Re: [DML] Front body bolts not lining back up

["content22207" <brobertson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Why not simply horizontally oblong the fiberglass seat belt holes 1/8" before inserting the spacers? You could install the shock tower bolts first, then trace around the spacers so you know exactly how much material to remove.

Bill Robertson
#5939


--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Matthew" <drivestainless@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks Tom.  
> 
> My problem is that loosening the seatbelt bolts until there is space between the bolt head and the body does nothing.  The seatbelt bolts are installed into a large steel (removable) spacer which takes up 90% of the size of the hole in the fiberglass, and restricts the movement of the body at that point.  Therefore, unless that spacer is completely removed, the effect is the same as if the bolt was fully tightened.  
> 
> If I install, even loosely, the front bolts first, I cannot get the seatbelt bolts with the spacer even started to thread.
> 
> The two immovable attachment areas of the body are fighting one another, if that makes more sense.  I had a lot of trouble with this the first time I attempted to tighten the body bolts.  In that case, I got the front bolts installed loosely, and then pulled as much as I could to get the seatbelt bolts aligned.  After all of my pushing and pulling, eventually the front bolts popped out, with both holes in the frame stripped.  I helicoiled them, tightened them back down, and decided I would figure out how to address the seatbelt bolts later.  Well, here we are...
> 
> Matt
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Tom Niemczewski" <dmctom@> wrote:
> >
> > Matt,
> > 
> > Since those bolts are not "floating bolts" you need to leave them way loose 
> > until you start all of them. The body can distort when lifted but it cannot 
> > shrink. Loosen the seatbelt bolts until there is space between the bolt head 
> > and the body and push the body from the back while holding the frame still. 
> > Do not try to pull the body!! You will end up with ripped pieces of 
> > fiberglass from the body!! The bolts will line up once the center bolts are 
> > loose and you are able to PUSH the body forward and back. Once you start the 
> > front bolts leave them loose and move back to the cross brace in the engine 
> > compartment. Once you get those started you can tighten all six bolts and 
> > move to installing the rest which have floating nuts.
> > Remember to immobilize the frame (pulling hooks are great for that) and PUSH 
> > the body - do not pull!
> > 
> > Good luck!
> > 
> > 
> > Greetings from Poland!
> > Tom Niemczewski
> > Vin 6149 plus 2418, 3633, 5030, 16473, 17086
> > Google earth: 52°25'17.66"N, 21° 1'58.40"E
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --------------------------------------------------
> > From: "Matthew" <drivestainless@>
> > Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2012 1:21 AM
> > To: <dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: [DML] Front body bolts not lining back up
> > 
> > > Group,
> > >
> > > Over the last few years I've been working on a frame-off restoration.  In 
> > > installing and tightening the body bolts, I've gotten the seat-belt 
> > > spacers and bolts installed, however, with those in place, the front shock 
> > > tower bolts are about 1/8" out of alignment, and so I can't get the bolts 
> > > started.  The body needs to move forward.
> > >
> > > All of the other bolts are loose or uninstalled, so it seems like the area 
> > > between the seat belt bolts and front shock tower bolts has compressed 
> > > over time (3 years) in the air.
> > >
> > > I have not yet, but I will remove everything from the front end if I have 
> > > to.  I am desperate, and the vendors I've talked to seem to have very 
> > > limited experience with this scenario.
> > >
> > > Does anyone have a recommendation as to where the shop could attach a 
> > > come-a-long to the front end and pull with a relative margin of safety? 
> > > One idea was where the hood struts attach.
> > >
> > > The car was never in an accident, and yes, the bolts lined up just fine 
> > > when it was taken apart.
> > >
> > > Thanks for any and all help,
> > >
> > > Matt
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------
> > >
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> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>




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