Radiator shroud fit problem - Body not level on the frame.

[Keith R.]

Re: Radiator shroud fit problem - Body not level on the frame.

Is there a written procedure for body shimming C1 body to frame.

Hi Jerry,

We had a chapter member develop a procedure where an actual surveyor will set up his equipment and determine the relative heights of the frame to body mount points. I used this procedure as I never counted the shims when I did a body-off 30 years ago. However, it is not an exact science and I found that I had to fit "by guess and by golly". You have to add/remove shims to adjust the door gaps and as I found out, to make the fan shroud fit to the radiator support.

[Jerry G.]

Re: Radiator shroud fit problem - Body not level on the frame.

It's a 61. I'm assuming the radiator shimming is driven by radiator shroud clearances, which seems kind of arbitrary, and front door edge gap. Is this correct?

[Richard M.]

Re: Radiator shroud fit problem - Body not level on the frame.

It's a 61. I'm assuming the radiator shimming is driven by radiator shroud clearances, which seems kind of arbitrary, and front door edge gap. Is this correct?

Jerry, Yes to both. But the Fan shroud fit isn't arbitrary as you'll find out. It is a fixed dimension and must attach with lower tabs to the frame horn tops(1/4-20 bolts), and the 5/16" bolts to the support verticals. Best to test fit fan shroud in place when shimming the body and the support. Since the fan shroud is one of the last items to be installed in a restoration, you don't want to have shimming problems late in the build.

I had that exact problem with a '61. The freshly painted body was placed back on the frame and all mount shims and bolts tightened. Even the front bumpers were installed. The fan shroud was 1/2" too low and the holes in the shroud could not line up with the mating support holes with captive nuts for the fan shroud bolts. After removing bumpers. brackets, etc, I had to add shims at all 4 forward cabin floor points and more to the radiator support to get the fan shroud in proper placement.

This is even trickier on the 58-60's because the radiator has the captive nuts along its vertical sides, not in the support like 61-62. On the 58-60, the bolts must pass through the fan shroud, then the support, then thread into the radiator vertical captive nuts. If the fan shroud is not perfectly aligned it is a challenge to get all of the fan shroud hardware properly attached. I also had this problem on a '60, same scenario, freshly painted body on the frame but not shimmed properly. Fan shroud would not fit. The fix was the same process as explained for the '61. I had to re-shim the body.

As Keith explained when he was done, he had to go through this also.

Rich

[Jerry G.]

Re: Radiator shroud fit problem - Body not level on the frame.

Anyone ever leave the radiator and fan shroud attached to the radiator support installed on the body BEFORE doing the body drop? seems like it could save a lot of time and frustration.