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rebuild in what order... [heard diff. things]

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timbn2

timbn2

Jedi Hopeful
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Well, its getting to be that time... gonna get this project started. I have heard a couple of schools of thought on this. Ihope this doesn't sound to stupid - do you align all body peices on the chassis, then repair the rusted out parts, or do all chassis work first, then all the body peices?

Now it seems intuative to me that you need to get the chassis done first so you have a straight project to set all body parts on, BUT if you get the chassis "wrong" then the body doesn't sit right.

whats the best correct order?
 
If I had my car to do over, I'd get the bodywork right and then do minimal sectioning (not whole panels, if I could help it). Then upon reassembly, there should be fewer surprises...
 
Verify panel fit first.....(with hinges & other hardware affixed) then disassemble and do coachwork.

It may be necessary to keep some panels in place.(in close proximity to heavily damaged structural areas)

Doors can be especially problematic during sill/dogleg replacement.

During body off repairs, It may be necessary to construct a jig to maintain alignment

The boot lid on my car does not fit well because I made some mistakes that I will never repeat.
 
Hi Tim, I don't know if there is a pure linear way to do it. If the subassemblies aren't true then the outer panels can't be done accurately either. Depends on how straight and true the chassis rails, etc are. they could be bent or sagging. On my BJ7, the left front chassis rail is bent, it has the left front wheel at about 3 degrees camber, surprisingly it is not wearing the tire out and the car rolls along very straight and smooth. But I know that my front fender is not exactly where it should be. When I restore it, i'll go to bare chassis and make that true before i do any panelwork. Altimately, on all the cars i've ever done, i go right to the most basic system and make that right first. if the car is going to get chassis and suspension work, then that is what i do first. Sometimes you will hang panels, fenders, doors, etc in process to get the underpinnings right, but the underpinnings is what I do first. The panels go on and off a zillion times before the job is done. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
thank guys,
thats what my gut instinct says: to do the chassis first. I have some front driver side frame damage that will need to be fixed, so it will be a good time to get the frame and chassis "trued" up (as much as they can be). Thank you for the input and advice.
 
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