How to aline the fenders with all those parts

[slantback37]

Hi. Been moving fenders up and down. Back in forth. When I get one side set. The other is off. Then when both sides look pretty good the gap at the back of the grille is off. Is there a special way to set the whole works up?? Maybe bolt the whole front clip together before mounting on the frame.

[fordcragar]

What are you working on? Have you had the car together and everything fit right or are you starting from scratch and don't know how it fit before?

[slantback37]

The body was here, and the frame over there. No front clip. I was able to find a front clip from a 37 Fordor. With the grille off I can put the fenders, and filler panels on and it fits real nice. As soon as I put the grille on. The hood hits hard on the front, but a big gap at the back of the grille. I may have one of those knockoff grilles. I am not going to pay $600. for another grille.

[51 MERC-CT]

Perhaps assembling the whole clip together on the car, locating and aligning everything loosely as best possible first, then take pic's and post here to see if anyone can give some direction.
No amount of verbally describing a problem in this case is as good as hands and eyeballs on the problem.
Even pictures can be misleading to some degree.

[slantback37]

Some pictures

[petehoovie]

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Don't forget the welting/fender welting and the gaps it can fill....

[slantback37]

I do have the welting. It is maybe 1/4 to 3/8". I think the gaps might be bigger. Now I do have another grille. It came in a box with the pile of scrap that came with the car. Only problem is that it is kind of bent, and a piece of one of the ribs is missing. I do have a piece to replace it. Can you solder ribs together?? I tried a wire feed, but it just burns holes in the thin metal. That grille is a original one.

[51 MERC-CT]

Don't know if both sides are the same but first thing I would do is reform the fender as required to achieve the correct gaps.
Also it seems that the original hood latch has been eliminated and the replacement is not allowing the hood to seat where it should. It needs to be corrected.

[slantback37]

The other side is fine. I took pictures of the worst side. As far as the hood goes. The hood catch is out. The hood is just sitting on the grille top.

[FlatheadTed]

To use the wire feed shape a bit of sheet metal for over the join and weld the back side on the lowest heat ,make sure its clean ,then weld the front Dble thickness ,Ted

[1931 flamingo]

What if you elongate the holes in the fenders, etc to allow more movement for possibly a better fit??
Paul in CT

[37 Cab]

The top rib seems pinched at the front of your grille compared to Pete`s.

[slantback37]

I know it is pinched. I have tried to pull it up, but on the top side there is no bending at all. Pete's Grille maybe an original. I don't know about this one. There are holes for trim at the top, but none on the sides. It might be Stainless, but it is so thin.. On the other grill I have it has a piece missing. I have another piece to fix it, and there are a couple of broken ribs. That is why I wanted to solder them. I will then just paint it along with the car when I paint it.

[slantback37]

The fenders are the only part that I got with the front clip I got. The fillers I bought on ebay from one seller, and the grille from another seller.

[petehoovie]

[QUOTE=slantback37;1527734] Pete's Grille maybe an original.

You are correct. The grille on my '37 is original to car....

[slantback37]

I took my grille off, and turned it over. There are a couple of tabs at the top that pull down to the first ribs. I also did some lifting on the front. I see now where it is off. Grille should go down, and back. Front of fender should go down, and back of fender needs to go up. Lots of work, but it will be worth it in the end. On the Grille it says nothing as to whom made it. Looks kind of cheap from the back side. I am going to try one of those salvage yards in the desert. There might be one there.. Al

[Ken Crans]

rockymountainrelics.com

[Ken Crans]

this one is even better .... rockymountainrelics.net

[slantback37]

Thanks. I already have a email to them, and a few others. I don't care if it were rusty. Just don't want busted ribs, dents, or one from China.

[slantback37]

I have heard that when the 37 was built. Body men had to do work on every car. The parts made for that car fit that car. Parts from other cars had to be redone for that car.

[fordcragar]

Originally Posted by slantback37

I have heard that when the 37 was built. Body men had to do work on every car. The parts made for that car fit that car. Parts from other cars had to be redone for that car.

