Wheel Well Fiberglass Trim and a few other Questions?

[Pete&Scott]

Watched the FFR Body Fitment videos, and I see they start out trimming a 1/8 to 1/4 of the edge off the edge of the wheel well. Is that an MK4 thing, or do builders do that on the MK5 as well? My son and I are trying to figure out why it is suggested to trim it. To our inexperienced eye, it doesn't look bad untrimmed.

Also on the front lower oil cooler tube where the body gets attached to the frame. The FFR manual shows some Nylon spacers. I couldn't find those in my kit so I picked up a couple but when fitting the body I was able to pull the body up to that tube without a lot of issue. I refitted the front quick jack bolts yesterday with the 3/4 tube and grommets and loosened those 3 bolts the fiberglass along the lower oil cooler opening drop maybe an 1/8 of an inch. Do I need to add a small spacer in that location.

I used a laser level to find the center of the car, measuring from the inside edge of the headlight opening and then the halfway point between the roll bar cutouts. I also attempted to find the center of the hood using the indents on the underside of the hood. When I lay the hood on the car, the hood sits about 3/16 off center towards the driver's side. So, when gapping the hood, do you ignore that 3/16 of an inch off-center and just gap the hood, attempting to take off more on the passenger side?

Finally, do most body/paint guys like for the customer to do some of the rough gapping or do they prefer to do all of that when they get the car/body?

Thanks

227184 227185227186227187

[CW_MI]

My paint guy said he'd prefer it if I didn't touch anything. He also said, feel free to do what you like, I'll just charge you to fix it later...with a smile.

[ggunter]

Im sure that Jeff will jump in here, but don't try to find symmetry in these cars as it doesn't exist and you will go bonkers trying to find it. The center between the headlights and the center of the tag light on the trunk is where most find the center of the car to layout the stripes. If you're getting it painted by someone else ask them if they want to do gapping. You should also look at trimming the rolled over lip at the dash and the rolled over lip at the rear of the cockpit by 1/4" so there is some body movement fore and aft for setting up final body placement for the doors and latches.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Yes, you still need to trim the Mk5 wheel wells.

I take them down to finish like this:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=220467&d=1760991628

I also trim to eliminate the wonky curves from the front of the wheel wells over to the oil cooler scoop so that it makes a smoother transition like this:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=220468&d=1760992067

Here's how the back of the front wheel opening finishes:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=220469&d=1760992103

The hood is not centered on the body...not on the Mk5...or 4...or 3... or 2 or ...1 ;) Don't use the rollbar cutouts for center. Mount the license plate lamp on the trunk lid and mark it's top center, then measure between the headlights and mark that center. Put away the fancy lasers and just pull a string all the way from that lamp center to the center between the headlights.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=206388&d=1726846214

This is your centerline for placing the hood scoop and laying out stripes.

I can't speak for other painters but I always ask my customers to do the absolute minimal amount of trimming to all panels and to do just enough so that they open, close and latch. I tell them to leave the alignment, fit and gapping for me.

Cheers!

Jeff

[rich grsc]

You should do ALL the gapping for doors, hood & trunk, also roller bars and exhaust cut outs..Then Jeff can make some "extra" beer money fixing it. :p

[Rebostar]

Watched the FFR Body Fitment videos, and I see they start out trimming a 1/8 to 1/4 of the edge off the edge of the wheel well. Is that an MK4 thing, or do builders do that on the MK5 as well? My son and I are trying to figure out why it is suggested to trim it. To our inexperienced eye, it doesn't look bad untrimmed.

Also on the front lower oil cooler tube where the body gets attached to the frame. The FFR manual shows some Nylon spacers. I couldn't find those in my kit so I picked up a couple but when fitting the body I was able to pull the body up to that tube without a lot of issue. I refitted the front quick jack bolts yesterday with the 3/4 tube and grommets and loosened those 3 bolts the fiberglass along the lower oil cooler opening drop maybe an 1/8 of an inch. Do I need to add a small spacer in that location.

I used a laser level to find the center of the car, measuring from the inside edge of the headlight opening and then the halfway point between the roll bar cutouts. I also attempted to find the center of the hood using the indents on the underside of the hood. When I lay the hood on the car, the hood sits about 3/16 off center towards the driver's side. So, when gapping the hood, do you ignore that 3/16 of an inch off-center and just gap the hood, attempting to take off more on the passenger side?

Finally, do most body/paint guys like for the customer to do some of the rough gapping or do they prefer to do all of that when they get the car/body?

Thanks

227184 227185227186227187

You might want to shout out to F500guy. He did just enough fitting to be able to drive the car for a season. He plans to have the body and paint done by a professional next winter. As for myself. I studied up here on the forum for many hours and days. I watched loads of videos before I started my body work which I did myself, but farmed out the paint topcoat. Turned out great!
BTW, JK speaks truth!! pay close attention. He saved my *** more than once.

Happy Trails

22720822720922721022721122721222721322721422721522 7216227217

[Jeff Kleiner]

You should do ALL the gapping for doors, hood & trunk, also roller bars and exhaust cut outs..Then Jeff can make some "extra" beer money fixing it. :p

Please, NO! Thanks for trying to help Rich but as you know I just charge a flat rate so any additional hours spent fixing customer's, shall we say "errors in judgement" don't put any more High Life in the fridge :D

Jeff

[rich grsc]

OK then, guess I'll just have to bring some anyway. :rolleyes: