Hey guys..so I decided while the engine is out and the cab mounts getting replaced..is be freshening up the body bushings. The core support ones were crap and the rear bushings are causing my body lines from my cab to bed to mismatch. Could somebody tell me if this is why the body lines are weird? Also..do I need shims? The fenders and doors are aligned and the core support was completely rusted out on the bushings..

 

Well, I think doing all the body bushings at one time is a good idea. They're hard rubber so the body seams and contours should line up well unless the cab or bed have any twist which will make themselves evident quickly and moreso over time. I'd pass on shims at this point because the bushings will tend to settle over time with the weight that they are subjected to... and I think you'd go nuts right now trying to align everything to the nth-inch.

Poly body bushings (and shims) however would be the way to go if you're doing a high-dollar restoration for competition. However, an eighth of an inch ain't gonna amount to a hill of beans for a nice driver.

Visually, what matters are the panel gaps like door-to-cab, door-to-fender, hood-to-cowl, and hood-to-fender. The bump line between the bed and cab should line up but a slight misalignment may not be that noticeable.

 

Even with the rusted out cab mounts and non existent core support..the fenders and doors were good as for alignment. As for the rear...I did some inspecting..the rear drivers side isnts sitting allthe way down..and the passenger side bushing is HALF the thickness of the drivers..there is about 1/4 to 1/2 inch the misalignment

 

Also..any advice to get the rear bushing bolts out.? I know the head of the is behind my gas tank in my cab..just taking any advice!

 

lube-lube-lube if that don't work, a little heat with a heat gun. Sometimes you got to cut them out. dont loose the bottom part. Thay are hard to find. And get some shims, the lines never line up. The factory used them.

 

For the rear mounts use shims? I know NPd sells the rear bushings with hardware