A good indication of how easy the car will go back together, is how easy it comes apart. Only one bolt gave us reason to break out the power tools.
Here is the new core support from The Paddock slipping right into place. It is important to note that the two main bolts attaching the core support to the frame are also adjusting points. There isn't a lot of adjustment here, but it should not be overlooked in the final assembly adjustments. Large, flat washers can be used to adjust the height.
The new fender fit almost as good as it looked. The bolt holes on these parts not only lined up fine but so did the body line with the doors. In most cases, a good bodyman may be more inclined to locate original sheetmetal. However, with the quality of aftermarket pieces like these, why spend more than you have to?
Here we can see how much larger the hole in the fender is compared with the size of the bolt holding it on. This adjusting point allows the fender to move up, down, forward, and back. Later, the bolt was removed and replaced with a new bolt and washer.
Here are some of the different types of shims used to align body panels. These were purchased at a local parts store. There are different thicknesses and shapes, so a variety should be on hand to fit in many different places.
Our new fender needed two 1/8-inch thick shims to bring it up even with the cowl. Do not tighten these bolts all the way down until all adjusting points have been figured out. The fender needs to move around in order to adjust properly.
Here is another fender adjusting point. These shims can be a little easier to hold in these positions.
Eastwood sent us one of its body gap gauge tools known as The Judge. This tool will be a great help during final assembly. The nylon gauge won't scratch or mar painted surfaces. The blades are 1/32-inch, 1/16-inch, and 1/8-inch thick. With this tool, a consistent gap can be adjusted for every body panel.