Installing Lark front end clip

[58PackardWagon]

1963 Lark Custom 2 door with post

Car is at the paint shop and doors and fenders were installed to check out the match-up prior to paint. Car will be painted with everything apart. Currently hood is not matching up to the front nose. It is about a half inch to three quarters of an inch off. Only thing I can think of is that the nose needs to be lifted and shims need to be used on the back of the front fenders next to the cowl/firewall. Does anyone have experience with this that could offer some input? In the factory typically how many shims/spacers were used? Any input on setting this front end up properly would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[StudeRich]

The factory used 1/8 inch to 3/16 inch rubber gaskets between the fender and body, if it needs more length than that, something must be bent/distorted or assembled incorrectly.

Check the fit of the "baffles" behind the head lights, if those have been incorrectly welded into the inner fenders from a collision repair, the fenders and front panel will never fit to the hood since they locate the front clip to the radiator support and frame.

[58PackardWagon]

StudeRich thank you very much for your input.

Has anyone ever put together a tutorial with pics on how to put one of these front end clips on a Lark. It is tougher than one thinks.

[52 Ragtop]

I recently did a 62 Daytona, here's how I fitted the front end:

install the hood and fit to the cowl
fit the fenders to the doors and hood
install the nose panel and fit the hood and fenders to make the gaps correct

once the hood is fitted to the cowl, then fit the rest of the front end to the hood!

Jim

[jclary]

I recently did a 62 Daytona, here's how I fitted the front end:

install the hood and fit to the cowl
fit the fenders to the doors and hood
install the nose panel and fit the hood and fenders to make the gaps correct

once the hood is fitted to the cowl, then fit the rest of the front end to the hood!

Jim

I have done this more times than I can remember. (At least 3 or 4 ...getting to that age!)

The above sequence is what I use and has been confirmed by others with much more experience than me.

[warrlaw1]

I used that sequence, but the car had been hit. The hood wasn't square! Measure the hood on both diagonals to make sure it is square before starting your lining up. My good ol boy was trimming fenders to mate it to a wonky hood. Good luck!