Body out of alignment by 10mm to the left!

Lateral · 2013-03-13T21:20:14+00:00

Hi guys I am using my old motor for mock up to check that everything will fit for when I fit the new motor from Rod and have come across the following issue. I fitted the new Vintage Speed exhaust and I have clearance issues on the left hand side of behind the beaver panel....see the attached photo. I have elongated the flange holes but still have a problem. I took some measurements from the centre of the engine block to the inside edge of the engine bay where the engine seal sits and the left hand side is about 10mm narrower than the right hand side. I am thinking that the previous owner who did a complete body off restoration on the car wasn't too accurate with the tape measure 🙂 or perhaps this is normal for all 1967 type 1's. Whilst I can simply cut of the top of the muffler and weld in a small piece (I have already elongated the flange holes) I would like to know if there is a simple way to simply either: 1. Unbolt the body from the chassis and nudge it over to the left or, 2. loosen the gearbox a bit and nudge it over...I recently fitted new gearbox mounts Any other ideas would be welcome. Regards Greg

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 5 Apr 2013, 11:29 am

#950133

I'd try wedging between body and shock mounts

Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 5 Apr 2013, 11:45 am

#950134

1303Steve wrote:Hi

Would it help if you put a big bit of wood across the rear of the car, about under the bumper bracket and lift the body with a jack and then try moving the body

Steve

Yep this is the best way.

You can then slide the body on the wood to move it over.

Lateral Wolfsburg Wizard

480 posts · joined Sep 2011 · 5 Apr 2013, 12:31 pm

#950136

Update!

Ok, I had a sit down and a cuppa and have done the following:

1. Removed all of the bolts inside the car
2. Loosened bolts near rear shocks even more.
3. Loosened heater channel bolts even more.
4. Jacked the body up using a piece of timber between the jack and the body along the side under the doors in order to break the seal....I could see the body seperating from the chassis by about 4-5 mm!
5. I then used a feeler gauge to slide between the gasket and the body and chassis to see if there was any type of adhesive...there doesn't appear to be.
6. I then had a look around the rear of the car on the drivers side where the return fuel tubing bends up from the underneath the chassis and is screwed to the body...I will unscrew this.

So, in summary, things are looking better.

My plan is to get hold of another trolley jack with the view of jacking up both sides of the car in order to break the gasket seal and then gently lever the car to the left...

I'll let you know how I go.

Regards
Greg
I am about to

Lateral Wolfsburg Wizard

480 posts · joined Sep 2011 · 5 Apr 2013, 2:24 pm

#950151

Ok, it's great when having a bit of lunch and a think can provide you with the solution.

Ok, I got the other trolley jack and jacked up both sides of the car so that the space between the chassis seal and the body at the rear was at least 6-7mm. I used long pieces of timber so that more of the front was also jacked up at the same time (as per the photo).

So far so good.

I then tried to push the body over but after 10 minutes it was obvious that it just wasn't going to happen.

I then had a look in the engine compartment to see how I could lever the body over somehow using the chassis as the point of leverage.

As I have the old motor in the car so that I could determine the centre, I used the old faithful VW jack and a rubber hoist pad to "push" the body to the left....after some gentle jacking, I heard a slight crack (hopefully nothing important broke!) and the body is now able to be moved over the required amount. (see photo).

I'm planning on moving it an few mm more than required and leaving the jack in place overnight and then dropping everything down and tightening up a few bolts, fitting the exhaust and seeing what the results are...hopefully exhaust tail pipes will now be in the centre and the muffler will clear the body.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

Regards
Greg

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DubbyDo Officially Full-On Dubber

276 posts · joined Jan 2012 · 5 Apr 2013, 4:47 pm

#950162

Now there's a great view while havin a Pooh!

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 5 Apr 2013, 5:32 pm

#950166

😂......every garage needs one for when the VW gives you the SH*Ts 😉

You're nearly there Greg....Its well worth the effort to have everything now square in the engine bay 😎

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 5 Apr 2013, 5:44 pm

#950170

well worth the effort.

Lateral Wolfsburg Wizard

480 posts · joined Sep 2011 · 5 Apr 2013, 6:44 pm

#950180

Yep can't agree more.👍

I fitted the Vintage Speed exhaust and it now looks like it will have enough clearance without the need to cut the muffler and the tailpipes look great and centred!

I'll do a trial bolt down to make sure it all stays where it's supposed to!

Thanks again for everyone's input.

Regards
Greg

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 5 Apr 2013, 7:54 pm

#950186

Cut the body I have some pics some where just wait till I find them

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 7 Apr 2013, 9:55 pm

#950497

How did it turn out ?.

Lateral Wolfsburg Wizard

480 posts · joined Sep 2011 · 8 Apr 2013, 7:16 am

#950519

It seems to be "springing" back a bit.

For example, if I move the body 10mm to the left, bolt it down, it springs back 5mm. I think it is due to the fact that I am using the engine block as one of the jacking points and the "spring back" is due the banana mounts.

The clearance is much better now than it was but I feel that I can get a few more mm.

Regards
Greg

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 · 8 Apr 2013, 7:25 am

#950522

Don't forget to suss out the front too Greg...

👍

VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps

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01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 8 Apr 2013, 7:48 am

#950529

found the pics of small body cut

1 attachment · Log in to view

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

Lateral Wolfsburg Wizard

480 posts · joined Sep 2011 · 8 Apr 2013, 8:25 am

#950538

Thanks Dave. Will do.

Regards
Greg

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 · 8 Apr 2013, 7:07 pm

#950648

Sides wrote:Don't forget to suss out the front too Greg...

👍

yeah next thing you know that the front wheels are rubbing 🥲

😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

Lateral Wolfsburg Wizard

480 posts · joined Sep 2011 · 8 Apr 2013, 7:31 pm

#950659

Gee Ian, that's a bit on the pessimistic side! 🙂