I am trying align my body after putting in new body mounts. My question is what is the best method to align the body. Some say use the rocker panel to the frame and some say use alignment holes. My problem is that if I use the alignment holes, the rocker panels are not parallel to the frame. If I use the rocker panel to center it up, then the alignment holes don't line up. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
I don't know, that's a good question. Maybe someone that did multiple restorations will chime in. My brother which is a professional body man helped me. That being said when I did the Reynolds car I opted to center the body on the frame side to side and front to back using the rockers and making sure each body mount was centered. All while ignoring the alignment holes. figured we could always go back and change it. What I ended up with was a car that I never saw so great of panels matching, lining up with so much ease. hardly any shims...if any? And the core support ended up being perfectly centered in its mounts. And to me that is most important, because you can easily see that. With opened hoods look down at some (even high end) restorations and you can see the core support sits "cocked" or over to one side in its mounts which to me makes it look shody. My thoughts are the alignment holes are there just to speed up manufacturing on the line and then they made adjustments from there.
Use body alignment holes in frame and body for initial body drop on to frame. Follow that, by measuring from outside of frame rail to inside of rocker front and back on both sides. Bump body to get all measurements the same with body alignment holes still in line.
I had opted to center the body using a tape measure. I had to make a decision on this and just go with it. If I used the alignment holes, the body would be clearly off center from the frame by about 1/2" Left to right. Front and back lined up. Just didn't seem right to me. I guess I will find out how the panels align when I go to put them back on. I can always loosen the mounts back up if needed to shimmy the body over if needed. Thanks for the help.
Adding to Guy's post, I'll suggest measuring from the front frame horns to the firewall in an 'x'..... left front frame rad support hole to top right firewall, and rf frame rad support hole to top left firewall. This will ensure the front end sheetmetal fits properly.
I think you will be fine. If my memory is correct that is about how mine was, off side to side but was fine front to back? And did the same thing to correct it. Please let us know the outcome...feedback is a good thing.
