What Checks to Make After Temporary Body Install?

[karlos]

Hauled my MK4 body down from the ceiling where I had it stored and temporarily installed it to check the positioning of the seats. Good thing I did, as there's not much clearance between the body and the top rear corner of the passenger seat. Probably would have interfered if I hadn't checked it with the body on. But now that that's behind me I need to take the body back off and finish the remaining odd and ends. Before I take it back off, what other checks should I make first?

- Fit-up at firewall and dashboard
- Light/turn signal harness length at each of the four corners
- Clearance between hood and air cleaner

Anything else? And what about the sidepipe fit-up? Do it now, or wait until the body is more permanently fit/installed?

Thanks in advance.

-Karl

[edwardb]

Also a good time to check the height of all the aluminum panels. Just confirm you don't have any that the body is hanging up on. The method I use, described on the other forum several years ago, is to put the body on the chassis without any bulb seal. Confirm that it has an even 3/8-inch or so spacing all around. Mk3's had a couple trouble spots that were pretty common. Mk4's not so much. My current build I didn't have to trim anything. I don't recommend trying to fit the side pipes until you really have the body finally positioned, the front splash guards are in place (makes a difference) and you have the doors hung and adjusted. Pretty normal to have to adjust the body side wrap-around to get the optimal door fit (especially the DS) so wait until that's done to do the final side pipe fitting.

[AC Bill]

The windshield post holes often have to be tweaked. You want to ensure there is clearance enough that there will be no pressure from the body exerted on the posts. Ideally you would need another person to help, putting the windshield on, and removing it again.

Same thing goes for the roll bar. The factory cut holes often need to be adjusted.