I just put together my 59 Chevy short fleetside for the first time and am having some body alignment issues. The cab and bed match up very nicely. However the front clip is off. The top of the fenders on both sides are touching the top of the doors (this is after I took the mounting pads off of the radiator support bracket) and there is a 1/2 gap on the bottom. The frame was not original to the truck but it is an original frame for the same model. I did install a TCI front suspension and 4 link. All body parts are original except the inner fenders. Anyone have this issue? Picture is attached. Thanks.
My guess would be you need to raise the front of the cab. That will close up the gap at the lower part of the fenders.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Looking at the picture, the back of the fender look like it could come up a bit and that would close the gap a little.
Phil Moderator, The Engine Shop, Interiors and Project Journals
1952 Chevrolet 3100, Three on the Tree, 4:11 torque tube Updated to: ‘59 235 w/hydraulic lifters, 12v w/alternator, HEI, PCV and Power front Disc Brakes Project Journals Stovebolt Gallery Forum
I do not have FAM for your year truck but I would research and find the cab to frame dimensions and verify that the cab floor to frame relationship is correct ( height of cab floor to frame near each of the cab mounts ). Not knowing if the "new frame" has been tweaked in its previous life and if you have the radiator support setting on the frame ( no pads , no shims ) then you'll need to work with the cab mounts. Just an opinion based on my experiences with a 54 1st series.
Ron - - Dusty53 1954 Chevy 3604 In the Gallery Forum "You can't dance with the Devil and then wonder why you're still in Hell." "They will forget what you've said, and they will forget what you have done but they will never forget the way you made them feel."
You need to start at the front radiator core support. Once that's setting on it's mounts then raise or lower the cab to make it line up with the doors. Note; the gap at the rear edge of the doors needs to have already been adjusted before adjusting the front clip.
Are the fenders original or reproduction?
Mike B
Mike Boteler
1956 Chevy 3100 Resto Rod 1952 Willys M38 Army Jeep 1983 Jeep CJ7 Laredo 1984 Jeep CJ7 +++++ Silver Spring, MD
Thanks Mike. The fenders are original. I shimmed the front of the cab with the shims that come with the mounting kit. The lines for the bed and cab line of very well. I am concerned that if I shim the front of the cab anymore those lines will get off. I was thinking of moving the brackets on the radiator support to lower the front.
I wouldn't worry about the bed at this time...get the cab and fenders lined up first which may require you to lift the cab. Then shim the bed to match the cab...you should not have to cut anything. Your repro mount kit may not be as tall as original.
Mike B
Mike Boteler
1956 Chevy 3100 Resto Rod 1952 Willys M38 Army Jeep 1983 Jeep CJ7 Laredo 1984 Jeep CJ7 +++++ Silver Spring, MD
Is there a certain amount of shims that an be placed under the front cab mounting points? Only 2 or as many as it takes to level the cab cowl to the fender. I have 5 under each side.
