I'am working on my first restoration project, and it has been a real learning experience with regards to body work. My project is a 68 camaro without the front clip, and I have spent the past two weeks trying to get the fenders, header panel, valance, and cowl hood to fit. The spacing of the lower fender and the door have been a problem. I also have been wrestling with the hood trying to get it flush with the fenders. The front corner of the hood keeps sticking up. Is there an exact science to spacing or fit?

I also need to know if anyone has experienced "Stress Cracks" in the rear Qtr panel \ Qtr glass. The car had been raced, and the original owner of the vehicle said it was probably a result of rear end torque. I have a sheet metal crack on both sides about 1" long coming from the corner of the qtr panel.

I appreciate any help that can be provided.

Thanks!
Stan Jr.
68 Camaro

Jr,
Fitting a front end on to a car that it didn't come with can present problems but they can be overcome.
GM used shims to set the space differences on each of these cars. The shims are shaped like little horseshoes with a tab on the closed end. You will have to get some of these to make the front end fit correctly. Use them where the fenders sit on the cowl. Just place the necessary amount between the fender and the cowl so the fenders will line up with the doors. Do the same thing at the bottom of the fenders where they bolt to the bottom of the cowl in front of the doors.
To align the hood, you will have to adjust the hinges. To adjust the hood height at the front of the hood, you will have to adjust the position of the REAR bolt on the hinge as well as the front. Also be sure the mounting grommets are installed between the frame and the core support before you try to adjust the hood height.
Now for the problem area. It sounds like the previous owner had some suspension problems when he was racing. I would be willing to bet that there are other areas that are dammaged other than the windows and 1/4 panels. Very closely inspect all of the suspension mounting points, the position of the rear frame rails as compared to factory specs, the rear wheelhousings and even the gap between the 1/4 panels and the rear of the door to see that it is even all along the mating line. It's possible that you might have to have the rear of the car re-positioned on a frame rack and it's also possible that you won't. I'm not trying to be an alarmist, I'm just trying to keep you safe. CHECK IT CLOSELY.

check to see if your cars quarters have been replaced, the SOP is to align the doors with the quarter panel and work forward from there, but if some one replaced the quarters before alinging the doors to the old quarters, you are as we say "beating a dead horse" and may have to be a little flexable with your gaps or check to see if quarters are aligned and work from there.

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69 rallye green X77 Z/28,1967 SS 396 Conv. 1974 c-10 454 swb

"Patience, Patience, Patience" I kept working with the fenders, and they finally have the spacing I was looking for. The fenders are original GM fenders, but the hood is a repro. The hood looks ok, but I will check out the hinges. They are pretty worn. I may just get some new ones.
Someone suggested I investigate the suspension regarding the cracks, and I will do that when I start on the under side of the body.

Thanks!