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body off?
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Section : Bodywork and Interior
Chassis, bodywork, interior, instrumentation.
Posted By : Mark Telkman, 24-Jan-2006, 03:10pm
I've no idea as yet just how much rot I'm going to find when I start stripping the paint back, but I think it's sensible to prepare for the worst... or
should that be inevitable?
As much as I'd like to get the body onto a rotisserie to give me more access for the sill/floor welding and other work, the obvious weak point when taking
the body off would be the sills/floors, where I'm also expecting the highest filler and rust to metal ratio. Should I be looking at getting these solid
before taking the body off, or can the body be suitably strengthened with plenty of bracing to keep it solid?
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Posted By : Dave Cox, 24-Jan-2006,
05:19pm
From my experience of two spit rebiulds, leave the body on chassis and only tackle one side at a time. If you have good door gaps at present, take lots
of reference measurements from various points, use a door gap adjuster or weld a bar across the opening.
If you've got body sagg at the moment then an article by J.T. in the courier on sill fitting gave exact measurements.
IMHO body off as a last resort
good luck
Dave
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Posted By : Mark Telkman, 24-Jan-2006,
07:10pm
I'll be taking the body off eventually anyway... whilst not perfect, I can live with the door gaps as they are, just got to work out if I'll need
the strength of the chassis to keep them as they are while I do the welding.
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Posted By : Andy Rangecroft,
25-Jan-2006, 01:30am
Mark
The previous advice is sound. It's not just about door gaps but about the body and chassis attachment points being in line when you come to
reattach them. If you are going to cut metal out of the body tub, sills and/or floors, then the chassis acts as a jig so everything stays in
place. If you do this of the chassis you risk not being able to mate them back together.
Andy