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#1 |
Sierra Grande Club
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Mexico USA
Posts: 2,433
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Are these gaps normal?
I know these trucks aren't built with a lot of detail to fit & finish, and is probably somewhat normal, but this is the type of small stuff that bugs me allot.
I got my front clip on & everything is real close to perfection. Until I got to the hood! Seems if I pull it forward it closes the gap in the front, but the gap at the cowl is huge! I have the difference split now, does this look normal? Any suggestions on adjustment that I may have overlooked? s/t Hood & cowl gap (street side) ![]() Hood & cowl close up. (street side) ![]() ![]() hood & cowl (curb side) gap slightly closer than other side. ![]() Front hood & grill gap ![]() ![]() ![]() I used the blue tape on the fender to transfer the with on the hood with the pen marks. They are very close indicating that the hood is on nearly in its original location. I just don't remember how big these gaps were. ![]() you almost can see the rubber pad between the hood & fender in this shot. ![]() ![]()
__________________
1971 GMC Sierra Grande, 1/2 ton short wide, original 4 bolt 010 020 block & heads. (matching #'s). 383 stroker, SMI q jet 750 cfm, Lunati Voodoo 60102 cam, Scorpion roller rockers, Spin Tech pro street mufflers with X pipe. ![]() |
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#2 |
Sierra Grande Club
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Mexico USA
Posts: 2,433
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
Here are a few more.
s/t these marks suggest that it's close to what it was originally. ![]() ![]()
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1971 GMC Sierra Grande, 1/2 ton short wide, original 4 bolt 010 020 block & heads. (matching #'s). 383 stroker, SMI q jet 750 cfm, Lunati Voodoo 60102 cam, Scorpion roller rockers, Spin Tech pro street mufflers with X pipe. ![]() |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: South Florida
Posts: 11,375
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
I am definetly suscribing to this thread to see what the solution is as your picts almost look identical as to how my hood is on after reassembling the truck.
__________________
Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please!!!!!. Sylvester's build thread >>>http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=big+rebuild |
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#4 |
Sierra Grande Club
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Mexico USA
Posts: 2,433
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
Lets hope we can get solution! But since you have the same I'm thinking it normal?
s/t
__________________
1971 GMC Sierra Grande, 1/2 ton short wide, original 4 bolt 010 020 block & heads. (matching #'s). 383 stroker, SMI q jet 750 cfm, Lunati Voodoo 60102 cam, Scorpion roller rockers, Spin Tech pro street mufflers with X pipe. ![]() |
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#5 |
Old member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S.
Posts: 19,936
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
As stated fitting the panels is a art. You need a lot of shims and a lot of pateince. I of which have nether! I hope you the best. Good luck with it, I just finally gave up.
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1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 ![]() Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs. |
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#6 |
Sierra Grande Club
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Mexico USA
Posts: 2,433
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
LOL I hear you!
But I don't think a shim can help with my forward and rear gaps? I don't know. Am I missing something? s/t
__________________
1971 GMC Sierra Grande, 1/2 ton short wide, original 4 bolt 010 020 block & heads. (matching #'s). 383 stroker, SMI q jet 750 cfm, Lunati Voodoo 60102 cam, Scorpion roller rockers, Spin Tech pro street mufflers with X pipe. ![]() |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: South Florida
Posts: 11,375
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
I took my truck to two different body shops that my company owns and they both tried and they got it as good as it could be, one guy suggested for me to leave the truck so he could take the fenders,hood and radiator support off so he could reinstall them and hopefully get a better fit. The thing is I dont remember my hood being this misaligned before we took the truck apart.
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__________________
Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please!!!!!. Sylvester's build thread >>>http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=big+rebuild |
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#8 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: dallas ga
Posts: 1,505
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
Maybe Ebfabman will chime in he can tell you how to fix it. How are the fender gaps by the doors?
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#9 | ||
Sierra Grande Club
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Mexico USA
Posts: 2,433
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
Quote:
![]() Quote:
s/t
__________________
1971 GMC Sierra Grande, 1/2 ton short wide, original 4 bolt 010 020 block & heads. (matching #'s). 383 stroker, SMI q jet 750 cfm, Lunati Voodoo 60102 cam, Scorpion roller rockers, Spin Tech pro street mufflers with X pipe. ![]() |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Bonne Terre, Mo
Posts: 3,005
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
You might try shifting the core and cab to get a closer tolerance. But that may be how your truck came originally from the factory. My GMC has about half of that gap. But my cab was reinstalled. So I think it is possible to get closer tolerance. Depends on how much it bothers you.
__________________
'69 Chevy Long Fleet & '71 GMC Short Step & Project "ODD BALL" "You can wash a pig, soak it in most expensive perfume. In the end it is still just a pig." ODD BALL build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=478629" |
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#11 | |
Sierra Grande Club
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Mexico USA
Posts: 2,433
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
Quote:
I’m wondering how this will work with the fenders. The gaps on the doors are pretty close. I think I can move them forward as well, just cant remember for sure now. Anyone? s/t
__________________
1971 GMC Sierra Grande, 1/2 ton short wide, original 4 bolt 010 020 block & heads. (matching #'s). 383 stroker, SMI q jet 750 cfm, Lunati Voodoo 60102 cam, Scorpion roller rockers, Spin Tech pro street mufflers with X pipe. ![]() |
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#12 |
Senior Member
![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Urbana,Ohio,USA
Posts: 4,618
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
That looks normal to me. You guys are too used to looking at new stuff.
Remember, these were meant to be work trucks. Not show trucks.
