fender alignment - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

randyandtina · 04-03-2006, 07:50 PM

I bought a 72 swb c10 the front fenders are not aligned right any hints on the best way to align them properly? Will I have to remove the grill, hood, or inner fenders?
Thanks Randy and Tina

*rage'nrat638* · 04-03-2006, 08:06 PM

welcome to the board....
post some pictures...
it could be bad cab mounts. the doors and fenders might need aligned..
a picture's worth 1000 words
mark

randyandtina · 04-03-2006, 09:05 PM

The cab mounts are new the po had changed them 3 years ago and never drove the truck I will get some pics tomorrow and post them
Thanks Randy and Tina

krue · 04-03-2006, 11:42 PM

Welcome to the board from South Mississippi. Pics would help a lot.

northcountry67 · 04-03-2006, 11:49 PM

I found the best way to align everything is to first make sure the doors are aligned, then remove the cowl (access to the upper fender bolts), loosen the outer to inner fender bolts, loosen the fender to radiator support bolts, then begin the alignment where the fenders meet the doors. You may have to add a shim or two for this. I had to loosen the front cab mounts and add two shims to the drivers side to get the bottom of the driver's fender to match the top. When I put my hood on I found that the hood opening wasn't square so I had to loosen the radiator support and use a friction jack to move it over 1/2" to square up the hood opening. It is a pain, but well worth the effort when you are done.

cduster · 04-03-2006, 11:49 PM

Here is a thread from the FAQ

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=80129

Welcome to the board.

Dan

randyandtina · 04-05-2006, 08:11 PM

Hope im not to late here are the pics of my fender and door I might also add that the door closes a little hard and that the fender doesnt fit tight against the core support like the passenger side and it looks good

randyandtina · 04-05-2006, 08:13 PM

Here are the rest

cduster · 04-05-2006, 11:07 PM

The fellas are gonna hollar at you for that air cleaner.

Nice looking truck.

Dan

*rage'nrat638* · 04-05-2006, 11:17 PM

well the pictures tell a lot...
my truck hood looked about the same way...
come to find out..because the truck had been hit on the passenger side the front end was racked..
i pulled the radiator support bottom bushing off and seen the bolt all the way to the side of the hole, and the hole is like 1 1/2" big. loosed the inner fender bolts all of them and used my come a long pulling from the frame to the core support and heard a big pop...as i pulled it...that was the truck saying thanks for strighting out my neck thats been stuck for 20 years...while with each click i was amazed to see the lines strighten right out...
the whole front end floats on the core support if its not lined up. centered.
every thing else will be unhappy...mark

o hay nice truck by the way brother

Mechdawg · 04-05-2006, 11:31 PM

Very nice lookin truck. Im just tagging along this thread now so I can follow it Im about to bolt my front clip on bing on the pain.....

**raggedjim** · 04-06-2006, 12:58 PM

Nice truck, no advise on the gaps, but cduster is right about that air cleaner. That style tends to catch on fire (foam is right above the carb and if a backfire occurs it'll burn real fast...) It happened to a 40 Plymouth I had and the thing was hard to put out.

Good luck with the gaps, Rg

67ChevyRedneck · 04-06-2006, 01:04 PM

You said the previous owner changed the cab mounts.... check to see that the cab is sitting squarely on the frame as well as the core support advice. The holes for the cab mounts are also way too big and it's easy to get it off by a 1/2" or more.

Back in Black · 04-06-2006, 02:03 PM

I suspect your fenders are aftermarket and you will need to do some extra work to get them to fit better. The misalignment at the bottom of the door can likely be fixed by bending in the fender mound on the front of the cab. There is only one mount down there. You could maybe do this with a short two by four and BFH. It looked like your body lines match up vertically, if not, you will need to move the door up or down as needed.

Now the hood fender gap. This is not as easy. Try loosening all the small bolts in the front of the fender with the wide gap and use a come-along between the fenders to pull in loose fender in to get the right gap. You will want to pre-measure since you won't be able to close the hood with the come-along in place. Then if you get the right gap, tighten all the bolts. It may be easy. If this doesn't work, you may need to take the fender off and shave some the radiator support off to allow the above process to work.

Before you do the above, check the gap at the back of the hood, it should be straight with the sill plate. I don't think this is your problem.

Good Luck!

Jason

04-03-2006, 07:50 PM	#1
randyandtina Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 4	fender alignment I bought a 72 swb c10 the front fenders are not aligned right any hints on the best way to align them properly? Will I have to remove the grill, hood, or inner fenders? Thanks Randy and Tina

04-03-2006, 08:06 PM	#2
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	Re: fender alignment welcome to the board.... post some pictures... it could be bad cab mounts. the doors and fenders might need aligned.. a picture's worth 1000 words mark Last edited by rage'nrat638; 04-03-2006 at 08:07 PM.