That is one of the problems of used parts, because you don't know what has happened to that part in its lifetime. Maybe it was never damaged, but just don't want to fit the car you are putting it on. The worst words that my boss could tell me is that he got used parts for the wreck I was working on. You never got paid extra to make them fit. Sometimes even new parts didn't fit that well. After seeing some of them, they were probably production line rejects.

I had one job that had a damaged fender, so I roughed it out to straighten it. My boss stopped by and told me he bought a new fender for it and to replace it. So I took off the old fender and put the new one on, then called the boss over to look at it. The new fender had all of the bolt holes mislocated over an inch. He told me to take the new fender off and put the old one back on and straighten it. Then he sent the new fender back.

[slantback37]

Sounds like Certi-Fit, or as we call it Sorta-Fit. This will all take time. Winters get cold here. I will pull off that fender, and the filler and reform them then hang them on the inner fender. The first time I ever had to rebuild a car. It has been a learning process. Some day I will finish it. Only been a whole bunch of years. It is my car after I retire. That should have been last March. I am still working. I have to do this body fender setup. Make a new interior, and paint it. I did everything alone. Even taking the body off the frame. When done it will be no show car, but it will be mine, and I will know every nut and bolt in the intire car.

[slantback37]

I have my other old grille. I think I will try to repair it myself. Does anyone know of a book on how repair was done back in the 30's. I am sure that sort of repair must have been done.

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by slantback37

I have my other old grille. I think I will try to repair it myself. Does anyone know of a book on how repair was done back in the 30's. I am sure that sort of repair must have been done.

For the most part grilles, trim, moldings and anything chrome plated or stainless, the operative word was 'replace', not repair.

[slantback37]

At $1200. a pop. Either I fix either one I have, or find a good one for not a whole lot of money..

[rich b]

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Take a run down for the Midwest Fall Swap and a week or so later for the Roadster's Swap at the fairgrounds, lots of good parts show up, especially at Roadster's.

[slantback37]

As normal. I have to work weekends. Even missed the 50's for the last 4 years.

[slantback37]

I am rebuilding both of my grilles. Then I can choose which one fits better. Fender on passengers side has to go up and down, and back and forth to get everything to match up.

[fordcragar]

This I'd just a suggestion, so if you don't think you need to I understand. I would be looking around to find someone that has a good grille and/or fenders that you could make some profile gages from. That way you would have some information that you could use to straighten what you have. Otherwise, you have no way of what you are doing, whether it is right or wrong.

[bill3337]

I know what its like to have budget problems, but you're never going to make a nice job while trying to fit to that grille. On mine I had to slot the inner fender holes a bit to give me more adjustment in setting the fenders, and I had to trim the side panels to get my gaps even, but I had a NOS grille, which made everything much easier. At least I had a good starting point to work to. I have another mint original grille, but I can't let it go cheap. I have several original grille sections, one particularly good top half, but if you can find a straight original, even if a bit rusty,you'd be better off. You can repair the bars with some finesse and a tig welder. The hood to grille gap is tough even with all nice parts, but just keep fine tuning, you'll get there. Good luck.

[fordcragar]

Maybe I misunderstood what the task is here; which is what I based my comments on. I thought that all of the parts had an unknown lineage, in other words they might not all be perfect pieces. If this is true, then if all of the parts aren't completely correct (twisted, bent, or otherwise not straight), what part do you use to start the fitting process with? That is why I suggested finding some pieces that you could make profile gages from; which would give you the openings, contours and other information that you'll need to straighten and fit the other pieces to.

[slantback37]

I guess you just have to keep plugging along. If I could afford all of the new stuff.. What fun would that be. This is a learning process. I have been working a little every year on this car since 1993. Not done yet. I am using the grill that looked the most like the original one does. I have a long rib gone, and a couple that are just to hard to fix. I bought a small sheet of 22 Gauge sheet metal, and made a jig from a oak board. I ran the board threw the table saw, and cut my metal about 1/16" wider. I have a steel ruler that matches almost perfect to the rib. Then put the metal on top of the jig, and start pounding. I made my own rib. Question now is.. How do I tack it down. I have a wire feed, but the lowest setting says 16-18 Ga. I have 22 Gauge ribs. Would a soldering iron work?? I have lots of solder.. The ribs that were put on before were with a spot welder.

