Need help?!?

[FirstRide]

I'm a little bit confused when I was looking at the front end of my 71 c10 from the inside edge of the front quarter to the frame should it be the same on both driver and passenger side?

[MagmaJct]

But never one to avoid a challenge, I will do my best!

I too have a 71 C10. It's dark at the moment, and I'm not certain where my flashlight is. As far as I've noticed, both sides, the metal, is the same. Same gaps, or lack of gaps.

However, the passenger side has a small terminal block and battery. The driver side has the windshield washer bottle mounted on it. A secondary battery tray was added a long long time ago.

Regards,
Mike

[FirstRide]

I mean down by the bumper because the bumper brackets don't seem to line up the bracket on the driver side hits the front quarter?

[MAC71]

Should be the same but post photos.

[FirstRide]

Okay I'll try to post pictures in the morning

[Keith Seymore]

One thing that might help is that the left and right front end sheet metal components are usually called "fenders".

The "quarter" is the rear panel on a passenger car, which forms the rear fender and portion of the body.

Without pics that would at least head us to the correct end of the vehicle.

K

[FirstRide]

The space between the front fenders and the frame rails are they suppose to be the same?

[Davidf]

Yep.

[FirstRide]

What could cause them to be different measurements?

[michael bustamante]

what did you measure per side?

[FirstRide]

It was 18 5/8" on the driver side and 19 1/2" on passenger side

[michael bustamante]

how are the body lines hood to fender?
did you check for a bent frame?

[FirstRide]

All the body lines seem to match up I haven't checked for bent frame yet

[7tee]

To center up, something needs to move 7/16" or could this be like this from the factory? I guess I'll have to go measure mine now...

[FirstRide]

If you measure yours let me know what you get?

[boynton]

is this your front cross member? if so it looks bent and would cause the gaps to be different. It should be attached to both frame rails just under the front of the motor.

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by boynton

is this your front cross member? if so it looks bent and would cause the gaps to be different. It should be attached to both frame rails just under the front of the motor.

Good eye. Looks bent to me also

[FirstRide]

If it is bent can I get a new cross piece and put that in? Would that fix the problem?

[FirstRide]

It does seem to look bent how does one go about fixing that?

[71swb4x4]

Your fenders bolt to the core support. The core support bolts to the frame. If you loosen the core support bolts you may be able to shift everything to the side you need it shifted.
But as the others pointed out you should fix that front crossmember first.

[FirstRide]

How would I fix the front cross member?

[boynton]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=584499

here is the extreme I went to to fix my frame. It just depends on how much is bent. If it is just the cross member cut out the rivits, get a good used one and use grade 8 bolts to put it back in (make sure everything is square when you bolt it up). Much easier said than done but isnt too terrible. just a lot of work.

here is what your cross member should look like.

[boynton]

Post another picture of your cross member just closer up.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by FirstRide

What could cause them to be different measurements?

Assuming the frame is not bent:

If the cab is not set square on the frame (rotated in the plan view) then that can cause a difference.

The hood fit is set based off the cab, so it goes shooting off to one side. The fenders must follow the hood (in order for the fender to hood gap to be equal front to rear) which causes the fenders to be skewed to one side. This results in an uneven gap between the fenders and the frame rails and - where it is usually noticed - an uneven gap side to side between the fenders and the end of the bumper.

Very common among regular cab pickups; less prevelant with any longer body style ( blazer, suburban or passenger car) because the longer distance betweeen mounts minimizes the skewing of the body on the frame.

K

[FirstRide]

That is the front crossmember I'd say it looks bent what would be the best way to fix it?