aligning fender

[bryan76]

i put new radiator core bushings in my 82 getting doors aligned and fenders before paint and passenger side was good but driver side has a big gap at the bottom of the fender anybody know the measurements of radiator core support bushings wonder if mine are wrong any tricks would be nice thanks....
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[86c20]

Need to know what is not oem as the fit is diff do to the staping. The way we did it when I worked auto body is start with the doors to cab then fenders too doors. If it is just to bushings holding it up then u need to get them tighter. As long as there not poly u will be ok
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[Keith Seymore]

You can also take a big stick, like a 2x4, and pry rearward off the tire (pulling the rear of the fender wheel opening toward the door) while someone else tightens the anchor bolt at the bottom of the fender.

That's how it was done in the assembly plant, one per minute.

K

[bryan76]

thanks for the advice the fenders and doors are factory i was wondering if i could align everything with the cradle off then go from there the bushings might to be to tall
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[Car'n'Guitars]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

You can also take a big stick, like a 2x4, and pry rearward off the tire (pulling the rear of the fender wheel opening toward the door) while someone else tightens the anchor bolt at the bottom of the fender.

That's how it was done in the assembly plant, one per minute.

K

Did doing this ever bend or damage the fender?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Car'n'Guitars

Did doing this ever bend or damage the fender?

Nope.


The stick was padded with lamb's wool and tape. Did about 3.5 million trucks that way (7 million if you count LH and RH side) and I don't recall any getting damaged.

K

[Car'n'Guitars]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Nope.


The stick was padded with lamb's wool and tape. Did about 3.5 million trucks that way (7 million if you count LH and RH side) and I don't recall any getting damaged.

K

Interesting, I just imagine that much pressure bending them, maybe I'm not giving the fenders enough credit for their strength.

[bryan76]

well its going to be either cutting the bushings or lowering the support brackets what would yall recommend
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[Keith Seymore]

What support brackets are you refering to?

K

[bryan76]

the radiator support brackets its only the driver side or i was thinking of triming the bushings to get the cradle to drop more
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[Zebb]

Did you replace the cab bushings too? Maybe the cab is not sitting correctly if it has worn bushings.

[bryan76]

i measured the frame and the driver side is alittle high so im probally going to trim the bushing some how the frame got tweaked who knows its 30 yrs old
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[rs72z]

Put a jack under the frame right behind the fender and with the lower bolt loose jack the truck up and watch the gap it should close up. While it's still up tighten the bolt and it should stay. There is acouple of bolts in the fenderwells that will also need to be loosened.