Recent Posts

31

Exterior / Re: Hood alignment. My next impossible mission.

« Last post by tinpusher on April 24, 2024, 10:14:40 AM »

If your body, where the hinge mounts is a little raised, you might want to apply some heat and hammer it back/flat.
These doors are heavy and really pull on the metal mounting points….  Just my thoughts on the whole “memory “mounting areas… you should see what I can come up with when I drink…lol

32

Exterior / Re: Hood alignment. My next impossible mission.

« Last post by tinpusher on April 24, 2024, 10:06:01 AM »

The sub frame bushings shouldn’t have a impact on you door alignment. I would add an additional shim, make the gap is wider than what you want, then tighten your hinges, and see what the alignment looks like.
My opinion… I think the caged nuts behind the body where the doors attaches have some “memory “ meaning they want to slide into the old indentions.
My doors did the same thing. I would take out the striker and set the rear body line a little higher.
Like others have said… these panels like to move…

33

Visitors Center / Show unread posts button

« Last post by b_hill_86 on April 24, 2024, 09:58:39 AM »

I call it a button for lack of a better term but you get the idea. The link near the top of the page by our profile picture. Does it work for anyone? It always says no unread posts for me regardless of there being any. I use the recent posts link at the bottom of the page but I liked the other option better.

34

Interior / Re: Inner access panels for rear TA wheels spoilers

« Last post by wheels78ta on April 24, 2024, 08:38:24 AM »

1970 TA during restoration......You can see the screws on this one.

35

Interior / Re: Inner access panels for rear TA wheels spoilers

« Last post by wheels78ta on April 24, 2024, 08:19:22 AM »

1975 TA during restoration.........Hard to tell if there are any screws holding the panel on.

36

Exterior / Re: Hood alignment. My next impossible mission.

« Last post by 5th T/A on April 24, 2024, 07:17:03 AM »

Great advice from Luke and Kerry. You need to start with a good foundation.

I have to chuckle at the "noodle" analogy, maybe these cars are more like a wet noodle. Having a subframe that is cantilevered off a flimsy unibody is not the best design for a solid platform. Depending how the placement of jack stands it's possible to have the car up in the air and not be able to open a door. Or if the door is already open when placing on stands, you may not be able to close it. That is why the cars weight has to be on the tires when you do body panel alignment. I think someone already mentioned, remove the latch when aligning the door.

Forgive me if this has already been mentioned, hopefully the body is not badly rusted? The subframe is not rusted or cracked? All the bushings and hardware are in good condition? As you mentioned the integrity of the core support is good, it's not unusual to find them rusted or cracked.

Even with the front fenders removed, you should be able to align the doors and roll the car around and not have the door gaps change.

37

Interior / Re: Inner access panels for rear TA wheels spoilers

« Last post by Wallington on April 24, 2024, 07:02:51 AM »

Seems to be only the first few years. Had like 2 replies on another forum and no real interest at all, no pics, no diagrams, no one giving a crap! I did ask, nothing. I thought it was interesting, even if the items themselves are not. I went through project forum post after post for early years, looking for stripped interior pics, knowing that the guys who have those pics are reading the post and doing nothing.

http://www.transamcountry.com/community/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=83767.0;attach=5438;image

38

Exterior / Re: Hood alignment. My next impossible mission.

« Last post by FormTA on April 24, 2024, 06:53:53 AM »

I will say, I think most of my problem was aligning a empty door shell and then loading it up with glass and window motor and tracks.

39

Exterior / Re: Hood alignment. My next impossible mission.

« Last post by roadking77 on April 24, 2024, 06:10:29 AM »

The subframe bushings are def. serviceable. Well maybe not needing typical maintenance but they will def. have an effect on how the body aligns. If you did not replace them, you need to do those before you go any further. I would never attempt to drive a second gen without having new  body bushings. Like Larry said, I have seen them where the bolts were all but rusted through. You have something else other than door hinges going on if you had the door just right only to have it move once the car started in motion  I aligned the doors on my 77, 7 or 8 years ago (or however long the car has been on the road) and they still fit as nice as the day I put them in, and that is with a t top car.

40

Exterior / Re: Hood alignment. My next impossible mission.

« Last post by FormTA on April 24, 2024, 03:34:44 AM »

These cars are like wet noodles... even mine with solid body mounts and subframe connectors seems to still move a bit. I had mine 100% perfect with new bushings in the hinges and everything tight and my door were awesome and then one day they dropped a tiny bit and now drag on the striker when closed... I don't get it either....

Wait until you have to align the door window.... That is a task I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy
..


It looks like you are making progress though.  Keep at it and you get there.