[cadtech]

I am aligning the panels and setting body gaps on my 1967 GTO. If I hold a 6 foot straight edge across the center of the door from the quarter to the fender, should all those panels be on the same plane? Because I have about a 3/16 gap at the quarter and fender where they meet the door. It appears they dip away from the straight edge at those points. It doesn't look bad when you look down the side of the car but I was thinking the whole side of the car should be perfectly straight. Thoughts?

[Keith Seymore]

It's not unheard of to "shingle" the rear of the fender outboard of the leading edge of the door (when viewed from above).

This helps with wind noise and also allows the door to tuck in behind the fender without interference easier, while maintaining a smaller gap when viewed from the side.

I'd set the rear of the door and the quarter panel in the same plane, just for aesthetics.

It's ok to cheat it until it looks right.

K

[Keith Seymore]

Are you saying the door is not flat along it's length?

Parts do tend to get more "spherical" as the tool wears, but I wouldn't think the production volume of "A" body doors would result in that.

We made about 15 million of these and they were getting pretty rounded by the end of the run.

K

[cadtech]

The door is straight but the quarter curves inward as it gets to the door gap. Also the same for the fender. I can get the panels flush at the gaps but if you hold a 12" straightedge across the gaps, it will be away at the gap by 3/16".

[Scarebird]

Heavy filler on the quarter and fender?

[400 4spd.]

Think “Coke bottle” styling. The sides were not formed flat on these cars. Are your doors flat? I have NOS door skins for both sides I could check this weekend.

[cadtech]

Yes doors are flat and straight. So if I align the first couple of inches of the quarter and fender flush with the door I should be good?

[gto4ben]

This is a normal recess from door to quarter.

[cadtech]

Thanks for the picture that helps alot.