Body Mounts and height

[celeryman22]

Hi, I just got done installing the body back onto the frame. I used new body mounts and now there is a large gap between the frame and the birdcage.

How large of a gap should there be? The gap is about the height of one new body mount. It just seems a bit different, its a little over an inch between the top of the frame and bottom of the birdcage. Also, how do I know howmany shims to use? I counted them when I pulled the body off, but I have ran out and I still have 1 more mount. If there a way to start from scratch?

Thanks
Mike

 

[rponfick]

I'm not sure I exactly understand the question, but I will offer some comments from my experiences. When doing a body off on my '69, the first time I placed it back on the refurbished frame, it was high in one spot also. Turns out one of the old mounts had stuck to the bottom of the birdcage and I didn't notice it. So, I had two mounts in one place, which does make for a funny fit.


The same thing can happen with the shims, i.e. sticking to the body. However, if you counted and replaced the proper number of shims, I don't understand how you can be in fix you're in. I did replace my solid alum. shims with the newer rubber mounts, which will cause the body to ride about 3/8" higher.

 

[celeryman22]

What happened was this, I counted the shims as they came out. The problem is not knowing the thickness of a shim before you start. So when I pulled them out and tried to count them they were in one big bunch, so what I think was 5 shims could have been 3. I know there isn't any extra left over shims and or mounts since I pianted the birdcage rail after I pulled them out. I have the assemnly manual for my car but the page just says shim as required. Does that mean you put the body on and shim the other locations, or does it need to be shimmed to a specfic height.

 

[rponfick]

Sounds like you had a mass of shims rusted together. Not a happy sight. Could the body be hanging up on something other that the mounts. It appears you have more than just a shimming issue. Shims were added on the assembly line to get the best body/door fit. There is no magic or base number of shims. All I can suggest is to try to get the same height of shims at each spot as when disassembly and see how everything lines up. If your mounts are like mine, they have a rubber lip that fits up in the hole in the birdcage and these could hang up and not be seated fully. Best of luck.

 

[Red69]

The body mount/shim kit I used had much thicker shims than what GM used. I dropped the body on after following the kit instructions. Then, I checked for contact between the body channel and mount and shimmed accordingly. Of course, you will need to monitor the door gap front and back as you tighten the mounting bolts. My number 3 wasn't shimmed properly and the door gap closed right up when the bolt was tightened. I needed to add another shim. As I said, the kit shims were much thicker, too thick to properly shim two of my mounts. I ended up cleaning about four of the old shims to be reused. The space between the body channel and frame doesn't give you much room to work, so you may need to raise the body a little. If you just start threading the bolts it will keep from losing the shims in the process. Like they say, if it were easy everybody would be doing it and these cars will fight you all the way.