The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Front clip assembly

I am looking for some words of wisdom on the front clip assembly. Where do I start? Everything has been taken apart and painted. I would have normally taken pictures throughout disassembly but it appears in my zest to tear things apart I did not. So step by step where do I start. Thank you in advance.

I would Google it, it will be on there somewhere, also on Youtube.

I thought so as well and could not find one video on this subject. I’m going to start with the inner fenders and work my way out.

I loosely bolt my inner fender to the fender and install as an assembly. It takes 2 people who were born with an extra hand (preferably an extra right hand ) , and a lot of painters tape to protect the paint on the cowl .

Carl is correct. In fact, leave every bolt loose until you get them all started. I’ve finally got my front clip with grill and gravel pan installed and will be aligning the hood and front end today…. I installed my inner fender wells loosely and then installed the fenders over them. All bolts at the rear that go into the cowl will have to remain loose for the alignment process, I believe.

The new grill was the most troublesome piece.

Once you get the front end together, 52Carl wrote an alignment procedure years back, I polished it and submitted it for a “Tech Tip”. Unfortunately, it has not been added to the tech tip section as of yet.

Here is a copy of that procedure.

AD Front Clip Alignment Procedure by 52 Carl on Stovebolt. Download the PDF.

All great advice. It is a two person job. I am getting close. Phil, thanks for the Alignment Procedure. This I more than I was looking for but everything I will need. I had not considered how the hood alignment would fit into the process. Now I do. Thank you.

The 27.0” and 27.5” dimensions for the skirt to dash rod- the firewall end of the rod has two bolts- which bolt center do you measure from - the aft most one?

I should have included this page from the Assembly Manual that clarify’s the step.

Aha! Thank you- I would have measured that incorrectly for sure…great!

Those 27" and 27 1/2" measurements are a great place to start. Don't get hung up on it if your finished product does not end up with those measurements. You are not putting together brand new truck parts like they had on the assembly line.

I was wondering about that Carl- thanks! I had to make a horse shoe shaped mod to my left rod to get it around my rear carb on my dual carb setup, so I’m finally able to tackle the alignment today. Because I’ve got the Langdon Weber dual setup there is no practical way to go around the back or the front of the carb because of my linkage setup- I had to go over the top and plasma cut an old 11.5 inch diameter brake rotor off of a hub to make the trip around the carb. Worked great, and looks kind of interesting as well…

Had I known all the trouble I was in for converting to dual carbs, I NEVER would have done it- it’s best to leave most things as they were designed- this is my new mantra.

It’s certainly a conversation piece now, and the dual carbs are a hit at the shows, I’m sure!

Great advice from Carl. And it takes 3 people and a lot of painters tape to do it correctly. Thanks again.