__________________
2008 Chevy HHR 1/2 panel. 1949 Chevy Panel truck(just sittin, waiting) Board member #6 |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bakersfield, Ca
Posts: 538
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
I agree, getting it all lined up is more important than the gaps.... these trucks were made for work.
My hood is higher than my cowl and that bugs me way more than the gap... of course I have a stock hood, aftermarket fenders & fiberglass cowl so I should just be happy they fit at all Last edited by Mondo; 03-12-2009 at 01:55 PM. |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Weatherford, TX
Posts: 225
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
Here's some tips from two board members I got off a thread last month. I have never seen gaps 3/4 Inch wide either.
PANEL ALIGNMENT (FROM “RETRO68” AND “LONGHAIR”) Re: aligning / squaring fenders & radiator support. Doors first make sure gaps are to your liking. Loosely install support then fenders then front grill section then lay hood in opening. shim fenders to align with doors. Then adjust front of fenders to square up hood lines so they are close. Install hinges and hood. Tighten support body mounts to insure door fender gap is correct. Do final adjustment on hood lines. Check fit of wiper cowl to hood if all looks well do a final tighten on all your fasteners. Don't forget to pickup some body shims before you start. Re: aligning / squaring fenders & radiator support. As Retro68 said, the hood is big, square, and it really can only be aligned one way....with the gap even across the cowl. The fenders then are adjusted to the best fit between the edges of the hood and the front edge of the doors. Be aware though that the original fit was not great by modern standards. The gaps were not only wider, but many times they were not parallel either. It is very possible to have the curve of the edge of a door not match the fender that it meets. Show quality work requires a lot of time to fix this, on a driver, it's everyday stuff. |
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#15 |
Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires
![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 23,090
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
What does your cowl look like at the door? You may be able to push the cowl 1/16-1/8 closer to the hood to get it to "look better."
As others have stated the gaps on these trucks blow and they came from the factory like that. 1/8"-1/4" gaps are within the "normal range." I got my hood to be within 3/16" of the cowl with the nose of the hood aligned with the front fender (obviously 69-72 Chevys are different). When I was aligning my body panels I wasn't looking for a specific gap measurement number in mind, but instead I did my best to "split the difference" in all of my gaps. IMO when you step back from my truck the gaps all look good and even. I spent HOURS AND HOURS messing with my truck's gaps before paint. Please ignore the dirt and bird poop, the truck sits outdoors and hasn't been washed in months.
__________________
Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride ![]() American Born, Country by the Grace of God ![]() 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications! Last edited by 67ChevyRedneck; 03-12-2009 at 04:56 PM. |
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#16 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lebanon, Ohio
Posts: 324
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
Quote:
Thanks |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Red Deer ab canada
Posts: 1,250
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
heymoe, sounds like you need to shim your rad support up; this will tilt the fenders and tighten the gap @ top, open @ bottom
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1972 factory 2 Wheel Drive Blazer-Sold 1972 K10 4X4-Sold 1971 Chevrolet Cheyenne/10-Sold 1970 Chevrolet C/10-Sold 1968 GMC 4X4-Project 1968 Chevrolet C/10 Pro Street 1970 GMC 3/4 Ton-Parts 1997 2WD 2DR Yukon-Sweet http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=335664 |
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#18 |
Son of a gun
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas
Posts: 1,636
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
I believe your core support needs some adjustment.
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Bill BEATERS ARE NEATER |
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#19 |
Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires
![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 23,090
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
Heymoe, first off, thanks, I really tried my best to get even gaps around the whole truck. It was very time consuming. Are you putting fenders on the black truck in your avatar? It looks like a sharp truck.
Did you use new cab bushings too? Something is funky. The core support definitely needs to be higher, based on your description. I think I had to add a washer or two to mine to shim the nose of my truck up a bit to square off the fenders.
__________________
Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride ![]() American Born, Country by the Grace of God ![]() 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications! Last edited by 67ChevyRedneck; 07-17-2010 at 02:14 AM. |
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#20 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lebanon, Ohio
Posts: 324
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
Quote:
Is it possible to have the cab slope incorrect? I installed new bushing all around and I am now wondering if the cab supports are taller than the factory setup. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. |
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Buckeye, Arizona
Posts: 694
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
Chevyredneck, your gaps look great. This is one thing that really sets off a rebuild. My dad has a 71 and the hood fits horribly, it doesn't sit down right at the cowl. For my 69 I've decided to install the porterbuilt hook hinges, they will center the hood perfectly and then I can adjust the fenders accordingly.
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"Fear makes the wolf look bigger" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=305629 |
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Corfu, NY
Posts: 33
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
You could toss a couple shims under the core support and then a couple under the rear cab, provided it doesnt knock the body lines off with the bed. Just a way of getting more adjustment without a 1" stack of shims under the core.
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lebanon, Ohio
Posts: 324
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
Here are some pics. I will go get some shims and see what I can do. Could it be the repop doors? All I know is it doesn't line up at all and is really starting to frustrate the crap out of me.
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#24 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 615
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
Could it be the repop doors? I think it could be, I have read from others that they had to do a lot of adjusting and that the body lines do not line up very good
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#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Tempe, AZ
Posts: 770
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Re: Are these gaps normal?
I spent probably 20 hours trying to get my panels lined up (post paint).....and I finally had to say enough and realized that they were never gonna be perfect.....then I looked back at my original pics I had of the truck and realized that they weren't perfect before I dismantled the truck.....
Btw, my DS hood both front and back look nearly identical to your pics above.... RM
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My Build Thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=309288 |
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