58 Rear Body Repair(s)

[Bill B.]

I have been test fitting both 1/4 panels and complete lower panel on my 58. Wouldn't be that difficult if I had any good sections intact on the body that I could have started from. Everything seems to be fitting better and better each time I make little adjustments--trunk alignment gets better and underbody/door/inner trunk panel contours are getting exactingly close. As all this starts coming together and fitting, I am now worried about rear bumper fitting. I think the bumpers will fit just fine but I will have to correct/adjust some bumper brace bends in the process. All panel are original donor versus repo and this has helped. What would significantly help me right now is to know the following:

how close does the top underside of the rear bumper TYPICALLY come to the fiberglass body access flanges (the rear mount holes not the side mount hole)? Right now one bumper rests exactly on the flange lip and the other bumper misses the flange by 1/8" to 1/4". And, how large of gap is TYPICAL between bumper contours and body contours (especially on the outside mount hole area)?

[Roy B.]

Re: 58 Rear Body Repair(s)

Concerning the rear quarter panels I use the trunk lid to locate them and fit them.(gap) What I think your asking you could use the rubber cups that cover that area as a guide (size). Hope I helped ?

[Bill B.]

Re: 58 Rear Body Repair(s)

Roy, I know what you are saying and am sure I will work through this. Just a little overwhelmed. I actually think my trunk lid (another donor item) was relaminated once upon a time and consequently center line off. Causing me lots of problems but I can actually get everything to align regarding trunk lid and surround in spite of this. Unfortunately, when I get all these items aligned my bumper openings are fixed for all intents and purposes. The bumpers look pretty good as I worked at it more after I posted earlier. My driver side fits very well to me and doesn't bump on the rear fiberglass mating flange. But, my right bumper actually rests on top of the mating flange where the bumper goes thru body. It seems to be a delicate effort as any movement to better fit bumper causes trunk to fit a little worse. And, when I make the trunk fit real well, the right bumper seems a little cocked. I am going to kinda split the difference and pick a best fit overall. I am getting ready to bond these items--spooking me out! I may be getting too anal? The more I think about it the more nerve I get. I will be okay-for now.

[Roy B.]

Re: 58 Rear Body Repair(s)

OK some times it's good to take a brake then look at it again Good luck