steps for assembling the front end

[turner15]

Can someone outline the steps for assembling the front end of a 71.

Here is where I am at.
Fenders are on
Hood is on
Cowl is on
Grill won't fit
Cowl has a 1/2 in gab on the one side
Hood won't shut tight on one side
gaps are not so good on the hood but are good on the door to fender?

I was told to start over but I'm not sure what order to bolt it down? I know the fenders go on first but do the front sections get tightened now or after the grill? And so on...

[fine69]

There is no perfect science to it. Trial and error on each truck.

Remember, each part has a varience in size. If each part is a little off it can mean a lot as a whole.

Sometimes a die grinder is your friend when it comes to fender fitment.

[Richard Dobson]

I'm no expert by any means, but I have left the rad support loose which will allow you to shift everything (fenders, innerfenders) left or right whichever is necessary to get it all adjusted. Good luck, it's good to see everything all taped off in the gaps.

[mas09ts]

Just make sure you have the spacers where you need them.

[Palf70Step]

Also, if your cab was removed make sure the cab is squared before you start installing pieces. It's a big mistake alot of us make the first time, even if it is a 1/8 to 1/4 inch cockeyed it'll throw everything off

Aftyer you are sure the cab is square on the frame, loosly attach everything and adjust as necessary with shime and all. As mentioned, it is a trial and error process AND requires lots of patience.

Even if everything came off the same truck, it will need tweaked. It really gets different when parts come from different trucks and aftermarket sources.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Was everything pre fit before paint? Are any of the parts aftermarket (fenders or hood)?

[turner15]

I really am thankful for the advice. I never thought of squaring the cab! My cab mounts were gone with Canadian rust. Next question is how do you do that? How about a carpenters square against the back of the frame?

[Palf70Step]

I did an cross measurement from the outer top corner of the driver' firewall to the front edge of the passenger frame rail. Then from the passenger side top outer firewall corner to the front of the drivers frame rail. If your measurement is the same, the cab is on square.

BTW I kept my cab mounts (still are in fact) bolts loose until I had things fitted.

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I did an cross measurement from the outer top corner of the driver' firewall to the front edge of the passenger frame rail. Then from the passenger side top outer firewall corner to the front of the drivers frame rail. If your measurement is the same, the cab is on square.

BTW I kept my cab mounts (still are in fact) bolts loose until I had things fitted.

Good advice. You won't get it square without doing this.

Another thing alot of people don't do is start off with a truck thats sqaure to begin with. Its not cheap but It really helps to check the frame to see if its correct. I know it cost money but guys have brought trucks in where they did everything to get them correct but the frame was all out of wack before they even started. $800 dollars later (@$98 dollars per hr)on a frame machine and all their aftermarket parts fit good.

You have to check the diagonals . Alot of aftermarket panels can get a bad wrap when the truck wasn't straight to begin with and you have an inexperienced person putting them on. Some aftermarket parts do deserve a bad rap

[b-rad]

[b-rad]

hope this helps

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by b-rad

hope this helps

That's worth rep points....

LockDoc

[Kayotic]

Even in today's high tech manufacturing facility's there is still a guy at the end of the line with a rag and a big rubber mallet.

Trial and era - one piece at a time.

Just get the cab exactly where you want it and assemble from there.

[Kayotic]

The diagram makes it look so easy!!

[Green Machine]

Hope you have new rubber cab and rad support mounts. Start with no shims under rear of cab and 1 square shim at the front. Cab has to sit square on frame and line up well with box. I have had to use an extra shim at the driver rear several times to ger the rear window line to line up with the box top edge.
Also measure the rad support side to side and get that centered, or your bumper will not center on the grill. One side or the other of the read support may need a shim to get it level.
Once everything is close, the hood becomes your alignment tool. Be prepared to loosen and re-adjust everthing many times. When you change one area, it will likey have an effect somewhere else.

[b-rad]

if any one needs any factory assembly info i have the book