Body Fitting

[mlewis]

All,

Planning to start to fit the body to the chassis for the first time. Wondering if I should pre-install the gasket around the trunk and over the firewall prior to ?

If not initially when should I install.

Thanks !

Mark

[jrcuz]

Hi Mark, I have had my body on and removed it a couple times without the various seals. I've seen a few comments saying if you do install the seals to protect them with some sort of durable plastic maybe like heavy duty trash bags due to the rough underside of the body rubbing on the seals
JR

[CraigS]

Leave the seals off for now. The aluminum panels, especially around the trunk, usually need to be trimmed. You want to go through pretty much the entire body mounting especially at the front and rear and then use a marker to scribe a clearance line near the edges of the aluminum. Someone will hopefully verify this number, but you are looking for a constant approximate 3/8 inch gap aluminum to fiberglass so there is room for the seals to work w/o being over compressed. Use a similar technique to clearance the underside of the body to the dash panel. The cut there from FFR is usually quite rough and the gap may vary from zero to 5/16. You want an even gap of maybe 1/4 inch so you have clearance and the dash covering isn't rubbing on the fiberglass edge. You may also need room here to locate the body properly fore and aft at the door latch plate.

[rich grsc]

What Craig said. :o

[j.miller]

Bulb seal doesn't need to be on until you are fitting and gapping panels. Do a search . There are a lot of threads from Kleiner , myself, SRP and other about where the body needs to be and supporting the nose...da Bat

[mlewis]

Thanks all

[mlewis]

all, follow-on question...

For the front quick jack location/secure. I looks like most use a 5/8" ID x 3/4" OD SS tube over the FFR supplied tubes and finish off with the finish line rubber grommets.

Do I have this right ?

Mark

[Jeff Kleiner]

I get my grommets from Metro Moulded Products. You’ll spend less and have them in a matter of days rather than weeks. I purchase .75” OD by .5” ID seamless stainless tubing from Online Metals.

Jeff

[mlewis]

Thanks Jeff. I just ordered the grommets. For the tubing, it looks like approx 6" x 4 should cover the install, correct ?

[Jeff Kleiner]

I buy 2 feet and cut to 5.5” each.

Jeff

[mlewis]

Thanks Jeff. Much appreciated support.

What are your tricks for the rear quick jacks ?

[egchewy79]

make sure you read about the "kleiner method" for the rear QJs. basically use a short bolt behind the frame, connected to a nut coupler. This allows you to use a threaded rod or bolt to attach to your body and QJs and allows you to remove the body without dropping the gas tank.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Thanks Jeff. Much appreciated support.

What are your tricks for the rear quick jacks ?

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?14243-Rear-quick-jack-mounting&highlight=coupler

Jeff

[mlewis]

Thanks for the refresher thread (I already stold the coupler idea :D).

I suppose I could order more of the ss tubing to create the spacer for the rear quick jacks ?

Mark

[j.miller]

make sure you read about the "kleiner method" for the rear QJs. basically use a short bolt behind the frame, connected to a nut coupler. This allows you to use a threaded rod or bolt to attach to your body and QJs and allows you to remove the body without dropping the gas tank.


"THE KLEINER METHOD " KISS MY )*&^%$#$%@#!$....... It's like this guy is a god or something...…"OH" "let's hang on his every word !"......and NO ! I'm not jealous....just a little ...shall we say.... IN THE BOTTLE ! HA !!! (I live my life under a cork ".....LOOK! The "Kleilner method is great for Bumperetts and but for Quick-jacks you reach through the ovals cover plates to put the nuts on....OH ! You don't put the bolts in backwards, you put them "Bolt Head" outside in. All said and done I can drop a tank and reinstall it 4 times before you drive to the hardware store to buy the couplers (No brag, just fact)…...Don't get me wrong ! I have a huge "man crush" on Kleiner and I wish (in a perfect world) that he and I.....But I digress. I've said to much. I've tipped my hand...….GOOD LORD THEY WILL SEE RIGHT THROGH ME !...………………………………….JSUT GOT A RFEILL....what where wee talcking abbot......How about those Mets ?...ba Tat

[CraigS]

Bat, thanks for my AM chuckle.

[rich grsc]

Forgot the morning meds, AGAIN. :p

[j.miller]

Forgot the morning meds, AGAIN. :p

NOPE ! I doubled up !!!

[mlewis]

thanks all for the advice (and the entertainment) :D

[rich grsc]

NOPE ! I doubled up !!! OH good, I was worried for awhile (10 seconds).