Leveling the Body

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Topic author
GG Gregory
Posts: 295
Joined: Sat Jul 20, 2019 3:05 pm
First Name: GG
Last Name: Gregory
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 27 Roadster
Location: Maryville Tn

Leveling the Body

Post by GG Gregory » Wed Aug 14, 2019 2:55 pm

I just had my 27 Roadster painted and the body was removed from the chassis. I have the body mounted using the original wooden blocks but now the drivers door won't shut correctly. The gap near the lower hinge and door is closer than at the top. The inside edge of the door is hitting a mounting screw at the bottom on the hinge side of the door. Which way should I go with adding a shim or 2...the front mount at the drivers feet or at the wooden block ????

User avatar

Quickm007
Posts: 1198
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:58 am
First Name: Mario
Last Name: Brossard
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1911 Touring and 1914 speedster
Location: Quebec City Canada
MTFCA Number: 30981
MTFCI Number: 30981
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: Leveling the Body

Post by Quickm007 » Wed Aug 14, 2019 3:07 pm

Hi,

Just use shim in the middle of the body. I face-up the same issue and it is work really well and it is a cheap solution. All the best,

https://www.modeltford.com/item/BSHK.aspx

Shime.JPG
Shime.JPG (23.25 KiB) Viewed 2508 times
Super Mario Bross ;)

1911 Touring
1914 Speedster


Topic author
GG Gregory
Posts: 295
Joined: Sat Jul 20, 2019 3:05 pm
First Name: GG
Last Name: Gregory
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 27 Roadster
Location: Maryville Tn

Re: Leveling the Body

Post by GG Gregory » Thu Aug 15, 2019 6:18 am

Thank you Quickm007


Norman Kling
Posts: 4071
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm
First Name: Norman
Last Name: Kling
Location: Alpine California

Re: Leveling the Body

Post by Norman Kling » Thu Aug 15, 2019 11:13 am

While the body is off it is a good idea to check for straightness and level of the frame. Once that is done, you start with the radiator and firewall and get everything set so the hood fits correctly. This fit is either up or down or side to side. Once you get the hood to fit, you work back from side to side. If the block under the hinge is too high or too low the door won't fit. work first to get the front doors to fit, then work on the rear of the body. Every time you shim something up, it affects something else, so might take a bit of experimentation until you finally get it right. To add to all of the above, be sure the hinges are also straight and the doors are not bent. If it fit before you removed the body, it should fit when you replace it unless you bent something while it was off.
Good luck. It can be done.
Norm


Kevin Pharis
Posts: 1355
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2019 3:54 pm
First Name: Kevin
Last Name: Pharis
Location: Sacramento CA

Re: Leveling the Body

Post by Kevin Pharis » Thu Aug 15, 2019 3:29 pm

Norman clearly has done this before. No car body is as rigid as we like to think it is, a little shimming is always required to get things to fit right. Some naturally fit better than others, and some require a ton of work. Read Norman’s post a few times and be patient

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