Home page
SPONSOR AD

Support our Vendors!  |  Advertise Here

Topic: Body and frame alignment

in Forum: C3 Body


Already a Member?
Login
Not yet a Member?
Register for Free!

Body and frame alignment (1/7)
 12/24/14 12:47pm
74-454Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

, - Canada

Vette(s):
Coupe 74 - 454 Drive it like you stole it!


Joined: 8/6/2004
Posts: 533

In the process of replacing body mounts. I might have loosen the passenger side mounts too much when replacing on the driver side, since the alignment is off by about 1/4". When I raise the body by a few inches, I can easily slip the bolt of be #1 and it is straight down. When I lower the body back, the bolt start tilting (front to back). If I keep lowering, it would break the bolt or damage the mount. I replaced with the same amount of shims as original. Any idea on how to move it back? The offset is not left to right, but front to back.
Our Sponsors help support C3VR
Re: Body and frame alignment (2/7)
 12/24/14 1:51pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Moderator
Send Private Message

Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20126

Are ALL of the body mounts bolts still loose? If not, you'll need to loosen all of them, and not tighten anything until all are back in place.
If they are all still loose, you'll need to move the body. Easy enough, eh? Clown
 You need a "centering" prybar....a bar that is tapered on one end that will slide up into the frame mount hole from the bottom, and into the body mount hole. As you lower the body, you'll have to muscle the body rearwards with the bar. Obviously, you'll prolly also need some help doing this....one person can't manage the lowering and prying at the same time. hth





______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)
             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Re: Body and frame alignment (3/7)
 12/25/14 1:32pm
74-454Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

, - Canada

Vette(s):
Coupe 74 - 454 Drive it like you stole it!


Joined: 8/6/2004
Posts: 533

Awesome! I knew it was going to be through the alignment hole, but had no idea about the tool. Thanks! Will let you know in a month (it takes a while to get stuff shipped across the border).
Re: Body and frame alignment (4/7)
 1/5/15 12:45pm
74-454Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

, - Canada

Vette(s):
Coupe 74 - 454 Drive it like you stole it!


Joined: 8/6/2004
Posts: 533

Update:  Ordered and received the above pictured pry bar from a Canadian retailer, so that was pretty fast.

I tried it by myself and got the driver side holes (frame and body) to almost line up.  It is off by 1/8 to 1/4.  The #1 mount bolt is still a little tilted, but it goes through.  However, the #2 is now way off by almost 1/2".  I can also see the passenger side is getting out of alignment.  All the body mounts are still bolted on the passenger side, but you can see the bolts are now tilting.  If it stays like this, I will have a hard time removing them.

This is getting complicated fast because my door on passenger side doesn't opened enough to see the alignment hole (parked next to a wall) and the car is currently on stands.  I would need to put it back on wheels first, but even then, all my interior is out of the car, so it won't start for a while; meaning unless I use wheel dollies, I can't move the car.

My next step is to get a group of guy's over at the house (4 or 5) , insert some pins (from over on the driver side and from under on the passenger side); lift the driver side about 2" with the jack and while someone slowly release it down, have the guys muscle the body in the right direction.

Quick question; when you open the door, there's 2 capped holes.  Only the one towards the front of the car aligns with the frame holes.  What is the other one for?  It is nowhere near the frame hole.  The frame holes are at least 3 inches towards the back.
Re: Body and frame alignment (5/7)
 1/5/15 1:57pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Moderator
Send Private Message

Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20126

74-454 said: Quick question; when you open the door, there's 2 capped holes.  Only the one towards the front of the car aligns with the frame holes.  What is the other one for?  It is nowhere near the frame hole.  The frame holes are at least 3 inches towards the back.


Not really sure what "capped" holes you are referring to. Are they on the rocker panel, floorboard, or what? There are drains in the floor that have covers on them...Question


______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)
             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Re: Body and frame alignment (6/7)
 1/5/15 2:16pm
74-454Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Send Private Message

, - Canada

Vette(s):
Coupe 74 - 454 Drive it like you stole it!


Joined: 8/6/2004
Posts: 533

Ooops, sorry I wasn't clear.

Yep, the 2 holes on top of the rocker pannel; giving access through to the frame alignment hole.

Just wondering why the one towards the front lines up with the frame holes for alignment and the one in the back doesn't (by a lot).


Re: Body and frame alignment (7/7)
 1/6/15 2:01pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Moderator
Send Private Message

Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20126

Not really sure those holes are meant for frame/body alignment....I'd have to do some research to answer that one. Unhappy

As far as getting all the mounts lined up so the bolts will go thru, you're prolly on the right track of getting some hefty helpers to manhandle the body around a bit at a time. Just lifting one side at a time to do body mounts can certainly cause the body to move in directions you never intended it to move. Angry


______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)
             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Our Sponsors help support C3VR