Body panel alignment specs info

[billschroeder5842]

Does anyone have information on specs/measurements for body panel alignment?

I got the car back from the body shop after my accident about a month ago and I'm spending (too much) time measuring gaps, alignments...etc. The shop did a great job and I realize I'm being obsessive (yes, I'm in touch with my neurosis) but having everything as "perfect" at factory specs will help "exorcise" the repair demon.

I spent some time with the FSM and did not get anything other than "Align panels" and lots of information on torque specs. I'm mostly concerned with front valence to hood measurements

I know that gaps and alignments are not 100% but what is factory specs?

[cbaclawski]

Originally Posted by billschroeder5842

Does anyone have information on specs/measurements for body panel alignment?

I got the car back from the body shop after my accident about a month ago and I'm spending (too much) time measuring gaps, alignments...etc. The shop did a great job and I realize I'm being obsessive (yes, I'm in touch with my neurosis) but having everything as "perfect" at factory specs will help "exorcise" the repair demon.

I spent some time with the FSM and did not get anything other than "Align panels" and lots of information on torque specs. I'm mostly concerned with front valence to hood measurements

I know that gaps and alignments are not 100% but what is factory specs?

I can't answer your question, but as someone who has damaged the hood, front bumper cover, the underlying fiberglass, etc. and spent many many (many) hours getting it re aligned here is some unsolicited advice:


-If it looks close to perfect, don't mess with it. There are so many hard to get to bolts holding the cover on, each with a range of adjustment, and it's primarily aligned with removeable shims of varying widths. I guarantee if you play around with it you'll wish you didn't. It is virtually impossible to make minor adjustments, and any adjustment you do make affects everything else.

I'm a perfectionist too, eventually I had to recognize that it will never be 100% perfect, and probably never was to begin with, I just never paid attention before.


Then again, maybe you are more skilled than I am...

[billschroeder5842]

Originally Posted by cbaclawski

I'm a perfectionist too, eventually I had to recognize that it will never be 100% perfect, and probably never was to begin with, I just never paid attention before.

Thanks- this is probably the best advice. I never paid attention before but now that I am, I see the imperfections. I have to remember that the panels were never perfect from the factory as there is too many potentially "floating" pieces; the clam shell hood and the lower quarters have only a few mounting points.

I'm guess I'm looking for a guide like I had with my old 69 Charger which was if you can get the panel within an 1/8" of the factory spec you were good.

[fred]

H. A. S. ….. Heightened Awareness Syndrome

[billschroeder5842]

Originally Posted by fred

H. A. S. ….. Heightened Awareness Syndrome

absolutely.....

[ZR-1 Franz]

Hello Bill,

I can understand you. Every time we got a new Chevy, I had the same "Syndrome",
but after some time I had to understand that on cars gaps can differ.
Our Chevy dealer told me especially with the Corvettes I would have to
understand, that a lot of work is done by hand. If I wanted to have corrected it,
no problem he said, but a lot of money spent.............for nothing!
So I began to see things with different eyes.
Be happy with your ZR-1, it is a fantastic car!

Best greetings from Switzerland,

Franz

[rush91]

I feel your obsessive nature on this...I have noticed gaps on mine that weren't on other C4s and ZR-1s. But then some of those cars have gaps where mine doesn't lol. I have heard countless stories and seen too many You-tube videos on new Corvettes, Mustangs that have HORRIBLE panel gaps! My brothers new GT350 creaks and rattles more than my 28 year old Z.... So as many of these C4s that were churned out, we should feel lucky as solid as these cars are.

[gapl1953]

Originally Posted by rush91

I feel your obsessive nature on this...I have noticed gaps on mine that weren't on other C4s and ZR-1s. But then some of those cars have gaps where mine doesn't lol. I have heard countless stories and seen too many You-tube videos on new Corvettes, Mustangs that have HORRIBLE panel gaps! My brothers new GT350 creaks and rattles more than my 28 year old Z.... So as many of these C4s that were churned out, we should feel lucky as solid as these cars are.

In 1999 I had a new C5 Corvette convertible that was a rattletrap. Fit and finish was also was not pretty. I swore that I wouldn't own another Corvette. My wife wanted a Corvette so I bought my 1990 ZR-1 with 24,000 miles on the clock. I drove it 325 miles home and was amazed at how quiet and solid it rode, also as a bonus it has a better panel fit than the C5 did.

[billschroeder5842]

Yeah, as I write, I feel my OCD may be a little OCD...
Before...And After....

As stated above, I could mess up try to "fix" what is pretty much on. I'm just really curious as to what the factory says as "what is within specifications."

[WARP TEN]

Remember when you are feeling excessively obsessive that when these cars came from the factory they were far from perfect in terms of paint, panel fit, etc. --Bob