Factory Body Shimming

[grillzy]

I am looking for the factory picture and description of what positions to shim the body mounts to get the gaps correct. Thanks

[A1971Blazer]

From the factory assembly manual...

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by A1971Blazer

From the factory assembly manual...
Attachment 1566852

Very nice.

It's "as required", to account for build variation in the frame and body in white, as time goes on.

K

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Very nice.

It's "as required", to account for build variation in the frame and body in white, as time goes on.

K

A guy on FB had an issue..... when he removed the top, the doors hit at the rear...turns out that the body mounts were replaced with the top on and the shims weren't reinstalled....he said the rocker boxes were in good shape too.

When the top came off the body drooped slightly...I think that whenever the mounts were replaced and the bolts tightened....it put the body in a slight bind that manifested itself when the top came off..



not sure of the color though..I don't think it was white...?


Also, OP...I assume your rocker boxes are good..?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by A1971Blazer

A guy on FB had an issue..... when he removed the top, the doors hit at the rear...turns out that the body mounts were replaced with the top on and the shims weren't reinstalled....he said the rocker boxes were in good shape too.

When the top came off the body drooped slightly...I think that whenever the mounts were replaced and the bolts tightened....it put the body in a slight bind that manifested itself when the top came off..



not sure of the color though..I don't think it was white...?


Also, OP...I assume your rocker boxes are good..?

I had "as required" in quotes, because it was a bit of a misnomer.

What we used to do for fender shims is tape a packet together, like 3 shims, and we would run those all day whether the truck we were currently building needed it or not.

Eventually the final repair supervisor would call back and say something encouraging, like "SEYMORE!! YOU IDIOT!! WTH ARE YOU THINKING?!?! ALL THESE FENDERS ARE RUNNING HIGH!! ARE YOU EVEN LOOKING AT THESE TRUCKS?!? TAKE A SHIM OUT BEFORE I COME BACK THERE AND SHOW YOU HOW TO DO THIS!!" I can just imagine the spittle flying into the phone mouthpiece.

So we would start running a new shim pack, like 2 shims, until he called again with his latest observation.

Basically it was to address "macro trends". You had about 45 seconds to complete the truck in front of you and move to the next one; that's not enough time to fit and re-fit each individual truck.

K

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

I had "as required" in quotes, because it was a bit of a misnomer.

What we used to do for fender shims is tape a packet together, like 3 shims, and we would run those all day whether the truck we were currently building needed it or not.

Eventually the final repair supervisor would call back and say something encouraging, like "SEYMORE!! YOU IDIOT!! WTH ARE YOU THINKING?!?! ALL THESE FENDERS ARE RUNNING HIGH!! ARE YOU EVEN LOOKING AT THESE TRUCKS?!? TAKE A SHIM OUT BEFORE I COME BACK THERE AND SHOW YOU HOW TO DO THIS!!" I can just imagine the spittle flying into the phone mouthpiece.

So we would start running a new shim pack, like 2 shims, until he called again with his latest observation.

Basically it was to address "macro trends". You had about 45 seconds to complete the truck in front of you and move to the next one; that's not enough time to fit and re-fit each individual truck.

K

I always wondered how the assembly line managed to get them as close as they did..... knowing that there was so little time to do so....that method makes sense...but where did the final fit take place...final repair?

I know that fit and finish on trucks, back then, wasn't as much of a priority as it is now days...'cause after all, it was "truck"....not a mall crawler...

Good info K...!

[grillzy]

thanks thats perfect!

[grillzy]

Great forum. Got all the body mounts replaced today.

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by grillzy

Great forum. Got all the body mounts replaced today.

sweet....let's see some pics......

[grillzy]

Had to tip Old Blue up so I could wash out all the grinding dust from grinding the welded heads off. So much quieter over the bumps now!

[A1971Blazer]

Nice.....how much did you shim...?

[grillzy]

Put back in the 2 factory shims at #1 spot both sides then added 1 at #1 passenger side and 1 at #2 passenger side.

[Cape Codder]

I worked at GM dealership body shops from 1974 to 1982. We did a lot of realignment if someone complained about gaps or panel alignment. The pickup doors were the hardest to get to fit the openings right. Fenders and hoods had lots of adjustment.

[Cape Codder]

I disagree if it doesn't line up before replacing parts it may be worse after. I would get it all aligned up and fitting as you want it and keep checking as you weld in the new panels. You need to fit the rockers to the door with the doors fitting the body.

[Ebully72]

The gaps aren't that great now which is why I was questioning it. What do you think about putting the factory shim count back in,right now the passenger side has 4 in the #2 spot and 2 in the #1 spot. The driver side has 1in the #1 spot and 2 in the #2 spot. I guess that would probably be a good place to start.

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by Ebully72

The gaps aren't that great now which is why I was questioning it. What do you think about putting the factory shim count back in,right now the passenger side has 4 in the #2 spot and 2 in the #1 spot. The driver side has 1in the #1 spot and 2 in the #2 spot. I guess that would probably be a good place to start.

Is the hardtop on...?

[Ebully72]

Yes the top is still on . The metal there isn't horrible could have driven it the way it is. Rocker boxes in tact, some 1" holes in the rocker.

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by Ebully72

Yes the top is still on . The metal there isn't horrible could have driven it the way it is. Rocker boxes in tact, some 1" holes in the rocker.

Then I would think you could start replacing the rockers and floor. Like CapeCodder says keep everything aligned as you go....then there shouldn't be much shimming to get the gaps adjusted.

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by Cape Codder

I disagree if it doesn't line up before replacing parts it may be worse after. I would get it all aligned up and fitting as you want it and keep checking as you weld in the new panels. You need to fit the rockers to the door with the doors fitting the body.

It's hard to line up rusted out and missing sheet metal......

[Cape Codder]

If it is that bad you bolt the doors on prop the body till they fit and weld bars inside to hold it in place then start replacing metal. To just start welding parts on without having the panels where they belong is asking for trouble.