The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Getting my body panels to fit better

My truck was built from 3 or 4 donor trucks to make one good one. The kid I bought it from did a pretty good job, but the body panels don't fit as nicely as it should. For example, my hood is close to the driver's side fender, but too far from the passenger side fender. The adjustment rods in the engine bay help that a little, but not enough. In fact, the frame appears to not be straight either. My guess is it needs the frame straightened, and then the panels might end up fitting a lot better.

Are there any other adjustments besides the rods inside the engine bay though that I could try?
The truck is a 1952 GMC 3/4 Ton Long Bed. Thanks.

Hood hinges, cab mounts, you can even loosen the fenders and get a little bit of adjustment from that. If your doors don't fit quite right, sometimes the hinges must be bent, door latches adjusted and or rebuilt. You can spend DAYS adjusting everything on your truck and it still might not line up perfect.

on my 66 gmc i have been doing sheet metal alignmen for last two months and it still needs finishing.but it feels good when those old doors click close so easy.good luck.

I don't think anything that you mentioned is related to the frame. If the spacing problem with the fenders and the hood is along the fender line, you should loosen the fender where it attaches to the cab and lift it up. Before you give up on the adjustment rods, loosen the central mount under the rad support. This will allow you to move the front sheet metal using the rods.

Hot Rod Dad, I've just spent the last two days doing the same....

You have my sympathy!
Persevere though, you can get it pretty good if you're patient.
I've had to allow for a some damage to the LH side fender and cowl.
I found lots of lead and bondo!
Even then I think I got it sitting not too bad!