drivers side.

After tons of tinkering and adjusting I am at a loss, I cannot get this thing straight... I know panel alignment is an art but I feel like something is wrong here.

Here is my question. Having put new body mounts and a 1" ORD body lift is it possible that I have somehow shifted the whole tub?

Before I took it apart things lined up great and like I said I am pretty sure of the sheetmetal work as the doors are pretty perfect as is the fitment of the top.

 

[NorCal69]

I would start off by actually seeing if the tub is centered on the frame. Measure from the frame to a fixed point of both sides and see if you get the same measurement.

Like this

If you get the same measurement then at least you know the front of the tub is centered. Maybe even find a fixed point in the back by the tail pan and see if that is good to go too. From there, we all know that the fenders bolt directly into the cab cowl area. You might even have a washer here and there so the doors and fenders plane in, but It won't be off center by that much. Certainly not 2-3" worth.

If your door gaps are within specs, tub is centered and top fits good , I would think that it can only be the front core support.

Maybe a couple of pics too.

 

[bp71k5]

The core support can shift quite a bit by loosening the body mount bolts. The brackets that bolt the fenders to the core support are also slotted to let the front of the fenders to shift in or out. Mine had a similar problem that I fought a lot with.


-Brian

 

[jeremywrags]

Yea this weekend I will loosen all the body mounts, again... and try to get the front end lined up. I am getting tired of this process.

The core support can shift quite a bit by loosening the body mount bolts. The brackets that bolt the fenders to the core support are also slotted to let the front of the fenders to shift in or out. Mine had a similar problem that I fought a lot with.


-Brian

 

[NorCal69]

Hang in there. You'll get it.

 

[ashman]

if you need any measurements, feel free to ask. I'm sure that several of us would be willing to go out to the truck and get you what you need.