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body gap allignment
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2023 4:44 pm
by DesertRat
Hey guys, I have my car assembled and gapped. I have it on the rotisserie for final panel matching and blocking. Since I have everything assembled I am thinking of drilling for pins to locate everything for reassembly after color. Have any of you used the pin method for reassembly alignment? It took me 50 hours to do it once and I don't want to fight it again in color. Thanks in advance!
Re: body gap allignment
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2023 5:09 pm
by Lou's Comet
DesertRat wrote: ↑Wed Jul 19, 2023 4:44 pm
Hey guys, I have my car assembled and gapped. I have it on the rotisserie for final panel matching and blocking. Since I have everything assembled I am thinking of drilling for pins to locate everything for reassembly after color. Have any of you used the pin method for reassembly alignment? It took me 50 hours to do it once and I don't want to fight it again in color. Thanks in advance!
I have used locating pins more than a few times. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't, but at least it gets ya close.
Lou
Re: body gap allignment
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2023 5:22 pm
by DesertRat
Thanks Lou. More than a few times is endorsement enough for me. I will do it.
Re: body gap allignment
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2023 5:36 pm
by A/FX
Lou's Comet wrote: ↑Wed Jul 19, 2023 5:09 pm
DesertRat wrote: ↑Wed Jul 19, 2023 4:44 pm
Hey guys, I have my car assembled and gapped. I have it on the rotisserie for final panel matching and blocking. Since I have everything assembled I am thinking of drilling for pins to locate everything for reassembly after color. Have any of you used the pin method for reassembly alignment? It took me 50 hours to do it once and I don't want to fight it again in color. Thanks in advance!
I have used locating pins more than a few times. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't, but at least it gets ya close.
Lou
I agree. I pinned my Comet during mock up, most of the pin locations were right on when I did final assembly, a few were slightly off. Go figure!
Jim
Re: body gap allignment
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2023 9:36 pm
by Boss/Cyclone
I always pin the hood and trunk for easy realignment if they had to be pulled.
Re: body gap allignment
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2023 7:21 am
by Rootsy
I think I know what is being executed here but just for verification can anyone shed any light on this as I soon approach this point in life?
Re: body gap allignment
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2023 7:51 am
by Lou's Comet
Rootsy wrote: ↑Mon Sep 18, 2023 7:21 am
I think I know what is being executed here but just for verification can anyone shed any light on this as I soon approach this point in life?
Once you have all the panels and gaps all lined up on you car you drill holes through the panels into the body for alignment pins.
I drill 1/8" have a lot of 1/8" drill bits laying around lol
This way when you disassemble the car for paint it will be easier to align the panels when you reassemble the car, just line up the holes and insert the pins. Then when you bolt the panel back on the alignment "should" be the same.
Lou
Re: body gap allignment
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2023 8:16 am
by Rootsy
So how do you seal those holes up?
Re: body gap allignment
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2023 8:24 am
by Lou's Comet
Rootsy wrote: ↑Mon Sep 18, 2023 8:16 am
So how do you seal those holes up?
I don't. If the paint in the holes chip during reassembly I just dab a little touch up paint in them. I only put like two holes in each fender and two holes in each trunk & hood hinge. Once everything is done they are not noticeable .
Lou
Re: body gap allignment
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2023 9:25 am
by Caveman49
You know I’ve always wondered about pinning the sheet metal. I guess everything needs assembled before final paint, at least that’s what I’m thinking. I’ll probably be using tape on the edges when I reassemble, if painted before, although the alignments on the doors, fenders and hood were really bad to begin with, it’ll be fun trying to get them aligned when I put the 66 back together, painted or not
Re: body gap allignment
Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2023 7:07 am
by Boss/Cyclone
Lou's Comet wrote: ↑Mon Sep 18, 2023 7:51 am
Rootsy wrote: ↑Mon Sep 18, 2023 7:21 am
I think I know what is being executed here but just for verification can anyone shed any light on this as I soon approach this point in life?
Once you have all the panels and gaps all lined up on you car you drill holes through the panels into the body for alignment pins.
I drill 1/8" have a lot of 1/8" drill bits laying around lol
This way when you disassemble the car for paint it will be easier to align the panels when you reassemble the car, just line up the holes and insert the pins. Then when you bolt the panel back on the alignment "should" be the same.
Lou
Same procedure I used, works great.
Re: body gap allignment
Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2023 8:04 am
by Lou's Comet
Boss/Cyclone wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 7:07 am
Same procedure I used, works great.
I just started reassembling my front sheet metal. Pins worked nice. Here is a picture of the pins lining up RF fender. I wrap the drill bits with masking tape (yellow) so they are easier to work with and they don't fall through.
Here is a picture of the hole for the pin, really not that noticeable
Put my fender right back where it was....happy face
Lou
Re: body gap allignment
Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2023 10:22 am
by Caveman49
Thanks for the pics Lou, makes a whole lot more sense to me now
looks great. I know that’s going to be one fine Comet.
Re: body gap allignment
Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2023 8:06 pm
by Boss/Cyclone
Lou's Comet wrote: ↑Thu Sep 21, 2023 8:04 am
Boss/Cyclone wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 7:07 am
Same procedure I used, works great.
I just started reassembling my front sheet metal. Pins worked nice. Here is a picture of the pins lining up RF fender. I wrap the drill bits with masking tape (yellow) so they are easier to work with and they don't fall through.
Here is a picture of the hole for the pin, really not that noticeable
Put my fender right back where it was....happy face
Lou
Good idea. I used a pick last time I had the trunk lid off. I'll try your way next time.
looks great. I know that’s going to be one fine Comet.