Front Clip secrets
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 266
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From: Erin, Tn.
Front Clip secrets
I have two new front fenders, one new inner fender, a front tilt hood and everything else original I think. I have had the front clip off for one reason or another three or four times lately. Every time I reassemble it fits different. Is there a secret measurment to get first before anything else? I had to weld an extension on to the old inner fender where it bolts to the fire wall to get the clip far enough forward to fit. Also the truck has a Nova front clip on it that was done by PO's, but it measures right every where I have checked it. The last time I put it together I had everything fitting pretty good. Now I have taken the air deflectors off to drill holes and weld up old holes for a 55 grill. Now I can't get anything to fit.
Its kind of funny that the more I type the harder I am hitting the keys. Good way of venting I guess.
Thanks
Its kind of funny that the more I type the harder I am hitting the keys. Good way of venting I guess.
Thanks
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
I don't know of a secret to getting the whole mess to just go on right the first time. You just have to put it all on with a few bolts on each pice finger tight, then adjust it from there until you like it. The most important thing to get right is the radiator support, because the front hangs off it. You can use diaginal measurements from thye firewall and inner fender bracket holes to locate that.
I do know how to get the best fit you can make repeat every time you do it later. I drilled (2) 1/8" holes between mating pieces and clecoed them together. There are two holes between inner fenders and cab brace, inner fenders and outer fenders, inner fenders and air dams, air dams and outer fenders, gravel shield and fenders, etc.
Now, every time I go to put it back together, I just cleco the parts into their holes, run a few bolts in to tighten the gaps out, and the whole mess comes back to perfect gaps. Cool.
Eastwood sells clecoes and the pliers for them.
I do know how to get the best fit you can make repeat every time you do it later. I drilled (2) 1/8" holes between mating pieces and clecoed them together. There are two holes between inner fenders and cab brace, inner fenders and outer fenders, inner fenders and air dams, air dams and outer fenders, gravel shield and fenders, etc.
Now, every time I go to put it back together, I just cleco the parts into their holes, run a few bolts in to tighten the gaps out, and the whole mess comes back to perfect gaps. Cool.
Eastwood sells clecoes and the pliers for them.