04-03-2006, 09:05 PM	#3
randyandtina Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 4	Re: fender alignment The cab mounts are new the po had changed them 3 years ago and never drove the truck I will get some pics tomorrow and post them Thanks Randy and Tina

04-03-2006, 11:42 PM	#4
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	Re: fender alignment Welcome to the board from South Mississippi. Pics would help a lot. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

04-03-2006, 11:49 PM	#5
northcountry67 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lengby, Minnesota Posts: 225	Re: fender alignment I found the best way to align everything is to first make sure the doors are aligned, then remove the cowl (access to the upper fender bolts), loosen the outer to inner fender bolts, loosen the fender to radiator support bolts, then begin the alignment where the fenders meet the doors. You may have to add a shim or two for this. I had to loosen the front cab mounts and add two shims to the drivers side to get the bottom of the driver's fender to match the top. When I put my hood on I found that the hood opening wasn't square so I had to loosen the radiator support and use a friction jack to move it over 1/2" to square up the hood opening. It is a pain, but well worth the effort when you are done.

04-03-2006, 11:49 PM	#6
cduster Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: S.W. Michigan Posts: 403	Re: fender alignment Here is a thread from the FAQ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=80129 Welcome to the board. Dan __________________ Good Judgment comes from experience. Most experience comes from bad judgment.

04-05-2006, 08:11 PM	#7
randyandtina Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 4	Re: fender alignment Hope im not to late here are the pics of my fender and door I might also add that the door closes a little hard and that the fender doesnt fit tight against the core support like the passenger side and it looks good Attached Images

04-05-2006, 08:13 PM	#8
randyandtina Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 4	Re: fender alignment Here are the rest Attached Images

04-05-2006, 11:07 PM	#9
cduster Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: S.W. Michigan Posts: 403	Re: fender alignment The fellas are gonna hollar at you for that air cleaner. Nice looking truck. Dan __________________ Good Judgment comes from experience. Most experience comes from bad judgment.

04-05-2006, 11:17 PM	#10
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	Re: fender alignment well the pictures tell a lot... my truck hood looked about the same way... come to find out..because the truck had been hit on the passenger side the front end was racked.. i pulled the radiator support bottom bushing off and seen the bolt all the way to the side of the hole, and the hole is like 1 1/2" big. loosed the inner fender bolts all of them and used my come a long pulling from the frame to the core support and heard a big pop...as i pulled it...that was the truck saying thanks for strighting out my neck thats been stuck for 20 years...while with each click i was amazed to see the lines strighten right out... the whole front end floats on the core support if its not lined up. centered. every thing else will be unhappy...mark o hay nice truck by the way brother Last edited by rage'nrat638; 04-05-2006 at 11:18 PM.

04-05-2006, 11:31 PM	#11
Mechdawg Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Dover AFB Delaware Posts: 159	Re: fender alignment Very nice lookin truck. Im just tagging along this thread now so I can follow it Im about to bolt my front clip on bing on the pain.....

04-06-2006, 12:58 PM	#12
raggedjim Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Murray, Kentucky Posts: 3,463	Re: fender alignment Nice truck, no advise on the gaps, but cduster is right about that air cleaner. That style tends to catch on fire (foam is right above the carb and if a backfire occurs it'll burn real fast...) It happened to a 40 Plymouth I had and the thing was hard to put out. Good luck with the gaps, Rg __________________ Roger '68 Short step - https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=849675 '69 ('70?) 2wd Blazer '70 GMC Jimmy 2wd '73 Firebird - https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=853203

04-06-2006, 01:04 PM	#13
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: fender alignment You said the previous owner changed the cab mounts.... check to see that the cab is sitting squarely on the frame as well as the core support advice. The holes for the cab mounts are also way too big and it's easy to get it off by a 1/2" or more. __________________ 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!

04-06-2006, 02:03 PM	#14
Back in Black Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Donnelly, MN Posts: 52	Re: fender alignment I suspect your fenders are aftermarket and you will need to do some extra work to get them to fit better. The misalignment at the bottom of the door can likely be fixed by bending in the fender mound on the front of the cab. There is only one mount down there. You could maybe do this with a short two by four and BFH. It looked like your body lines match up vertically, if not, you will need to move the door up or down as needed. Now the hood fender gap. This is not as easy. Try loosening all the small bolts in the front of the fender with the wide gap and use a come-along between the fenders to pull in loose fender in to get the right gap. You will want to pre-measure since you won't be able to close the hood with the come-along in place. Then if you get the right gap, tighten all the bolts. It may be easy. If this doesn't work, you may need to take the fender off and shave some the radiator support off to allow the above process to work. Before you do the above, check the gap at the back of the hood, it should be straight with the sill plate. I don't think this is your problem. Good Luck! Jason



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