JSabah Posted March 17, 2016 Report Posted March 17, 2016 I want to get two things on the body straightened out and/or understood. The 1st of which is an uneven tailgate. The left side of the tailgate is about 3/8-1/2" lower than the right side. Also, while removing the wiring harness to the rear of the car, it seemed to be pinched between the body and the chassis (although there was a gap... As it the rubber shrank and pinched the wire). After tugging in the wire it pulled loose and a rubber spacer came out with it. The puzzling thing is that the spacer was in tact with no tears/breaks but looks like it should have had a bolt thru it. The spacer is about how much I need to lift the body to get the tailgate straight.... Thoughts? Quote
JSabah Posted March 17, 2016 Author Report Posted March 17, 2016 (edited) Second body issue is my floors. Can anyone familiar with the floors tell if I need just the fronts or the rears too and if the rears are the same as the sedans (the Woody has a toolbox/jack space ... Not sure about the other models) Edited March 17, 2016 by JSabah Quote
casper50 Posted March 17, 2016 Report Posted March 17, 2016 You'll need both front and rear. Just a thought on the tailgate. Wood shrinks unevenly. That old and that dry you will have shrinkage. Quote
Jerry Roberts Posted March 17, 2016 Report Posted March 17, 2016 Perhaps someone slide that rubber spacer in place to lift the body a bit . Quote
JSabah Posted March 17, 2016 Author Report Posted March 17, 2016 Perhaps someone slide that rubber spacer in place to lift the body a bit . I think so... Will investigate tomorrow. Quote
JSabah Posted March 17, 2016 Author Report Posted March 17, 2016 You'll need both front and rear. Just a thought on the tailgate. Wood shrinks unevenly. That old and that dry you will have shrinkage. Will order both front and rear for the body shop to weld in for me (along with an inner rocker or two ... Never seems to end ;-) ) Yes there was some wood rot and shrinkage on that side, but on the 49 the structure is steel and on mine the rear window appears to be level. The hope is to get the tailgate straight and then rebuild the wood to it on the one corner. There are some bolts holding the piano type hinge to the tailgate, there may possibly be some adjustment, but my gut tells me I'll be un bolting the body from the chassis and trying to slip a spacer in to lift it level. Quote
Dave72dt Posted March 17, 2016 Report Posted March 17, 2016 Since you mentioned rocker replacement, check your body supports carefully as well. Rockers and supports in poor condition can cause panel fitment issues elsewhere and is possibly, probably the cause of your tailgate problem. You'll need to get all the gaps in the doors and tailgate back where they belong BEFORE welding the new rockers in and locking in a panel misalignment. Quote
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