Gen 3 body mount problem

[OldnGray]

I am having an extremely difficult time getting the body of my early serial number Gen 3 coupe to mount even close to how it should.

The problem is when the rear of the body is set to the height specified in the manual, the right door sill is up off the frame about a ½ inch in the back. Also, the door opening at the top, rear, is almost above the top roll bar. The drivers side looks perfect. In addition, the side to side wheel well measurement show the rear end about 1 inch to the driver’s side. If the body is pushed over the necessary amount to correct that, it only makes the door opening problems worse. I have exchanged e-mail and pictures with tech support and they have had some suggestions but I still have the problem. I have notched the body for the 1 ½ inch frame tubes and re-positioned the body at least 5 times to try and be sure it wasn’t binding on something. Has anyone had similar issues? If so, how were you able to resolve them? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Gary

[michael everson]

I built kit #7 if I remember correctly and don't recall having that problem. the body just kid of fell in place. What happens if you bring the body down on the passenger door sill? Does it then look crooked? Maybe the body has a slight twist to it?
Mike

[Erik W. Treves]

So mine was an early beta... but this is how I did mine.

I just threw the body on there... I had to relieve a little around the area of the roll bar as it passes by the window scoop area. The pass side door opening was as far forward as it go and flat on the frame. The driver's side was up a little 3/8-1/2 and about 1/2-5/8 back off from the vertical part of the frame (where the door hinge attaches). Then mount the nose. Now move the nose AND the body around to get the nose straight, even on the chassis. I wouldn't worry about getting the body in the "right" spot until the you have the nose on there. Also for the rear of the body... I didn't measure at all. I let the rear aluminum set the height if the rear. Make sure you put the bulb seal on the aluminum before you put the body on. To me it sounds like the body is too high in the back and to far rotated to the driver's side....

my .02

[John Dol]

Did you store the body off the car properly?
Heat and cold can influence the shape of the body if not properly supported.
How long was the body off of the car?

John

[j.miller]

I'm on my 3rd Gen3 for body and paint. I do it the way Eric does. I set the back where they want it , hang the doors, hang the nose and slowly bring it all together. Takes me about 40 hours to get it all set, hinged, latched and trimmed before I start body matching...da bat

[OldnGray]

Thanks for the input. Looks like I have some work to do.

Gary

[Mark Dougherty]

yeah what they said.

[UpNorth]

Guys,
As a newby taking possesion of his kit by early spring I’d like to know if there is something that I sould do before removing the body off the frame in order to make things easier later (and in my case it’s going to be MUCH later) when time comes to put it back on.
TIA

[David Williamson]

Nothing special, I took 2 - 2x4's and made a "V" with them. The tops supported the side window/roof and kept most of the weight off the area under the doors. The body sat like this on my 4 post lift out of the way all Summer and it fit back on exactly like it did before. I need the lift to store my Mkll for the winter so the body had to go back on the frame. First world problem, 5 cars and a 3 car garage with a lift to fit 4 cars.With the coupe off at the body shop the cars are all inside. I did the build on jack stands, with the aluminum off most of the work is from above.
David W