Can anybody give me a clue about our chassis' I've had my C3 up on jack stands for about a week now doing a brake job and have noticed that one of my front fenders is now touching the door edge on the bottom half. There is plenty of gap at the top. I'm supporting it in the correct locations as spec'd out in several maintance manuals. Is this normal? If so when I return it to the ground will it flex back. I've had it up on stands before and this is the first time I have noticed this.

If it doesn't return how do you re-adjust the front clip to give correct panel spacing?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Back in the late 80s I worked at a Goodyear retail store and we had a C3 come in for tires. The Service Manager told me to open both doors, remove the tops and pop the hood before I took the weight off the wheels. he said he's seen a Vette crack in half from body flex when this wasn't done. I've always remembered that little piece of information and I follow it to this day.

That being said, the body "should" flex back once you get it back on the ground. I think that if you lower the rear first, then lower the front until the wheels just touch, then lower slowly until the fenders clear the doors so that you can open them enough to give the fenders room to move, you should be able to lower the car the rest of the way to the ground. Allow some time for settling, then test the doors to see if they will close without contacting the fenders. Let us know how it all works out!

I don't have anything to help you, but rest assured it's not just your car.....
I've jacked mine up from the drivers side before now, with the amusing result of the interior lights coming on! The passenger side door jamb switch is obviously on the verge of closing, and the flex from lifting one side was just enough to set it off. Annoyingly, it sometimes used to stay on once i'd put the car back on the ground, until i'd been round a few bends and "settled" everything back down!

Well, I'm not loosing my mind. I guess I was under the impression our chassis were stiffer then this. It might have flexed more then I expdected or changed dimensions somewhat when I changed the upper and lower A arms out. before moving on to the brakes. I'm going to go with the assumption that it will flex back.

But if it doesn't do any of you know how to readjust the front clip for clearance, or do I just need to concentrate on realigning the doors.

Sorry, I don't know the answer to that one. I'll ask around at a few places I know and see if I can find an answer for you.

If you think your's is bad, try a convertible! I had mine on a lift and there was an inch gap at the top of the doors. It came right back when back on the ground.
I have had the car a year and a half and now the doors are hitting on the bottom, so I have to readjust them upwards.
Joe

Thats what I have " an inch at the top" since its been on the stands. I have no clearance on the lower fender to door. Can't open door or it will crack the glass and paint. I'm starting to feel better and can stop sweating bullits. Sounds like it will settle back into position. I know doors can be addjusted. I'm just curious if its possible to re-adjust a whole front clip on our C3's. I'm going to dig through some of my assembly manuals and see what I can find.

I was always told to leave the T Tops in, and the windows rolled up to help support the rest of the body.

I'll agree with desertdawg and add that you should never open the doors on a convertible when its on a lift or jack stands. I've seen convertibles that had the doors opened and they never closed again.

I guess I feel better about that 1/8" gap that opened up the last time I had the car up on stands.

"Let's be careful out there"

You can not adjust your front clip it is glued in place. When you bring it back down it should settle back! while its still on jakcs try jacking on the front frame and see if that brings the gap back its worth a try to see if that will work....
Then you'll know it will settle when your done!
johnny