I need your help with driver side fender and door.

[th3fourn]

Hey, Guys so my Driver side fender is 1/4" short and doesn't line up well with my grill and hood. I have tried everything but my measurements from the back to the windshield and back of the fender (A pillar) is equal on both sides. But from the back of the fender to the front where the hood meets it is a 1/4 inch short. The fenders are both the same length so I can't figure it out.

Here is a link to the video to show what I mean.

Any suggestions or tips would greatly appreciated.

 

[JeepGuy]

Not a body guy, but here is suggestion. Look at the actual fender where it mounts to the A pilar. Is that flange pushed forwards towards the front of the fender/Bronco. You might be able to push it a bit forward, meaning the fender, by bending that back towards the rear of the Bronco.

Another thought it that your hood may not be lined up right. Could it be canted a bit, or out of square in relation to the windshield frame.

 

[hunter1]

Might need to move the A pillar forward toward the front of the truck and B pillar forward as well. That would keep you measurements the same and allow you to square the body on the frame somewhat. That's what looks out to me. You may be able to use shims behind the hinges and move the quarter rearward some to keep the door gaps right if needed. Use shims under the body mounts as well, you'd be surprised at how much a little there will make a difference.

 

[Madgyver]

I assume that these are the parts that will end up on this bronco.. and not swapped around. with that being said.
if it was my issue, i would start with lining up fender/grill to front of hood and work it back. Could it be that it is a bad repo driver side fender?

 

[Rustytruck]

the gap between the door and the fender is too tight, was the A pillar replaced? I would slap a couple of thin shims between the hinge and the A pillar. are their shims behind the hood hinges? are you using the door opening dimension drawing that has been floating around this site for the last 15 years or so?

 

[hunter1]

Check your measurements horizontally from the corner of the tail light post socket to the corner of each side of your windshield frame near the bottom. Length of the sides can be the same even if it's not square on the frame. If everything measures the same side to side (fender length, quarter length and door gaps are close), I'll bet it's not square. Get it square and I'll bet your gap at the front disappears.

 

[Rustytruck]

https://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=302498&highlight=door+opening+measurements

post #2

 

[th3fourn]

Yeah we kind of tried that but we can't really push that forward 1/4” I think we might have to move the A bill at back and the whole rear fender as well

 

[th3fourn]

Might need to move the A pillar forward toward the front of the truck and B pillar forward as well. That would keep you measurements the same and allow you to square the body on the frame somewhat. That's what looks out to me. You may be able to use shims behind the hinges and move the quarter rearward some to keep the door gaps right if needed. Use shims under the body mounts as well, you'd be surprised at how much a little there will make a difference.

Yeah I think that is what we are going to do, I think it's a frame issue. Of course the guy we bought it from said there was no frame damage or any wrecksÂ… doesn't seem like that

 

[th3fourn]

I assume that these are the parts that will end up on this bronco.. and not swapped around. with that being said.
if it was my issue, i would start with lining up fender/grill to front of hood and work it back. Could it be that it is a bad repo driver side fender?

We are going to start with that as well, the issue is we might have to do some fabrication on the driver side inner fender where the A pillar mounts. Seems like that might be the only option

 

[th3fourn]

the gap between the door and the fender is too tight, was the A pillar replaced? I would slap a couple of thin shims between the hinge and the A pillar. are their shims behind the hood hinges? are you using the door opening dimension drawing that has been floating around this site for the last 15 years or so?

Yes I agree, the whole think is a complete body kit. Everything is brand new. The issue is that per the measurements I've found we put the A pillars in the correct place. I'm thinking the frame is not perfect so we are going to have to do some fabrication to make it work since we've powder coated the frame already 🙃

 

[th3fourn]

Check your measurements horizontally from the corner of the tail light post socket to the corner of each side of your windshield frame near the bottom. Length of the sides can be the same even if it's not square on the frame. If everything measures the same side to side (fender length, quarter length and door gaps are close), I'll bet it's not square. Get it square and I'll bet your gap at the front disappears.

Awesome thanks we are currently doing this and coming up with a game plan!
Appreciate it

 

[Madgyver]

Measurements may not help in this case. It may just confuse you more. Line up the front grill to hood and work back. Make everything fit with some compromise using all your parts to your finish. Remember that you can only see one side of the bronco at a time. Make it work and also look good. Anything is possible. If it was easy, Everyone would be doing it.

 

[AZ73]

I had similar problems. 1) replace the body bushings. A collapsed body bushing under the drivers footwell will drag the front down giving you the gap at the top rear of the door. It also extends the distance between the grill and the rear door post.
2) while you're replacing them, look at the channel that the bushing rides against. Mine was crushed and had to be put back into a box shape.
3) measure your fenders. My aftermarket fenders required extensive work to make them the correct size, and I had to add material to the rear of one, and cut the other one down.
4) I spent days adjusting my hinges.