Putting Body Back On

[Larry Lena]

I'm getting ready to put the body back on a '68 conv't. I have the fender skirts off also. Would it be better to bond the skirts back on with the body on or off the car? I'm not sure if I'll have problems lining up the radiator support.
Anyone done this before?

[Chuck S.]

Re: Putting Body Back On

Larry, I assume that you are referring to the inner fenders when you say "fender skirts", but I don't understand why you are not having problems with the front end sagging since the inner fenders add considerable strength to the front fenders. You must have the front end well supported.

Given that the inner fenders are already off the body, I definitely believe I would try to bond them in position with the body on the car. Undoubtably, this work will be more difficult with the body installed on the chassis, but I can think of two reasons for doing it this way:

(1) As you suggest, the radiator support has to align with the holes in the forward part of the inner fenders, but more importantly, the support will also have to line up with the front cross member (the radiator support bolts to the front cross member)...you won't know where that front cross member is located without the frame as a reference;

(2) The radiator support is actually what sets the front nose height. If you don't get the radiator support correctly located to the frame, and the inner fenders to the radiator support, you won't know if the nose height is correct.

Finally, the fit of the hood contour to the front fenders does not happen automatically; if you want a nice unbroken contour from front fender to hood without steps, you will probably have to adjust the fenders to the hood contour before bonding the inner fenders...the inner fender is what holds the fender to exactly the hood contour. You can adjust the fender some for a smooth contour, but you aren't going to adjust the hood.

BTW, I haven't actually bonded my inner fenders, but I am faced with having to repair the bonds at the tops of the fenders. I have studied the problem at length and have done everything necessary except actually apply the bonding adhesive.

[Larry Lena]

Re: Putting Body Back On

Chuck,
Should I bond the inner fenders to the hood surround first or to the fender or vice versa or bond the whole thing at once.
Thanks,
Larry

[Chuck S.]

Re: Putting Body Back On

Larry, I am not completely sure of the best answer, but I expect it can be done either way with a lot of planning and preparation.

If you are going to attempt to do the entire bonding at one time, you will have to pre-cut and pre-plan exactly what supports will be used at pre-determined locations for adjusting the fender to the properly fitted hood. This assumes that the fender will have to be raised to the hood contour.

The forces created by adjusting the fender will not be transmitted to the inner fender, but you still may have to use a few screws in discrete locations to get good tight bonds. Use screws only if absolutely necessary because the holes will have to be concealed (factory didn't use screws). Clamps are preferred, but sometimes it's better to just use screws than suffer the aggravation of a panel that won't stay in position.

I would probably opt to first bond the inner fenders everywhere except along the tops of the fenders, and then finish the bonds along the fender tops later after the adhesive had cured. It would be helpful not to have to worry about the fender adjustment activity affecting the other bonds. You will have enough to worry about without trying to get the fenders just right while bonding the inner fenders. Depending on the ambient temperature and how much catalyst you use, you will have about 15-20 minutes working time before you begin thinking "What was I thinking?".