The rear body bracket does not line up with the frame bracket hole.

Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration
Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: The rear body bracket does not line up with the frame bracket hole.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Poane on Saturday, July 19, 2014 - 08:55 am:

The rear body bracket does not line up with the frame bracket hole. I was able to insert the bolt by forcing the body forward. That put a lot of stress on the fire wall.

The fire wall flexed forward but I did not hear a crackle. It does not look bent, but it does bend pretty good when the body is forced forward. When that happens, the front brackets do not fit. Repos, I can drill them larger too.

Is it better to force the body or enlarge the body bracket hole? I already enlarged the middle body bracket holes (front and middle are repo brackets.)

Thank you in advance. Bob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By R.V. Anderson on Saturday, July 19, 2014 - 09:11 am:

If the body brackets' bolt nuts are accessible, as they are in your photo, loosen all of them. Bolt the brackets tightly to the frame, so they stay in place (even if you have to use smaller bolts), and then move the body forward. There is usually some slop in the brackets' bolt holes and taking up all that's available will probably add up to the amount you need. It's almost never a good idea to force anything.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By john kuehn on Saturday, July 19, 2014 - 10:18 am:

Using long taper punches will help.
Loosen all the body brackets up. Remove the bolts.

Then start putting in the bolts
with no nuts. As you begin putting in the alignment punch from the opposite end line up the opposite bolt and put it in. Keep going to get them all in.

Start tightening up the bolts and thing should be pretty much in line. This depends also if the body brackets were put on in the right position to begin with.

It worked for me.

When Ford built these cars I don't think things were as precise as we try to rebuild them. Some were pretty close but not all.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Saturday, July 19, 2014 - 04:47 pm:

There are several ways to look at this. As John K says, they were not all that square when they were new. Pretty much anything within a quarter inch is good. With all holes within that quarter inch, you can pretty much force it all together, and it will work okay.
Or not.
The real question is; is the frame straight and square? If not, everything will give you fits on fitting (fenders, side aprons, hood). If the frame is really close, like within an eighth inch cross-measured the proverbial six ways to Sunday, set and square the firewall to the frame first. Then work forward and back from it.
It is also possible the body is not quite square. Again, work from the firewall back. Pull the body if necessary.
As for the body-mount bracket? One like in your photo above? Once the frame and firewall are checked and square. I would move the bracket on the body (on the sill board) that quarter inch to make it match the frame. You can elongate or oval the holes in the bracket or angle the holes through the sill board and leave the outer position unchanged, yet move the bracket on the inside.
I would not really recommend forcing a fit. That tends to result in future fitting problems. Firewall may twist or tweak, hood won't stay put.
Good luck! And have fun!
What car is this? I think I would like to see a lot more pictures of it.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.
Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration