Front fenders and Hood question.

[wallace18]

To those who already mounted the body stuff. Does the front fenders mount under the windshield frame or on top? Do you have to massage the fenders and front hood/bonnet to fit properly? I am having trouble getting everything lined up nice. Pictures will help. Thanks. TW:confused:

[michael everson]

Pretty sure mine are on top I had a heck of a time getting everything in the front lined up. I still need to trim the height of the hood in order to get it to fit right. The flange around the underside is too tall. I started with both front fenders lined up with the mating body line on the lower rocker panels. Then worked my way forward from there. My nose wasn't even close to being able to bolt to the bottom of the radiator support. Don't be surprised if yours is the same way. See my build site for some pics.
Mike

[wallace18]

Pretty sure mine are on top I had a heck of a time getting everything in the front lined up. I still need to trim the height of the hood in order to get it to fit right. The flange around the underside is too tall. I started with both front fenders lined up with the mating body line on the lower rocker panels. Then worked my way forward from there. My nose wasn't even close to being able to bolt to the bottom of the radiator support. Don't be surprised if yours is the same way. See my build site for some pics.
Mike

Thanks Mike. I did look at your posts. I started with the fenders at the rockers also then hooked up the front to the fenders. I had notch the front part like you did and will have to make a similar bracket for the front end. I noticed others mounted everything without the windshield frame in. Maybe that is where I am going wrong???

[michael everson]

No. I just mounted my windshield frame and it interferes with both the top of the doors and the top of the fenders. Will spend more time on it tomorrow.

[Wayne Presley]

Put the side pods on first, doors, windshield, put the windshield as far toward the doors as possible then put the hood/fenders/nose on

[metalmaker12]

Put the side pods on first, doors, windshield, put the windshield as far toward the doors as possible then put the hood/fenders/nose on

Ditto, I put the quarters, than doors, now onto winshield frame than fenders and nose, it all seems like lining up well so far, except the rear bonnet to rear bumper gap, which I am addressing. If you have not noticed, the rear bumber section bows out, the hood pins pull it in to the rear bonnet, but I am thinking some brackets they hold the rear section tighter will work better.

[wallace18]

Put the side pods on first, doors, windshield, put the windshield as far toward the doors as possible then put the hood/fenders/nose on

Thanks Wayne. I'll give it a go.

[Erik W. Treves]

I was painting mine, so I a little off the windshield and some off the rear of the fender. I had to do this to make clearance for the wiper. I also wanted "the hole" where the door, windshield and fender to be as small as possible!!!

[adubbelde]

Did you mean HOD, Not HODD? 23696:p

[metalmaker12]

I was painting mine, so I a little off the windshield and some off the rear of the fender. I had to do this to make clearance for the wiper. I also wanted "the hole" where the door, windshield and fender to be as small as possible!!!

I hear ya about that hole Erik, happy turkey day

[metalmaker12]

There a solid amount of tweaking the front end and winshield frame to get good lines. I am not a huge fan of how the winshield frame is designed where it meets the top of the fenders.( It is not too bad, but will take some time to get it all perfectly lined up. The one thing I will say, is this car is in no way paint free, I have some gel coat imperfections etc, overall the kit is good.

[wleehendrick]

The one thing I will say, is this car is in no way paint free, I have some gel coat imperfections etc, overall the kit is good.

Same here, I have some areas in the gel coat that will require touch-up. However, mine will still be paint free, as I'm debating between a wrap or plasti-dip.

[metalmaker12]

True you could wrap or dip it. I am priming and painting for sure. Wrap would be my second choice.

[Aloha818]

True you could wrap or dip it. I am priming and painting for sure. Wrap would be my second choice.

Just an FYI. I had hopes of wrapping mine. I ordered, in a couple colors, 2' x 5' pieces of 3M gloss metallic vinyl to try out installing, color, and body finish. I realized, as probably the rest that have received their kits, that the edges of each panel will need some attention. But I had hoped that the panels overall finish would be acceptable without full on filling and blocking. Halfway through the first trial piece I could see too many flat spots, lines, and other imperfections. In the reflection of my overhead tube lights I could see zig-zags.

I didn't even try the second color, came back home and started researching a new color scheme, now that ALL colors will be available. There goes a month of priming, blocking, guide coasts, wet sanding!

[wleehendrick]

But I had hoped that the panels overall finish would be acceptable without full on filling and blocking. Halfway through the first trial piece I could see too many flat spots, lines, and other imperfections. In the reflection of my overhead tube lights I could see zig-zags.

I didn't even try the second color, came back home and started researching a new color scheme, now that ALL colors will be available. There goes a month of priming, blocking, guide coasts, wet sanding!

Well, I guess that depends on your expectations and finish choice. For a show car, or even OEM like finish, certainly body work will be required. I'm not kidding myself that a few hours with a DA polisher on the gel coat will be perfect. However, the gloss wrap you tried will show imperfections more than a satin or matte finish that I'm leaning towards. I know flat finishes are not everyone's cup of tea, but I think I'll give it a try, and it should be much more tolerant of slight surface irregularities. Although I'm a long way off from mounting my body, I should probably do what you did and wrap/dip a panel to evaluate final quality and determine the path I want to take.

[flynntuna]

Hey Lee, the Dec. issue of R&T mag. has an article on vinyl wrap. In it says the shop, Vinyl Styles in San Carlos, Ca. says that matte and satin finishes show more of the dents and dings more than gloss finishes. Maybe this can be disguised with a custom patterns, two tones, stripes,ect. I'm leaning in the wrap direction too since I'd rather not spend 6k+ into paint.

[wleehendrick]

Hmmm... my experience is counter to that statement. glossy finish (specular reflection) has depth and shows reflections; it's the distortion of the reflections which makes a imperfection obvious to me. A matte finish, which adds a strong diffuse component, is mostly scattering the reflected light.

If is is getting wrapped or dipped, a little filler and sanding wouldn't hurt.

In any case, I'll probably get a sample of each dip and wrap to try out on a small panel and post my results.

[flynntuna]

It does seem counter intuitive. Who knows , there may be a correction in a future issue.