Trimming dash cowl rolled edge

[JohnK]

I'm getting ready to mount my body for the first time. I plan to leave the body alignment/fitting to the pro's but I'm pretty sure I'll need to trim the dash cowl rolled edge to avoid damaging the dash. How much should this be trimmed?

[GoDadGo]

John,

I used a belt sander with a really fine grit.
Using this tool makes very short work of the process but be EXTREMELY CAREFUL if you decide to use a belt sander.
Test fit the body if possible and mark the body with a sharpie to help you make sure you will trim where it needs to be trimmed.

Good Luck & Happy Cowl Fitting!

Steve

[JohnK]

Thanks GoDad. Is there an agreed-upon amount to trim off before fitting the body for the first time, or do I need to just carefully set the body on the first time and scribe a mark to trim? If the latter, I'll probably put several layers of painters tape on the upper edge of the leather dash to avoid damaging it if the cowl make contact.

[GoDadGo]

Thanks GoDad. Is there an agreed-upon amount to trim off before fitting the body for the first time, or do I need to just carefully set the body on the first time and scribe a mark to trim? If the latter, I'll probably put several layers of painters tape on the upper edge of the leather dash to avoid damaging it if the cowl make contact.

Like you stated, I used several layers of Painter's Tape to protect my dashboard.
I then marked the body with a sharpie before removing the body so that it could be trimmed.
It sucked that I had to do it this way, but it worked.
Hopefully one of the Pro-Builders or Master Hobbyist Guys have a better solution.

[Jeff Kleiner]

It varies a bit car to car but start with 1/4 inch or so; if you're using a padded dash go to about 3/8". I'm more aggressive than my friend GoDad and use a 60 grit flap disc on my angle grinder. Once I've test fitted I clean it up with 80 on the DA.

Jeff

[JohnK]

Thank you both!

[GoDadGo]

Thank you both!

For The Record:...Sir Jeffski Knows What He's Doing!

[JohnK]

Resurrecting my old thread, as I'm now *finally* ready to start test-fitting the body. I'm planning to trim 3/8" off the front flange to clear my leather-wrapped dash. Do I need to trim anything off the rear wall flange for an initial fit or is trimming the front sufficient to get the body on and then see where I am from there?

Also, I don't have my air compressor connected yet in the new garage, so I can't use any of my air tools at the moment. Is a flapper disk on the angle grinder a good way for a first-timer to try to trim the front flange, or is there a safer/slower way to do it to minimize the possibility of screw-ups?

[rich grsc]

Use a block with coarse sand paper. Mark a line, sand to the line

[egchewy79]

I only needed to trim the front cowl lip. My rear fit w/ no issues, even over the padding/carpet.

[JohnK]

Perfect. Thank you both!

[Jeff Kleiner]

Be advised that a flap wheel will cut FAST! Be careful ;)

Jeff

[CraigS]

Although you can't readily see that edge I get more concerned about having a constant gap all the way across the dash. To me that is more important than the exact dimension of the gap. So I'd go w/ Jeff's 1/4 inch or maybe 3/16 and then scribe a line on the body from the dash so you can finish fit it next time it is off.