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by slantback37

I guess you just have to keep plugging along. If I could afford all of the new stuff.. What fun would that be. This is a learning process. I have been working a little every year on this car since 1993. Not done yet. I am using the grill that looked the most like the original one does. I have a long rib gone, and a couple that are just to hard to fix. I bought a small sheet of 22 Gauge sheet metal, and made a jig from a oak board. I ran the board threw the table saw, and cut my metal about 1/16" wider. I have a steel ruler that matches almost perfect to the rib. Then put the metal on top of the jig, and start pounding. I made my own rib. Question now is.. How do I tack it down. I have a wire feed, but the lowest setting says 16-18 Ga. I have 22 Gauge ribs. Would a soldering iron work?? I have lots of solder.. The ribs that were put on before were with a spot welder.

Seeing that you can make a rib, make another partial rib just to set up a dummy grille assy. This can be used to perfect a weld procedure using copper sheet as a backup/heat sink. Flattened copper pipe works.
As to soldering I would prefer silver solder or brazing.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by slantback37

I guess you just have to keep plugging along. If I could afford all of the new stuff.. What fun would that be. This is a learning process. I have been working a little every year on this car since 1993. Not done yet. I am using the grill that looked the most like the original one does. I have a long rib gone, and a couple that are just to hard to fix. I bought a small sheet of 22 Gauge sheet metal, and made a jig from a oak board. I ran the board threw the table saw, and cut my metal about 1/16" wider. I have a steel ruler that matches almost perfect to the rib. Then put the metal on top of the jig, and start pounding. I made my own rib. Question now is.. How do I tack it down. I have a wire feed, but the lowest setting says 16-18 Ga. I have 22 Gauge ribs. Would a soldering iron work?? I have lots of solder.. The ribs that were put on before were with a spot welder.

I'm having a hard time interpreting the terminology you're using in the PM you sent me. I've attached some pictures that may be of help to you....

[slantback37]

I need to only replace 2 maybe 3 ribs at the most. I bought some solder tonight. 60-40 acid core. Though if you think silver solder would be better.. I will get some tomorrow after work..

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by slantback37

I need to only replace 2 maybe 3 ribs at the most. I bought some solder tonight. 60-40 acid core. Though if you think silver solder would be better.. I will get some tomorrow after work..

The silver solder that I am referring to is not the stuff used for soldering house plumbing.

[slantback37]

Thanks. The photos are helpful. I have a aftermarket aluminum radiator, and it sits different than the original.

[slantback37]

I wanted to know what it measured across in order to see how much difference there was between the two grilles I have. The older looking rusty one that I have to replace the ribs on measures right on to your original.

[slantback37]

I had the grille out, and measured everything up, and lifted the front, and slid it around and got things to fit pretty good. Then I clamped in the grille. Nothing matches up now. I am going to take off the passengers fender, and pound out ripples along the edge. I also have to make a support to hold the inner fender more towards the engine. The fender wants to kind of slope out. I have no idea where everything goes. My avatar shows the car when I bought it.

[slantback37]

The car when I bought it..

[petehoovie]

If you need more pictures, you'd better let me know soon as I just sold my original '37 this past Saturday and I'm waiting on the transport company to come to my house to pick it up....

[slantback37]

Could you give me a pick of how the inner fender is attached?? I know it just can't have the bolts on the frame be the only thing holding it on..

[petehoovie]

Here you go....

[bill3337]

It's a bit hard to pick out in the pictures, but there is an angled brace off the crossmember just behind the radiator at the front of the panel that runs up and supports the front of the panel. If you're looking for it, you'll find it.

[slantback37]

Thanks. I see it now. I wondered what that was when I found it In a box of junk. I have to build a brace in the back. I don't belive that panel is attached to the body.

[slantback37]

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What is that tab called that the side panel sits up against called??

[slantback37]

I made a tab, a day elongated the grill. Now I am going to pull the fenders from the inner fender. I will leave the filler on the inner fender along with the hood, and grille. Easier to set up. Or cell I get it all loved in gap wise. I will then remount the fenders.