Rick - I need your help, chassis twist Options

[TravisNeff]

A few years ago I got a new welder, I welded everthing in site... Needless to say I never understood shrinkage.

I installed an Engman kit and not only did I rosette weld the kit in, I fully stiched the whole thing. The end result, a stiff chassis - but a bent tub.

My door gaps are totally fuquered. My passenger rear fender was replaced and they must have welded the front, then the back and I have a weird bubble in my fender well. So not everthing is the same.. My passenger side gap has been messed up since I got the car, huge gap at the back of the door.

Here's my measurements, not to be reconciled with the factor charts too much, I am sure I am measuring from different dimensions than that. Anyways my measurements are from the same spots side to side

Targa opening D 62.7, P 63.5 CM
Latch to hinge D 110.5, P 110.5 CM
Diag mid latch plate to top of targa D 109.4, P 108.4
Front bulkead to targa, D 42.6, P 141.5


My guess is:
the passenger cowl fell in, so did the drivers side
The drivers targa fell in, passenger stayed staticd (lots of welding on the e-brake area)

Pics to follow....

[Dr Evil]

Dont show pics of Rick. He aint that pretty (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

[rick 918-S]

Dont show pics of Rick. He aint that pretty (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

Hey! I resemble that remark! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Anywho, The photos show the issue pretty well. If you were closer I would drive over and tweek it for you. But for now all I can suggest is to do your best and try to un-do the issue.

Normally You could tweek the chassis with a port-o-power or my turnbuckle tool like John's car. But after the chassis stiffeners are welded when you try to push the chassis it bends in places it most likely shouldn't. This only makes matters worse.

So what I would suggest is to figure out where you went wrong and back up to that point. This may require cutting through the stiffener to weaken the car enough to bend it back in place.

This tool works very well. If you want I'll put it in a cardboard tube and ship to you. You pay shipping both ways. It's heavy and shipping won't be cheap.




My second suggestion would be to see if there is a local body shop that has one and would either loan or rent it to you. You can move a door opening with very little effort.