03-11-2020, 05:51 AM
Barry what I would do in your shoes is to make up a couple of very thin wooden wedges about 4" broad so that they spread the load more evenly
Then do as Hedd suggests and loosen the motor mounts as well as all the body mounts. Then find a friend to help wiggle the body backwards & also wiggle the motor forwards. That done slip the wedges in either side of the block against the bulkhead and gently tap them deeper, out of a sense of self preservation as well as as parts preservation I'd use a smaller hammer & a suitable timber drift to encourage the wedges in from either side - then wiggle the body once more, the wedges this should stabilise the 'wiggling' apart of the body & motor.
Check that the radiator handle is free & that the doors still open & close. Nip the bolts up a bit then gently tap the wedges out & then tighten the various body & engine bolts. Assuming you have a bit of tolerance in the various engine & body mount holes, you should have gained about 1/4" clearance
At the very worst you could replace the body bolts with thinner ones to gain more tolerance ??
Aye
Greig
Then do as Hedd suggests and loosen the motor mounts as well as all the body mounts. Then find a friend to help wiggle the body backwards & also wiggle the motor forwards. That done slip the wedges in either side of the block against the bulkhead and gently tap them deeper, out of a sense of self preservation as well as as parts preservation I'd use a smaller hammer & a suitable timber drift to encourage the wedges in from either side - then wiggle the body once more, the wedges this should stabilise the 'wiggling' apart of the body & motor.
Check that the radiator handle is free & that the doors still open & close. Nip the bolts up a bit then gently tap the wedges out & then tighten the various body & engine bolts. Assuming you have a bit of tolerance in the various engine & body mount holes, you should have gained about 1/4" clearance
At the very worst you could replace the body bolts with thinner ones to gain more tolerance ??
Aye
Greig