Attn all experts: Body/Door Gap Help

[dan468]

Here's the skinny: I have mounted a 1972 body on a 1967 frame (the first number on the VIN is 7 so I've been told it's a 67) After everything is mounted up there is a gap between the doors and both fenders. Starting from the top to bottom the gap starts from factory to 3/4''. The only way I can get everything to line up appropriatly is to remove the radiator bushings. Before I modify and do things I will regret, I'm trying to solve this mystery. I will upload some pics ASAP (I seem to have lost my camera cord).

Help!
Thanks

[MisterMan]

the fenders bolt to the cab and rad. support. put the fenders on and dont tighten the bolts. they will move to where you want them, then tighten them down. dont go removing bushings.

[Palf70Step]

When changing cabs around, you may not have the cab quite centered on the frame exactly. You may need the loosen the cab from it's mount and nudge the cab forward/backward to get the gaps correct.

[dan468]

I guess, I'll have to wait until there are pics. The fender gap on the top starts even and then tapers to a large gap on the bottom. It's not a front to back problem. It sits as if the fenders were cocked upward.

[john]

Try some shims on the front cab mounts. This happens all the time. It will take very few shims to correct the prob.

[BigSky71]

Originally Posted by john

Try some shims on the front cab mounts. This happens all the time. It will take very few shims to correct the prob.

Good to know. I will be beginning reassembly in a few months and that fix may help me.

Nice gallery John; my truck will be a twin to yours when done, same color, except mine will have emblems, but no marker lights.

[Green Machine]

67-68 use a thinner radiator support mount bushings than the 69-up. The frame brackets at the front are mounted higher on the 67-68 and are set lower on the 69-72. Just for grins, try to mount the bumper up. I'll bet the front sits too high to mount the bumper right. If I am right you need to get the radiator support mounts for a 67-68, that will drop the front. The 4 cab mounts are the same for 67-72. Try to get the original style mounts and shims, I don't like the universal fit-all ones some sell as replacements

Install rear cab mounts as is with no extra shims, Install front cab mounts as is plus 1 square shim on each side and install rad support with no extra shimming, that will get you pretty close, add shims as needed to get it squared up.

[dan468]

Is the difference on the frames not apparent to the naked eye? I put a 70 frame next to mine to check the differences and I didn't notice any. Does anyone know where I could find radiator mounts for a 67? It looks like I got a "universal mount kit" as the package said 67-72 C-10s. I appreciate the help from all and hope this problem helps more than just me.

Is it possible that my frame could be other than a standard c-10? I know chevy made other specialty trucks. Any input is apprecitated.

Dan

[Green Machine]

Heres one place, notice they are just steel and rubber washers, not an "real" mount like 69-72, but thats what it needs. They go on in a certain order, hope the come with a picture, I can't remember, there are 2 or 3 combinations of steel and rubber that look right, but really only one assembly order is correct.

As far a a visual identification, the 67-68 frames I have looked at, the hole in the radiator frame mount is smaller than on the 69-72. If using a 69-72 mount on the 67-68 frame, it will not sit down in the smaller hole properly.


https://www.brothersonlinestore.com/...number=RSB6068

[dan468]

Thanks again green, washers are on the way and I'll post how it went and the differences so everyone can learn from this one....

[ghetto_superman]

wow thats definitely helpful! i would have run into that prob... got a 69 frame im putting the 68 on eventually.

any chance your front cab mounts are dead as well? isnt that fairly common?

[Mechdawg]

I am having the same problem right now with my 67 I used a universal style kit and think the rad support is to high should be fun to change now that I have all the sheet metal back on.

[Richard Dobson]

All you guys with experience here let us know please because I am putting a 68 front clip on my truck and this will help a bunch of us novice guys avoid alignment headaches. Why does LMC truck sell just one type of radiator support bushingsfor all 67-72 trucks. Also on my 71 the frame has a larger holes where the radiator support bushings go than a 67-68 frame does, will this need to be welded up to make a smaller hole?

[dan468]

According to Green machine if you order the correct bushings the smaller hole will work. I'm not sure why LMC sells one type, so does Grumpy's here in PHX.

To answer Ghetto Superman, the front cab bushings are brand new

Mech Dawg, how bad is the gap the incorrect bushings created? Do you have pics?

[dan468]

Just got home from work, installed my bushings and everything magically lined up!!!! Just a quick note to anyone who is buying a frame without its history. The front radiator holes on my frame were enlarged by a previous owner (I'm assuming to accomadate a "universal" mount kit like I bought). This confused things even more as if they were the factory size I would have caught the problem sooner. Thanks for everyone and I will post pics of the mount differences as soon as I find my data transfer cable

[BigSky71]

Great news Dan468. I will be installing a 68 clip on 71 frame soon and I think this thread just saved me a big headache.

[zacut]

I already went through the same headache just trying to reassemble my 67 with new components (apparently the universal style), the rad support mounts were holding everything too high and would not fit down into the smaller 67 holes.

I solved this by cutting right through the 1/2 inch of hard rubber on band saw. i then mounted a sanding pad in the drill press to clean up the hard rubber and ensure that both mounts were the same. Worked like a charm. I cut them from about 3/4" overall thickness to more like 3/8" when a large washer was placed against the modified rubber side.

[JAMESTYLER]

anybody knwo why i can not look at teh pars page says i dont have permission

[JAMESTYLER]

parts

[dan468]

big sky 71, because you're using a 71 frame sounds like you are gonna use the big bushings...does that sound correct? In which case you could use the universal mount kit.

[PanelDeland]

James,you have to be a subscriber.It costs $25.00 a year.Once I get both mortgages paid I will pony up again.
I hate to tell the people with this problem but the BB vendor I use will tell you about this problem up front and change the bushings in the package to the correct ones for your application.Just another reason to use the BB vendors.

[Mechdawg]

Dan where did you end up getting the correct bushings from? And is there any way to swap them out without taking the entire front end back apart?

[dan468]

Panel what's a BB vendor?

I used Brother's trucks. I think as long as you support the radiator support with stands or maybe do one side at a time it should be fairly easy.

[Richard Dobson]

Bigsky71, keep us posted on how everything assembles once you get involved in the process. Picutres would be nice.