O.K.... show time. So goofing off today I raised the fender top about 3/32" and that solved a multitude of sins. Actually just a bit high. Ive done enough shim work aligning turbines and pumps to be able to appreciate a few thousandths at one end, and the product of a "soft foot" at multiple other points. Out came the calipers today. The book shows a choice of .060" and .120" OR a total of both at .180". The washers under the hinge as per the book today totalled .220" and the hood is still proud of the fender. If things zero out, Ill cut a nice aluminum plate shim for each side. Same for the core support. For the better part, it doesnt look bad, but for the sake of ease, Im gonna try Bills method of actually raising the hinge 1/2 of the total bolt hole(s). If this doesnt work, one of two things will happen... either loosen the core support and jack it up 1/8 - 1/4" and see if theres any improvement from saggosis of the support bushing area. IIRC, theres no shims in there now with 1964 OEM bushings. If that doesnt improve things, Im going to have to pull the hinges and open up the bolt holes to get the hinge to drop down an another 1/4". Die grinders with a nice sharp burr will take care of that yesterday LOL. It'll take longer to mark, block and pull the hinge. The side shot shows a pretty straight body line. Just semantics, I know, but it dont look bad. Oh Woe Is Me! Another week of this Ill be speaking in tongues and that puppy is gonna be forked haha... Happy Easter! ws
You want to shim up the bottom of the core support so that you have even gaps between the door and fender and not have any pressure at the bottom of the fender against the front of the rocker panel. Although not in your case because your core support mounts are probably new (they are new, right?) But in most cases where you see a car with the bottom of the fenders right behind the front tire bowed outward it's because the core support mounts have deteriorated and the front is sagging. The result is the bottom of the fender is now putting pressure against the front of the rocker panel.
GOTCHA Bill! As far as I remember, I can slip a credit card between the fender bottom and rocker panel. If I had my druthers (!) Id like to increase that since the gap at the door being halfway open is a mere dollar bill. Folded in half it wont go. The core support assembly is partly original to the car, and partly made up from spares from Loren. They all looked really good considering the age and low miles. Just wondering if I should lift the core support for a little pre-load? ws
Yes, that's what I was talking about. I know how the shimming hinges works, and how the process is counter intuitive. It does look better, though. Some GM cars the assembly manual calls for one shim to start then (+-). Buick core support bushings are different, too. When you say OEM are they really original, or OEM replacements? It looks new.
We crossed paths there Frank... I was editing and you were typing. As far as I know, the parts I had were installed at Kansas City assembly line in 1964. I think the parts Loren got me were just the washers or bolt sleeves. All were identical. If ya remember, I had to swap out the lower frame for a 1965 V8 from Bill. Cut out the spot welds and reweld it back into my 1964 support. Me thinkst tomorrow I am going to be checking all the gaps again etc. etc... Never had the hood bolted on until the other day either! Appreciate the tips guys! I mean that. To quote my old man (RIP) "Theres no substitute for experience...". ws
HATE is a terrible thing to waste! But sometimes just hafta hate you guys LOL!! After giving it some thought last night and a clear head this morning, I went out and took a look from a different vantage point. WALT: 100 points for the shim under the hinge trick Mr. Olds: 100 points for lifting the core support Golden Oldie Bill: 125 points for the over center hinge adjustment. That was a Duhhhh moment! We'll just substitute the hate points for Hmmmmm's! Rechecked the clearance at the fender to rocker panel and found the driver side a tight credit card slot and the passenger side about a .101" feeler gage clearance. Adjusted the core support with a .120" shim on each side. Nice credit card + 10% rocker gap now. Readjusted the fender top on the passenger side. Loosened the bottom bolt and the fender popped in about 1/8" at the body line. Added a .120" shim on each side of the core support and everyone is happy now. I may re-adjust the hood rear corners after she settles out doing some hole shots LOL. Overall, quite an improvement! FWIW, I thought the front and rear hinge bolt holes were slotted and just a round hole in the middle to pivot on. The two round holes are just about 1/16" oversized and the front hole slotted about 1/4". I was so pleased that I came in and took a nap! Tomorrow, action is going to occur! I feel like Ive gotten a second wind. I think Ill pull the seat and rugs tomorrow and get going on those, or maybe the bumpers and tailights. Now its fun stuff! ws
Ohhh...it's looking better, good work! I'm a little concerned about the fan clearance. What's up with that, Bill?
