Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
DIY or get a Pro? #1690012
10/24/14 10:48 AM
10/24/14 10:48 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 714
USA
L
Lawn Monkey Offline OP
super stock
Lawn Monkey  Offline OP
super stock
L

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 714
USA

Fenders on my Challenger have a big gap where the hood and the doors meet, they are out of alignment about 3/4 of an inch, I heard fender/door/hood alignment on a E body is tricky , whats your thought? farm it out or can a Shade Tree Mechanic do a good job?

Re: DIY or get a Pro? [Re: Lawn Monkey] #1690013
10/24/14 12:35 PM
10/24/14 12:35 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,305
Lakewood, Colorado
herkamer Offline
pro stock
herkamer  Offline
pro stock

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,305
Lakewood, Colorado
Depends on the paint quality and your skill level. It's not terribly difficult to align panels. Start with the doors to the quarters and rocker panels, then work your way forward. Keep in mind you can compensate for worn hinges, but it's best if they are in good shape. Unless something has been bent from an accident, it should be pretty straight forward to line everything up.


Matt
69 Dart Swinger 340
83 W350, Megasquirted with 46RH
Old news: 72 Demon street/race mobile
Latest: 70 Duster backhalf car
and even more
Re: DIY or get a Pro? [Re: herkamer] #1690014
10/24/14 02:52 PM
10/24/14 02:52 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,102
Western Md.
skicker Offline
"The Champ"
skicker  Offline
"The Champ"

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,102
Western Md.
It isn't that bad to do it yourself.
Be prepared to spend the time to get it right.
Pay attention to what adjustments you make and in which order.
Some adjustments will modify the previous adjustment.
Get the small rubber 3M paddle for body putty. (about 2"x3"x3/16")
I use one as a go-no-go gauge when aligning panels.
It seems to work really well.
Plan to spend some serious time on making it dead on.


...FAFO...
Re: DIY or get a Pro? [Re: skicker] #1690015
10/24/14 03:00 PM
10/24/14 03:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,926
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
I Win
stumpy  Offline
I Win

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,926
Grand Prairie,Texas
Good idea is to run a couple of layers of painters tape along the panels edges to keep from chipping the paint and setting the gap.

Re: DIY or get a Pro? [Re: Lawn Monkey] #1690016
10/24/14 04:57 PM
10/24/14 04:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,388
Pikes Peak Country
T
TC@HP2 Offline
master
TC@HP2  Offline
master
T

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,388
Pikes Peak Country
It can be done at home with some careful work and a helper.

Plan to spend $90 an hour for a pro to do it.

Taking a swag, I'd say 8-12 hours worth of work.

Re: DIY or get a Pro? [Re: TC@HP2] #1690017
10/26/14 10:13 AM
10/26/14 10:13 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 714
USA
L
Lawn Monkey Offline OP
super stock
Lawn Monkey  Offline OP
super stock
L

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 714
USA

Thanks fellas, going to go for it, the paint is trashed so the plan is to remove ,sand and prime while off the car then re install and hope I can get a really nice fit, can't be any worse than what I have cause for some strange reason the previous owner left one fender to body mounting tab on each fender with out a bolt thru it, its also got a 1/4 inch gap between the body and the tab

btw I tried getting a local auto body shop but those guys just are not interested in this type of work

Re: DIY or get a Pro? [Re: Lawn Monkey] #1690018
10/26/14 12:18 PM
10/26/14 12:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,936
Holly/MI
D
Dean_Kuzluzski Offline
master
Dean_Kuzluzski  Offline
master
D

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,936
Holly/MI
Quote:

btw I tried getting a local auto body shop but those guys just are not interested in this type of work




A friend of a friend is a local bodyshop owner. He says there's just no money in doing that kind of work. Insurance repair of late model vehicles is all they do. The owners aren't as fickle since all they really care about it resale of the vehicle.

As far as aligning the panels yourself. As mentioned if it hasn't been in a previous accident it should line up with enough effort.


R.I.P.- Gary "Coop" Davis 02/09/68-05/13/04






Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1