« Previous Entry | MAIN | Next Entry »
November 21, 2003
Eeg
I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but you've done it the wrong way round. It's
not always easy to know which bits come first, but any major structural
bodywork on one of these cars has to happen around the door gaps and door
frame.
The correct sequence is to first repair the door frame then refit a new skin.
Now you have a correct door to use as a template for getting the door gaps
correct. Once you have the door gaps correct, you repair the inner A post, and
inner sill. Now you have a correct door, correct gaps and correct A post. You
can now play the take-off, put-on game with the outer sill, hinge pillar skin
and wing, to get these gaps correct and in the right position. Only when these
are correct should you weld up the outer sill, which effectively locks
everything into position.
I'm sure I don't need to say that the shell needs to be correctly supported and
braced when replacing the sills, to stop the body from sagging.
The problems you are mentioning are symptomatic of not having followed the
correct replacement sequence.
I hate to say this, but if I were in your shoes, I'd learn from the experience,
take a deep breath and take the outer sill off, and go back to the beginning. OK
so you may have to pay out for a new outer sill, but isn't it better to have done
it right than now have to start 'bodging' to get things to fit correctly?
I remember when I did this part of my rebuild, I was fortunate in the sense
that I only replaced the bottom half of my A post so I still had a top hinge
piller to hang the door from while I fitted the lower hinge pillar. Even so, I do
recall that this work took an enormous amount of time - most of it being
taken up with trial fits, taking things off and putting them on over and over
again until I was satisfied everything was in the right position.
If you do decide to remove the outer sill and start over, I'm sure you'll still
find that you need to make some alterations to the A post to get it to fit
correctly - it doesnt matter - as long as the door sits correctly and the door
gaps look right.
Just remember that before you weld anything, you have to make sure that the
door gaps look right between the A and B posts AND the bottom of the door to
the top of the outer sill AND the back of the front wing to the front of the hinge
outer cover plate. It's getting these right that takes so much time in trial
fitting.
Not what you wanted to hear I'm sure.
Nigel
"amukdigiphoto" < amukdigiphoto@... > 26832
Posted on November 21, 2003 12:20 PM
Posted to category(s) Body | Braking System | Engine (external) | Exterior | Interior | Restoration
