Gap tool question

[Rg500gamma]

I was intending to use paint stirrers for my gaps for the doors front fenders and the hood. Is that a reasonable distance or do other members use different tools ? I also need the gaps to obviously be close enough for the weatherstripping to be close enough to do their job.
Feedback is GREATLY APPRECIATED.

[Grounded63]

A paint stick is probably going to be too thin. It might be more like two paint sticks, or something. Just center everything up to what looks good. Then you can measure that gap and find/make a shim, to fine tune it with. If needed.

[hugger6933]

I'm with the poster above two sticks might be closer to the 3/16 that lots of guys strive for. Keep in mind these trucks were meant to be trucks and the General figured they would mostly be used up fairly quickly, They never even made an attempt at rust coating inside. Look inside your doors or inside the beside, under the bed rails, it will be bare metal. Cause why? They thought that truck would be gone and replaced[ They hoped ] with another GM. I may be a little off but several of my bedsides I have " split " to get rust preventive inside those panels.
Now I said all that to say this if you are looking for show car type gaps be prepared to add metal in some places to get good to great gaps cause the trucks were trucks and fit and finish wasn't a priority. Jim

[theastronaut]

The front of the doors usually determine how tight you can make the gaps, since they swing towards/underneath the fender edge. You'll have to mock up the panels and move the fenders back until they hit to see how close is too close, then go from there.