body panel alignment

[John G.]

What method do you guys use to determine if a replacement body panel is installed exactly where it needs to be before bonding it in place? .. I'm replacing the left front upper and parking light panel on my '64.

The right front panels are original and haven't been damaged. As a 'mirror image', using the right side panels and rear of the hood as a guide I've (tape) measured from fixed rear right side body points to forward right side edges and panel ends and transferred these same measurements over to the left side upper panel to position it. Is this the right way to do it? ..

The gap between the hood and right side/front upper body panel has been eyeballed for correct positioning. Depending on the measuring points involved in positioning the left side upper panel one point, or another, doesn't exactly line up like might be expected. Is this a common problem?

The Glas-ra booklet on body panel replacement says to do it by 'lining up the gaps', just so, and bonding in place. .. I was wondering, how do you do it? ..

[Douglas L.]

Re: body panel alignment

John,

When working on one of my cars, I found some panels fit great and some do not.

I would suggest you test fit the lower parking light panel in conjunction with a test bolt of your front bumpers to check the lower panel alignment with the bumpers on. I used masking tape(no rivets or screws) to hold the panels in place for both the test fits and the actual gluing.

Leave the bumpers on and do the test fit for the upper surround piece.

On the upper left side surround panel gap between the hood and the panel, with the hood on, you may have to tweak the fit by either moving the hood or tweaking the upper panel all at the same time keeping the upper panel in alignment with the lower parking light panel.

Once you have the upper panel where you "like it", check the glue gap between the upper surround panel and the wheel well panel that parallels the hood. If this gap is fairly tight, you are in pretty good shape. If it is not, you will have to be careful when you fill and glue that gap because that could change how the upper surround panel aligns with the hood. Putting any pressure on that seam when you glue it could raise or lower the panel alignment with the hood. And sometimes you can use pressure on that seam to your advantage to enhance the alignment between the surround and the hood.

Good luck with it. The factory had a "press fit" jig to hold and straighten panels for gluing. We do not have that luxury.

[John G.]

Re: body panel alignment

Thanks, Doug, for your detailed reply. I'm just getting started so this is great info to have.