Re-assembly
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4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
Re-assembly
Hi everyone; New to the site and its forums. Hoping to learn new things and enjoy others projects of these great Bumpsides.
I am in the middle of my now 11 year build. Time , money , experience , all seem to be lacking so that's why I'm at 11 years. Anyway, just starting to re-assemble for my pre-paint fit and finish. Cab is on and bolted
down but something isn't right. In order for my fenders to line up parallel with the cowl , I have to put a 1/2" shim under the core support. If I remove the shim and have the core support rest on the rubber bushings directly on the frame , the fenders sit on an angle to the cowl no matter what I try to do with all the adjustment places ( hidden fender bolt , underside fender bolt , inner fender and inner fender support etc) . I have even tried a couple of shims under the rear cab mounts to try to get the cab to angle a little more down but that didn't do much. What am I doing wrong??? Is it normal to have shims or this much shim under the core support? Hoping someone might have experience in this and offer up some tips and ideas I'm going crazy trying to figure out why the support can't sit on the frame. Thanks in Advance
I am in the middle of my now 11 year build. Time , money , experience , all seem to be lacking so that's why I'm at 11 years. Anyway, just starting to re-assemble for my pre-paint fit and finish. Cab is on and bolted
down but something isn't right. In order for my fenders to line up parallel with the cowl , I have to put a 1/2" shim under the core support. If I remove the shim and have the core support rest on the rubber bushings directly on the frame , the fenders sit on an angle to the cowl no matter what I try to do with all the adjustment places ( hidden fender bolt , underside fender bolt , inner fender and inner fender support etc) . I have even tried a couple of shims under the rear cab mounts to try to get the cab to angle a little more down but that didn't do much. What am I doing wrong??? Is it normal to have shims or this much shim under the core support? Hoping someone might have experience in this and offer up some tips and ideas I'm going crazy trying to figure out why the support can't sit on the frame. Thanks in Advance
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,855
Likes: 608
From: Minnesota
Not really a big surprise having to shim the Core support. But, you may want to sit the bed on the frame and verify that the cab is square to the bed. You may actually need to shim the rear Cab Mounts which would reduce the number of shims needed at the core support. If you installed new Cab Bushings or repaired Cab Mounts or Frame Mounts these all affect how the Cab now sits on the frame. Just take your time and put as much of the truck together before trying to align panels.
Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
Nothing has been done to the cab that I know of. My old cab required too much work so I found a rust free southern cab out of Phoenix that I am using. The front cab mounts were solid so no need for work to be done there. The only thing different is, of course , new repro rubber bushings from DC. Following instructions and diagrams , I have the correct bushings in the correct places.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,855
Likes: 608
From: Minnesota
I would verify the Cab to Bed alignment as the new bushings are close but never the same as originals. The simple fact that its a different Cab makes thing change too. Test fit, test fit and test fit again.
Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
Is yours original as in never been touched outside the factory? How high are your shims?
One of the other issues is that when raising the core support , it also raises the lower valence. When you raise the lower valence then attach the bumper to the frame mounting holes , the bumper hits the valence.
Lol. How the heck did they ever put these things together at the factory?
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Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
Not really a big surprise having to shim the Core support. But, you may want to sit the bed on the frame and verify that the cab is square to the bed. You may actually need to shim the rear Cab Mounts which would reduce the number of shims needed at the core support. If you installed new Cab Bushings or repaired Cab Mounts or Frame Mounts these all affect how the Cab now sits on the frame. Just take your time and put as much of the truck together before trying to align panels.
Just for ****z and giggles , we did put shims under both the rear cab mounts , 0.200" cause that's all we could seem to get in without fighting trying to get them in , and it didn't raise the rear hardly enough to make any kind of difference on making the fender parallel and still needed the core support shims. As it sits right now with no shims on rear cab mounts and the box sitting but not bolted to the frame , the bump lines up almost perfectly on both sides.
How would a different cab make a difference? shouldn't all the cabs be the same?
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 526
Likes: 80
Make cab parallel to bed first - use shims on rear cab mounts if necessary.
Then use shims under front radiator support frame to allow the fenders to fit well to the cab?
sounds like that’s the process. Take your time, Get it looking good.
Then use shims under front radiator support frame to allow the fenders to fit well to the cab?
sounds like that’s the process. Take your time, Get it looking good.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,010
Likes: 250
From: North Pole, Alaska
They should be spot-on, but this was the state of manufacturing at this time. A cab built in San Jose would be off by millimeters compared with one built in Ohio or Canada. They tried to get close with the bucks and jigs. They didn't have industrial lasers back then so alignments had to be adjusted. And things get worn out with 58-53 years of use.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,855
Likes: 608
From: Minnesota
Right on Rich. These things were put together with hammers and shims guys. So when I am talking about square between the Bed and Cab, yes body line as well as the gap between the two. If body line is matched and the gap at the bottom between the two is 1 inch and at the top its two inches, you would shim the front Cab Mount and vise vers if the gap at the bottom is bigger you need to make the Cab Mount shorter. I have a feeling you front Cab Mounts are thicker than your originals if your body lines are matched up. The best way is to get a laser level and shot the side of the truck and see if everything is level. If it is, well you will be shimming your front bumper somehow.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,253
Likes: 345
My 72 f250 had shims under the core support when I took it all apart anyway. When I put it all back together with poly bushings, it sat a little higher. I bolted the cab on as is and had to add a bit more shim to the core support to align the fenders. I also had to raise the bed about 7/16" to get it how I liked it.
