Trying to find a thread about the proper way to remount and align fenders and doors. I know I've seen one but can't find it. thx matt

Doors first, aligned to the quarter panels. Then the fenders aligned to the doors.

I'm no body man but I've read that the doors should be installed first aligned to the quarter panels as said above, then the hood installed aligned to the cowl, then the fenders installed aligned to the doors and hood. If I'm wrong someone correct me.

I'd think both above answers are correct. I used a small black flexible 3/M block for doing bodywork on mine. I used it as a go/no-go gauge for gaps and on its side as a straight edge to check vertical alignment at body lines.

I used a paint stick, wound up around 5/32 -3/16 gap door to qtr. spent days on each part.
Must begin with the doors to qtr panel.

Nice alignment of the panels, sthemi. The reflection of the trees looks out of focus. Is that an optical illusion or orange peel on the paint? If it was intentional to match the stock finishes, you've done a great job on the paint too.

I block sanded mine flat and it looks nice, but the surface is too flat now for a stock looking paint job. It's over restored.

Having never done this but approaching that point with my build ...

1) remove the doors from the hinges - leaving the hinges bolted to the body
2) drill 1/8 holes through the hinges into the panels behind (for future alignment
When re-installing the doors:
1) mount hinges to body using the alignment holes - fill holes with seam sealer afterwards
2) bolt doors to hinges

In theory this should get you very close if not exactly where they were to begin with.

If you plan to rebuild the hinges, do them before you do all your paint and bodywork. Install the hinges and re-align the doors so you don't have to risk damage afterwards.

A couple years ago while at Reno's Hot August Nights, at our hotel parking lot, I and a friend checked out a beautiful black 66 Mustang resto-mod that was for sale.

What got our particular attention was the Bentley like panel gaps thru-out the car, it was a work of art. I have never forgotten that car.

I happened to ask the owner who also built the car what he did for a living. He responded that he was a cabinet builder. Now I understood.

We've all seen potentially outstanding and lovely paint jobs , but upon further inspection note panel gaps or block sanding efforts that look as though they were built to achieve only military jeep standards.

It all depends on how those gaps are achieved. I've seen where guys have welded lengths of round rod to edges to close or correct gaps. I've seen panels where the gaps were filled with bondo and then sliced out. It all depends on what you want to achieve and how much time or money you can put into it. Getting consistent 1/8" gaps at every single joint is no problem if you've got thousands of dollars to spend!

Not only the width of the gap but the height or depth of the panel throughout its length plays an equal part to the illusion of panel fitment.
Using a light and small straightedge at panels will show what needs to be done...Sadly most never take this step...

And if the quarter panels were replaced? Lets hope steps were done to keep it aligned.

if the door has no glass or internals in it when your aligning it, throw about 20Lb weight in the door while your doing the alignment to simulate the internals or your alignment will be out later

full weight door and weather strip. It will make a difference. Had a bit of work to make these fit as the insides of the door are gutted. Who says racecars can't fit well?
Doug

Doug, that's a fantastic looking 64 Belvedere.