29 Roadster Quarter panel width Lessons Learned

[d_Seymour]

Good day gentlemen, started process of dry assembly the rear quarter panels to a new sub frame using the original panels, upper deck lid panel & seat pan. Question what is the correct width across the quarter panels at the door posts top. By taking multiple measurements the passenger side differs by 1/2- 5/8 inches from the driver side. Differs means the top of the door post has more run out from center of frame.
These measurements were made by diagonal measuring from the seat pan driver to passenger top of door post. second trial using a large straight edge and level, two people and measuring from the top door post edge to seat pan on both sides of body. Same results so the passenger side differs. The seat pan quarter panel brackets are right on the money side to side as bolted to sub frame, The passenger side has more run out????????

Should I attack tweak the quarter pan sub frame attachment brackets? Remove the the upper deck lid panel a ratchet strap the passenger side in a 1/2 inch?
Before I muck everything up are there schematics floating around.

 

[d.j. moordigian]

If I'm reading correctly, I would be using the doors to set the quarters. You want
the BACK of the doors to be FLUSH with the quarters, TOP to BOTTOM, with the
doors shut. Hope this is helps.

Dudley

 

[eeyore]

I also am working on a 29 roadster with fitting problems with the rear door edge, I have about 1/4" of door overlaping evenly the quater. Is the latch all that would hold the door in the correct flush location?

 

[d.j. moordigian]

" FLUSH " was a poor choice, "even overlap" would be better choice of wording.
This would be from the back looking forward, the curve of the door to the quarter,
top to bottom

 

[d_Seymour]

Appreciate the feedback but the cowl is still in pieces. Both doors have been straightening out ready for finishing, cowl assembly stillneed some work. Does anyone know the distance across the the rear quarter panel top of door post.

 

[Randy in ca]

I'm a little confused about what you're looking for, but sounds like the side to side spacing at the front of the rear quarter panels (?). If so, one measurement you can use is that between the two top bow brackets on the top of the quarter panel. I asked around, including on the 'Barn when I was doing one, and the consensus was that the most probable best distance between these brackets was 49-1/2". Most/many bodies will measure more than this as the quarter panels tend to spread outward with age. This in turn results in a larger door gap on the bottom. Personally, before I would get too carried with the quarter panels, I would have the cowl assembled and ensure that it was sitting square by using diagonal measurements, then mount the doors and see how the quarter panels align with the rear of the doors, using the above measurement as a starting point. Good luck and keep us posted how you make out.

 

[d_Seymour]

Thanks Randy for the dimension at the lest I can see how far off the quarter panels are until the doors and cowl are assembled. Question if the passenger door is ouit of alignment what is the correct procedure to re-align quarter panel to the door. Believe this is where I am headed as the door most likely will be out of alignment based on initial measurements.

 

[waltere]

I just got done with this same project and the only way I was able to do it was loose mounted the cowl to the frame, then inatalled both doors and fit them to the cowl. Next I slid in the new subrails and then installed the quarter panels. Once they were roughed in and clamped I bolted the body to the frame and shimed the cowl till the doors fit the quarter's then permantly atached the quarter's and braceing. Fits very nice with excelent gaps
Walter

 

[d_Seymour]

Thanks Walt, most helpfull I see in the pictures you removed the seat pan from the quarter panel brackets. Did you need to bent these brackets to hellp align quarter panel. I am using the original seat pan assembly. I did not remove the rackets from the seat pan I just bolted the brackets to the sub frame for mock up. I purchased the body sub frame as a assembly the front and back side rails were rusted out. My quarter panels were reworked the same as your's.

 

[waltere]

I had to have the side brakets loose as to move the quarter panels ft to back to align the bottom of the doors. It also helps to put a little contour in the face of the quarter.
Walter