Ready for body work - question

[Jester]

I have completed almost everything other than re-mounting the body and the body work

Is it best to complete the initial body work with the body on the buck or mounted back onto the chassis?

I am planning to mount the body onto the chassis and install all of the remaining components to insure proper fit before starting the body work then and complete the body work. This will allow for setting gaps and fitting doors etc. Is this the best way forward or should the initial body prep be complete off the chassis (less dust on the completed components)? I will mask off finished components for dust control.

Once body work is completed is it best to paint the body on or off the chassis?

Feedback for the best way forward is appreciated

Thx in advance

[GWL]

Jester,

As you said, you do need to mount the body, doors, hood and trunk lid for sizing (gaps) and proper alignment, as best as you can, of those parts to the body. You will find that some of those parts will not line up as good as you would like them to which means you have to then add filler to match the parts such as the doors to the body or body to the doors. You can also tweak the mounting of the body a bit to help in aligning of the movable parts such as the doors. Go to ffcars.com and do a search for some really good threads on just what we are talking about here.

You could work a bit on the seams, while it is off the chassis, but I would feel better with it mounted in place having taken the shape it will remain in when it is later finished and painted.

George

[Jeff Kleiner]

My recommendation after having done a couple of them is to do your initial prep on the buck. By initial I'm talking cleaning, blocking, knockdown and finishing of the parting lines and wheelwells. I will even go as far as spraying the first round of Featherfill or Slick Sand before ever returning the body to the chassis. After it's back on then do the fitting of moveable panels (doors, hood, trunk). Take a look through my Mk4 bodywork & paint thread linked below if you like.

Good luck,
Jeff

[Jester]

Great feedback - thanks for the input

looking forward to getting this completed!