Front chassis issue

[ekwags62]

I took the gaurds of the wagon today to work out why the door gaps touch at the top and about 8mm at the bottom and the bonnet hits the r/hand guard and the the L/hand gap is about 15mm. I put a level on the top edge off the engine bay apron and on the front rail of the chassis and measured it for centre. Front is 15-20mm lower on the passenger and 8 mm too far to the left. Is there a way to fix this with out completely removing the front chassis.
Onother problem I have is the vertical door gaps on the drivers side are all tight as and the passenger side are spot on. I measured the rear guards and they are the same then from the "C" pillar to the "A" pillar and the drivers side is 4mm shorter. The sills and floor have been replaced before I took possesion of the car so i wonder if the car had been braced properly before the cutting was done. Im also thinking this car has had some serious impact.

Any suggestions to the reason for all this and how to fix the problem would be greatly apprecaited

Cheers Mick.

[fingers]

Can you post some photos mate ...........Fingers

[neatride]

Does it look like there has been any damage or repairs to the front subframe lower legs? or check inside the footwells firewall area for crinkling.

[ekwags62]

Well this what I have and note the bonnet gap to the plenum is even and central to both aprons in the top corners. Theres no apparent damage to the chassis but who's to say its not a replacement.
Drivers side apron. The bonnet closes over the front of it

With the guard on I have to pull the bonnet across so it will close

Passenger side apron. Have roughly 20mm gap

With the guard on the gap is now about 15mm

Drivers rear door needs to come down at the rear and up in the front but also forward to open the gap a little and to clear the dog leg

Gaps are not too bad but the rear door needs to come up at the front and down at the rear and the front door needs to come up a tad

This is the main prob also note the window frame is pretty close to the windscreen pillar. If I move the guard forward anymore the bolts will not line up

Passenger rear door gap is pretty much spot on and the heigths right and seems the only door that fits

Gaps are not too bad the rear door is good and front door also needs to come up a tad

Gaps opposite to the other side. Ok at the top but guard overlaps the bottom. Not the window frame is also tight on the winscreem pillar


I'm kicking myself now not checking the car over more closely. Although the cills and floors have been done. They have been done quite rough and there is quite a bit more rust than I hoped for. Thinking a bit of paint touch up and a clean i'll have it over the pits and licenced. My dream is shattered. I dont have the funds to do a resto so anybody interested in a Parisian Lilac wagon let me know.

[ekwags62]

Forgot to mention the passenger A pilllar is a bit munted but the door gaps are all good on that side.

[Blacky]

Looks like shes had a fair shunt at one stage do you have a porta power ??

[ekwags62]

Looks like shes had a fair shunt at one stage do you have a porta power ??

Looks like i'm going to need the front off that wagon you have there Blacky including the guards and bonnet if they're any good.

For some reason i dont get any notification of replies on any of the threads I reply to. Even replies to my own. Any help there too.

[Blacky]

Yeah - scroll down to the bottom of the page and hit subscribe topic - then you will get an email whenever a reply is posted.

Dont know how good the subframe is on that wagon but you are welcome to look.

[ekwags62]

Ah didnt think i needed to being my own thread.

When you home for me to come look

[Blacky]

Anytime after 5:30 weekdays or next weekend.

[ekwags62]

Need to sort this asap. Dont want to waste time on what I have here is 5.30 tomorrow leaving you run off your feet?

[MeFB]

You probably know this, but the driver's side wings don't fit well from the factory. Every one that I have seen has a poor fit around the scuttle and is noticeably different from the passenger side. Some of the problem with the driver's front door gap might be partly to do with this (or it might not ).

Hope you manage to work it out because the old girl looks to be in OK shape otherwise.

[Blacky]

Need to sort this asap. Dont want to waste time on what I have here is 5.30 tomorrow leaving you run off your feet?

No worries.

[MeFB]

You probably know this, but the driver's side wings don't fit well from the factory. Every one that I have seen has a poor fit around the scuttle and is noticeably different from the passenger side. Some of the problem with the driver's front door gap might be partly to do with this (or it might not ).

Hope you manage to work it out because the old girl looks to be in OK shape otherwise.

What's a wing? Are you talking british for a front guard? I don't agree if it doesn't fit well it's been put together poorly at some stage new or otherwise.?

Can't believe you haven't noticed this Tim. All the off-side wings (drivers side front guards ) I've seen are a little higher and have more of a gap around the scuttle (cowl ). I checked out quite a few original cars after thinking one of my mine had been in a prang.

Maybe QLD cars were built a little better, after all, you guys get plenty of practice at bending things...

[MeFB]

you must spend more time looking at them, I just drive them
I only own 1 Brisbane FB, but 2 Sydney EKs, 1 Sydney FB, 1 Melbourne EK, also an off-side wing would be a passenger side wouldn't it?

Can't argue with you there. Would help if I lived in the same country that my cars were in

Off-side on RHD cars is driver's side (furthest from the curb).