RE: BODY MOUNTS ARE NOT SEXY

[jay]

Thanks for your feedback but the question still hasnt been answered :


1. can i remove shims without lifting the body up?


2. how can i add shims to even out the back mounts?


3. on a mid-year where would you lift the body to slide the


shims out ? I know after measuring every height that the shocks are not the problem springs are new and frame is new ( complete body off restoration) there are 2 bolts behind the rear wheels on both sides one has 4 shims and is high and the other has none and is exactly 1 inch lower


anyone who knows about shiming body mounts and precautions please respond?


1964 (body sag at rear)


jay

[Michael W.]

RE: BODY MOUNTS ARE NOT SEXY,

Jay,


I think what has been said in the other responses is that it is probably not body shimming that is causing your uneven body height.


The purpose of the shims is NOT to make the body level with the ground, they are there only to accomodate the production variances in 8 mounting spots on the body versus 8 mounting spots on the frame. Something like trying to stuff a folded napkin under the leg of a wobbly table in a restaurant. The goal is to get the wobble out not, make it level. A Corvette body is something like an 8 legged table trying to sit perfectly on 8 spots on the frame, which might not be perfectly true. The body is usually more out-of-true than the frame, in my experience.


What I believe that you should first, is make sure that the FRAME is level with the ground. The suspension is usually the culprit for this. You said that the rear spring is OK (ignore the shocks, they don't support the weight of the car)but how 'bout the front springs, are they installed OK? Are you sure that you don't have one corner of the front that's too high?


Ideally you should measure ground to frame height at as many locations a possible, all of your left to right measurments should be virtually identical.


Mike

[Tim Barbieri]

Re: RE: BODY MOUNTS ARE NOT SEXY,

Jay, I would not recomend taking any shims out of your car. Take some time and make sure your not missing something simple like a suspension problem or maybe the car was in an accident, hit hard and not repaired properly. The problem could very well be in the body and not in the relationship between frame and body mount. Could someone have improperly hung the rear fender? Does the tire have enough air in it? I know this might sound silly to you but the point is not to overlook the simple things first before you rearrange factory placed body shims.

[Tom B.]

Re: Body Mounts info

jay,


I haven't tried it but many people have done body-on restorations. I'll try to give you some general information for what you ask. Please see the caution I have at the bottom.


If you loosen the bolt at either rear mount then for 1) and 2) you should be able to add or remove shims, but you'll have to first determine what you need or want to raise or lower. Regardless, you'll need a minimum amount of "looseness" and space so that shims can be added or removed. 3) I'm not going to speculate where to properly or safely raise the body for this procedure.


The caution I'll mention is this. I strongly agree with the information that all others are providing, which is, that more than likely your "leveling" problem is elsewhere. I'm not sure that I would even do what you are doing (adding or removing shims) except as a last resort AND after I had determined that the problem was definitely NOT something else. Adding or removing shims can create stress at any other unknown point on the body and may leave you with cracks, gaps, or problems you never thought possible. I'm not sure what you mean when you mention that the frame is new. It could be that your frame is a replacement from another 64 (or other year) or that it is the original frame that has been completely redone. Please consider all other information before adding or removing the shims. TBarr #24014

[Wayne W.]

Re: Body Mounts info

The most likely cause of rear high on one side, especially on a restored car is ,believe it or not,is the front springs. You wouldnt believe how many I have seen with one spring not seated properly in the spring tower. Check this first. It should be centered in the upper spring tower evenly arround the shock mount hole. If not it will throw the rear off more than the front.