Door alignment issues and body mounts

[Navy_chief]

Guys,
Need some serious help! Here is my build thread:
http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196412

Last night we tried mounting the door do get a rough idea before we firmly attach the front door hinge post and the door is way off?


It lines up with the front fender perfect however it is sitting slanted towards the front top of cab and leaving a huge gap towards the back of the door and is slightly off from the qtr panel ?

My question is the cab rubber bushing mounts are shot to hell would this caues us to not be able to align it correctly?

I was planning on replacing all the bushings after all the sheet metal was replaced?

The reason for waiting to replace bushings was after new metal was replaced was going to take tub off the frame to paint it and pullmotor/tranny/transfer case to replace gaskets and paint them as well as the frame.

Any help would be greatly appreciated?
Matt

 

[Greg_B]

Not sure I can completely answer this but the PO replaced some body panels before I got it and it had old body mounts. When I replaced the mounts it made the door gaps way off. I was able to place a few small shim strategically around the body to get it lined back up.

So.. I guess do might want to replace those body bushings first.

Greg

 

[Justafordguy]

Body mount hight/condition will effect the body gaps a lot. If they are bad, replace them before you try to line anything up.

 

[Explorer]

Good advise. You need to get everything mocked up and aligned with the new parts now. Then do your bracing and pull the body.

 

[Crawdad]

Shims may help at the body mounts.

 

[beaux312]

yes it will affect the gaps, put a floor jack under the front of the rocker,loosen the body bolts and jack so it puts some pressure on the rocker and you will see the gaps change

 

[rustbucket]

It's never wise to do body work on a vehicle with worn mounts. It will throw you off every time. Once you start welding parts in where you think they should go, it will be damn near impossible to to correct the resulting gaps and misaligned panels once the body is back on the frame.

 

[broncoitis]

Not an expert by any means but I would get the body mounts replaced and then align things up.

 

[NGABronco]

Some of these measurements might help?? Good Luck!!%)%)

 

[bknbronco]

Yes get new mounts now! I had new mounts and got my doors all lined up nice with some washers here and ther as shims. Then i took the tub off to paint the underside of body. I put tub back on and also the doors. Put the washers where they were the first time and wouldnt you know it....everything was way, way off!

I would start with all new mounts and dont spend alot of time getting it perfect! Get it close but not perfect. I spent like 6 hours getting mine perfect the first time, and it was pretty much all for nothing.

HUGE TIP: To start with put large fender washers between the mount and tub, maybe even two! That way if you have to lower a mounting point for alignment all you have to do is pull a washer, not add 7 washers to the remaining body mounting points!

Line up the hinge side first shimming that body mount till the bottom door gap is what you want. Then shim the mount under back of door till that side gap is what you want. It may take days!!!!!! You may never get it perfect!!!!!!! Sorry but its the truth.

 

[Navy_chief]

Some of these measurements might help?? Good Luck!!%)%)

I have been using that chart for lining things up. The 39" measurement is spot on in all 3 points.

I am going to order the bushing kit tonight and get it installed before I go further.

 

[Crawdad]

Some of these measurements might help?? Good Luck!!%)%)

Hey Ben is there anything measurements out there for the rear tub and tailgate?

 

[NGABronco]

Hey Ben is there anything measurements out there for the rear tub and tailgate?

Hey Crawdad, the only one I know of is in the JBG Catalog, small and tough to read but it's there!!%)%)

Sorry about the hi jack Navy Chief, I'm going to PM you!!!!;D;D