Rear Cockpit Wall Fitment

[smccoy]

I have been fitting all my panels prior to powder coat and am having issues getting the back wall aligned. When I bring both bottom tabs into contact with the cockpit floor, the panel is not even. I have spent quite a bit of time moving panels around (including installing the rear wall without the side panels installed) and can't get it to sit any better than this. Does anyone have any tips for what I am doing wrong?

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=165932&d=1650940970

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=165930&d=1650940970

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=165928&d=1650940917

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=165929&d=1650940917

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=165931&d=1650940970

[edwardb]

I would raise the RH side so the bar behind the slots for the shoulder belts look like the LH side, e.g. about 25-30% of the slot covered. This is on purpose, BTW, so the shoulder belts rub against the wider cross bar and not the aluminum opening. That would also make the cockpit rear wall symmetrical across the top to best fit the body, and also should provide the best fit for the cockpit rear corners and trunk sidewalls. Then raise the floor up to the tab at the bottom as best you can. Even if it's not perfect, that area is buried behind the seats.

[JohnK]

Mine was the same. I tried every which way to get it to fit better, but anything that made the holes line up better made things far worse everywhere else. In the end, I just opened up each hole with a file until they were all the same size and all had the same reveals top and bottom. Not sure it matters all that much, as it'll all get covered up with carpeting and seat belt trim bezels anyway.

Here's what mine looked like before. I don't have any good "after" photos, but I took a measurement on each hole from top of cross bar to top of hole and used that to determine how much to take from the top and bottom of each hole so they all ended up the same size and aligned vertically.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=165933&d=1650942190

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=165934&d=1650942190

[JeffP]

I would raise the RH side so the bar behind the slots for the shoulder belts look like the LH side, e.g. about 25-30% of the slot covered. This is on purpose, BTW, so the shoulder belts rub against the wider cross bar and not the aluminum opening. That would also make the cockpit rear wall symmetrical across the top to best fit the body, and also should provide the best fit for the cockpit rear corners and trunk sidewalls. Then raise the floor up to the tab at the bottom as best you can. Even if it's not perfect, that area is buried behind the seats.

This is exactly how I handled mine, they were off just like yours are. Lined seatbelt holes up per Paul's suggestion and then massaged the rest of the panels in place to fit.

[CraigS]

Also understand that no bulb seal is used there and that the carpet sticks up vertically beyond the edge of the aluminum. So any mismatch aluminum to body will be well hidden.

[edwardb]

Also understand that no bulb seal is used there and that the carpet sticks up vertically beyond the edge of the aluminum. So any mismatch aluminum to body will be well hidden.

That part is true. But the rear wall also dictates the location of the cockpit rear corners and to a certain extent the trunk walls. All of which do have bulb seal and the body rests on them. Granted the difference might be minor and able to be taken up with the bulb seal. But I'd still suggest mounting the rear wall so it's level and symmetrical so those parts line up as accurately as possible.

[smccoy]

Thanks everyone! I will get the rear wall levelled and even and just massage the aluminum at the floor tab to fit. My brain will be much happier knowing the panel is symmetrical anyway!

[Ted G]

I just installed mine and although mine lined up horizontally, I actually had to use my sheet metal brake to adjust the corner pieces a bit. Seems as if the sheet metal is not perfect, but good enough.

[hineas]

Ours was the same. The passenger side had more of the square tube showing than the drivers side. Like some others said, this is covered with carpet so we decided not to worry about it. We did do insulation on the back and then carpet, which made the body fitment a little tighter (we had to sand the rolled edge a little), but it settled down nicely and the body fits fine over the cockpit wall. You can't tell at all that the rear wall was a little off now that it is finished.

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[Norm B]

If that bugs you, wait until you get the body on and see the difference side to side. With the seat belt bezels on it is really obvious if you're looking for it.

Norm

PS NO idea why the picture uploaded in a 90 degree right bank.

[rich grsc]

Measure it with a yardstick, mark it with a crayola, beat it to fit

[j.miller]

Measure it with a yardstick, mark it with a crayola, beat it to fit





YUP! Smack it with a hammer and cover it with carpet...Da Bat

[CABulldog]

YUP! Smack it with a hammer and cover it with carpet...Da Bat

This is my plan :)