Sucks more air LOL... That was from all the re-fitting days. Ended up with the 65 core support lower rail and an aluminum radiator with a 6 blade clutch fan. Other than TWO bad brand new chinastats, replaced with a jewstat from Israel, she never goes over 180F with a mechanical (good VDO) gage. ws
Happy Easter everyone, whether you are or aren't. Since all the churches are holding virtual services tomorrow, I thought I help along all the Mackerel Snappers with a little kneeling myself today. The job lasted for 3 Novenas. Should've tossed in a few baptisms while we were at it. Had a great salmon and asparagus dinner after the services. Most excellent. Now for them knees... The last pic is ALL the excess trim for the starboard side; the port side matches. Changed SIX utility blades for this one, but hey, its done now. The seat goes in tomorrow. ws
Lookit all that wasted rug!!!! Unless you use it to line the glove box. I use a thin pin punch to find the bolt holes for seat tracks and lap belts, then a soldering iron to poke holes in the carpet. Makes a nice hardened melted ring and helps prevent things from grabbing the carpet and snatching it bald.
Good ol' Pat has changed course. Since she got dunked a few months ago, she spends a lot of her time doing church related stuff. Kalo Pasca!!! ws
That shifter ring was the worst, PLUS the carpet has a 1/2" of padding (jute) on the back side. I have a cheapo set of hole saws and was going to poke a hole from the bottom with an awl, then cut a 1/2" hole (or smaller) with the hole saw ground down to a cutting edge for the seat bolts (5/16 NC). Bolts are oiled and threaded holes were tapped clean today. Gonna brush some lubriplate on the seat tracks and in they go! Might blow a bowl inside tomorrow playing make believe LOL... That dimmer grommet was an SOG to locate. The grommet is 1" on the OD, so once it was close, a bell punch with white marker ink over the knob made the mark. The punch did the rest and laid out perfectly!! Things are finally taking shape. ws
Thanks for watching Derek! A lot of its stupid (LOL) but ya hafta find humor in life or its just gonna suck. Theres more than enough vacuum going around this old planet right now; we sure dont need any help. If any of the language offends anyone watching thats too dang bad Woke up at 0345 hrs and was in a world of hurt. Dr. Pat ordered me to lay low today. She's baking a fruit souffle right now and we "ordered" a 5 course prime rib dinner from a nightclub locally for pickup at 1300. Regrets to those with large families that cant hook up today! ws
Well ya dont always get what ya pay for! Our Easter dinner that was $60.00++ was a prime rib, some kinda hash browns, a pair of pancakes and some bread pudding. The prime rib for 2 was a 1/2 thick piece of Denny's prime rib at MAYBE 5oz with 3 oz of grizzle. That was supposed to be TWO 6 oz PR's and it was all cold. The place is famous up here and now under new management. Court House Pub in Manitowoc. The retired owner"Judge Johnathon" was a great guy. One time he stopped by the table to see how dinner was and one of us made a comment about a piece of bone in the soup. He took the 100.00 check and ripped it up. He'd never tolerate sub par fare for his customers. Pat called and bitched and the guy said "We'll take 'something' off the total". We'll do crack arnolds next year. Cant wait to get going again tomorrow.. One day off and Im bored silly. ws
Got stimulated today but still gots no money... Thinking about doing tattoos for side cash. Whatcha tink??? NAH... I think Ill keep my day time job. ws
