MK IV Body Fit Question

[Jim S]

While I am waiting for my engine to be delivered, I decided to install the body and fit the doors, hood, etc. There are two body fit areas causing me to question what I need to tweak. I have attached 3 pictures to help explain what I am seeing.

First Body Fit Issue
The first picture shows that the right side (passenger side) has the wheel and tire centered in the body wheel opening.
178061

The second image shows that the left side has the wheel and tire positioned too far forward in the wheel opening. The tire comes very close to hitting the body when the wheel is turned to the right. (I have trimmed the body wheel opening to the FFR recommended 1/4 inch.)
178062

The body is centered on the frame, left to right. I do know the body is tight against the dash on the left side. Trimming the body to clear the dash will help move the body forward and move the wheel and tire more to the center of the wheel opening. I suspect it won't move it enough though.

Second Body Fit Issue
As you can see in the third image, the hood opening does not run parallel to the 3/4 inch top radiator support bar. The left side of the opening is a 1/2 inch further forward. Keep in mind that I need to move the left side of the body forward to center the wheel and tire in the wheel opening. That is going to make the fit issue in the third picture worse.
178063

I wouldn't think the body is supposed to fit like this and I must have something wrong. Does anyone have any ideas what I have wrong? I am even questioning if I have the front suspension installed correctly. (I have the FFR upper and lower control arms.) Any ideas would be appreciated.

[rich grsc]

The suspension needs to be aligned. The radiator support isn't welded square. You can see that in the picture, it's something that has been"like that" for sometime.:confused:

[Jeff Kleiner]

While I am waiting for my engine to be delivered, I decided to install the body and fit the doors, hood, etc. There are two body fit areas causing me to question what I need to tweak. I have attached 3 pictures to help explain what I am seeing.

First Body Fit Issue
The first picture shows that the right side (passenger side) has the wheel and tire centered in the body wheel opening.
178061

The second image shows that the left side has the wheel and tire positioned too far forward in the wheel opening. The tire comes very close to hitting the body when the wheel is turned to the right. (I have trimmed the body wheel opening to the FFR recommended 1/4 inch.)
178062

The body is centered on the frame, left to right. I do know the body is tight against the dash on the left side. Trimming the body to clear the dash will help move the body forward and move the wheel and tire more to the center of the wheel opening. I suspect it won't move it enough though.

Second Body Fit Issue
As you can see in the third image, the hood opening does not run parallel to the 3/4 inch top radiator support bar. The left side of the opening is a 1/2 inch further forward. Keep in mind that I need to move the left side of the body forward to center the wheel and tire in the wheel opening. That is going to make the fit issue in the third picture worse.
178063

I wouldn't think the body is supposed to fit like this and I must have something wrong. Does anyone have any ideas what I have wrong? I am even questioning if I have the front suspension installed correctly. (I have the FFR upper and lower control arms.) Any ideas would be appreciated.

First of all, unless these photos show the car raised up your ride height is WAAAAAY too high.

I'm guessing that you have not aligned the car. If you used this FFR rough alignment diagram from the manual IT'S WRONG:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=178064&d=1673639845

When they made the image rather than mirror imaging the left and right they flipped it. Notice that on the right (passenger) side the long leg of the UCA is forward and the shorter leg is rearward. This is correct. On the left (driver's) side it shows the long leg at the rear and short leg to the front which is incorrect...should be long to the front and short to the rear. If you set it like the drawing shows you'll have the proper positive caster on the right side and negative caster on the left which will move the wheel forward in the opening---just like what you have happening!

As for the misalignment of the hood opening and tube; they're all like that. Two reasons, which when combined make it more apparent. (1) The tube is angled in the chassis intentionally (a vestige from the old days when it was done to allow the Mustang donor radiator to fit. (2) The hood opening is crooked on the body, not centered and is skewed to the driver's side as can be seen in this photo:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=131794&d=1544925801

You said that "the body is centered on the frame". DO NOT use the hood opening to determine center. Measure from the front coilover mount to the wheelwell lip to center the front.

Good luck!

Jeff

[Avalanche325]

It's a Cobra.......put the tape measure down!

I remember freaking out when I started measuring things on the body, like the hood opening.

[cc2Arider]

Thanks Jeff! Excellent reminder of a mistake in the assembly manual as well as observations from practical experience ;)

Craig C

[Jim S]

Jeff,

I think you hit on the problem. I did use the manual as a guide to get the alignment close but as you explain, wrong. I'm convinced that adjusting it will fix the problem.

Thanks for explaining about the upper radiator support. I had no idea it was not square or why it was that way. I did measure from the front of the coil over mount to the wheel well lip to center the body.

As to the ride height... Until I get the engine and transmission installed, I wasn't going to worry about where the ride height was set. Right now the coil overs are set at about the midpoint of their adjustment range.

[michael everson]

They are all off on the driver side. If you move it forward to center the front wheel, the rear will be off.
Mike