Are these gaps terrible? Body shop called and wants to re-align everything...and install fuel injection, etc...

4068 Views 44 Replies 23 Participants Last post by jimsl78, 3 mo ago

Brentmc

Discussion Starter · 3 mo ago

I have my car in a body shop to fix a small scratch on the fender. The shop will have to remove the driver's side fender for paint and align it. From the start they seemed eager to get me to spend more money and "offered" to install fuel injection for $7K, and other work that I did not ask for....I'm feeling like their hand is in my pocket for more money...

The owner calls me and tells me my door/fender gaps are horrible, he wouldn't drive a car like that and he wants me to authorize him to re-align the hood, fenders and doors to "get better gaps". Here are pics of the gaps....are they that terrible that I need to spend hundreds of dollars to have him align everything? I am not picky but don't want my car to look like it was thrown together either...

Thanks

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fairfax1000

· #2 · 3 mo ago (Edited)

Brentmc said:
I have my car in a body shop to fix a small scratch on the fender. The shop will have to remove the driver's side fender for paint and align it. From the start they seemed eager to get me to spend more money and "offered" to install fuel injection for $7K, and other work that I did not ask for....I'm feeling like their hand is in my pocket for more money...

The owner calls me and tells me my door/fender gaps are horrible, he wouldn't drive a car like that and he wants me to authorize him to re-align the hood, fenders and doors to "get better gaps". Here are pics of the gaps....are they that terrible that I need to spend hundreds of dollars to have him align everything? I am not picky but don't want my car to look like it was thrown together either...

Thanks View attachment 303945
View attachment 303946
View attachment 303944

Brentmc said:
]

Do not have them do anything. Go get your car—-PRONTO!!!!!! Drive away and don’t look back. If they want to charge you money, get a receipt but use your credit card. Make up a believable excuse because they’ll ask why-which is none of their business. Be polite, go home, call your credit card company and dispute the charge.
These guys are predators
.
Show pictures of this scratch so we can see it.

Reactions: 2

TomcatSTL

· #3 · 3 mo ago

Trust your instincts.

@fairfax1000 is offering solid advice.

mahunt

· #4 · 3 mo ago

Never work with a pushy shop.

The gaps are pretty big, but I would still get my car back pronto.

Reactions: 4

gphusker

· #5 · 3 mo ago

That door gap is not good. I don't know if you can get that fixed without some paint work to close the gap up. Your gap on the top is huge, but the bottom isn't horrible. That being said, while he may have a point on the gaps, if you get the vibe he is looking to just run a bill up on you then either get a quote in writing before doing any work or take it somewhere else. I personally would fix that gap because it would drive me nuts.

Reactions: 2

Brentmc

Discussion Starter · #6 · 3 mo ago (Edited)

Here are the three areas I am having fixed--two are very small and one is a scratch in the clear coat. Insurance is covering it.

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Brentmc

Discussion Starter · #7 · 3 mo ago

is the top gap something I can fix myself? He is saying needs to adjust the entire front clip...

srode

· #8 · 3 mo ago

Get a bid on repairing what you want done, and a separate one on the front clip adjustment. Go somewhere else and get quotes.

Nobody is going to be able to make an educated comment on adjusting the front clip to improve the gap without seeing lots of pictures for the rest of the car's gaps but like was said, its hard for me to imagine how that door gap would be corrected adjusting the front clip.

Reactions: 3

fairfax1000

· #9 · 3 mo ago

Brentmc said:
I have my car in a body shop to fix a small scratch on the fender. The shop will have to remove the driver's side fender for paint and align it. From the start they seemed eager to get me to spend more money and "offered" to install fuel injection for $7K, and other work that I did not ask for....I'm feeling like their hand is in my pocket for more money...

The owner calls me and tells me my door/fender gaps are horrible, he wouldn't drive a car like that and he wants me to authorize him to re-align the hood, fenders and doors to "get better gaps". Here are pics of the gaps....are they that terrible that I need to spend hundreds of dollars to have him align everything? I am not picky but don't want my car to look like it was thrown together either...

Thanks View attachment 303945
View attachment 303946
View attachment 303944

Do not have them do anything. Go get your car—-PRONTO!!!!!! Drive away and don’t look back. If they want to charge you money, get a receipt but use your credit card. Make up a believable excuse because they’ll ask why-which is none of their business. Be polite, go home, call your credit card company and dispute the charge.
These guys are predators
.
Show pictures of this scratch so we can see it.

dhutton

· #10 · 3 mo ago

There is no need to remove sheet metal to make those paint repairs. That upper door gap cannot be fixed with panel alignment. You were happy until the shop told you that your car is crap. Time to move on and get your car back.

Next thing is they will want to repaint the car after doing a lousy job matching the paint…

Don

Reactions: 5

tp_smith

· #11 · 3 mo ago

I have very limited knowledge of fender alignment, but I agree with Mr. Don Hutton. I don't think you will be able to adjust the fender and/or door to get rid of the large gap at the top without messing up the other gaps. The fender or door is just shaped wrong in the top area. The gap along the side is ok.

I had the same problem with my reproduction fenders. I had to add extra metal to close the gap. I could not think of any other way to fix the gap.

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Reactions: 5

ridesdirt

· #12 · 3 mo ago

Personally, I would leave the gaps as is, I think they are good to very good for a 50+ year old 60s era car. These cars were mass produced, the gaps from 60s era cars are not what they are today. As stated above by @dhutton that gap cannot be "perfect" by just panel adjustment, from what I see it would take metal work.

just saw your post, @tp_smith is spot on it right there.

Reactions: 3

Brentmc

Discussion Starter · #13 · 3 mo ago

Thanks Gents--I was very happy with my old car until they told me its gaps were ugly....I have had it for 19 years (bought if off of TC)...

I didn't think that top gap was fixable through adjustments...the other gaps looked okay to me...

Reactions: 1

fairfax1000

· #14 · 3 mo ago

Brentmc said:
Here are the three areas I am having fixed--two are very small and one is a scratch in the clear coat. Insurance is covering it.
View attachment 303958
View attachment 303959 View attachment 303960

Brentmc said:
Thanks Gents--I was very happy with my old car until they told me its gaps were ugly....I have had it for 19 years (bought if off of TC)...

I didn't think that top gap was fixable through adjustments...the other gaps looked okay to me...

Drive it. Be happy. Don't listen to others..

Reactions: 5

Brentmc

Discussion Starter · #15 · 3 mo ago

fairfax1000 said:
Drive it. Be happy. Don't listen to others..

I think that is what I will do...

Reactions: 1

Larry Madsen

· #16 · 3 mo ago (Edited)

My car has plenty of problems that have no impact on how I like the car as a whole or how it functions for me when I need it, mine is daily driver, so I need it daily.

If and when I repaint I'll have some fine-tuning to do on the body, including gaps, but in the here and now ... I like it just fine.

By chance, was the shop owners name Scott?

Just kidding there of course

Reactions: 4

fairfax1000

· #17 · 3 mo ago

Larry Madsen said:
My car has plenty of problems that have no impact on how I like the car as a whole or how it functions for me when I need it, mine is daily drive, so I need it daily.

If and when I repaint I'll have some fine-tuning to do on the body, including gaps, but in the here and now ... I like it just fine.

By chance, was the shop owners name Scott?

Just kidding there of course

That's funny.

fairfax1000

· #18 · 3 mo ago

Brentmc said:
I think that is what I will do...

Any local paint shop should be able to make you a batch of touch up.

SoCal805

· #19 · 3 mo ago

OP, I will add to the consensus that you need to find another shop that will just fix the paint scratches/chips.

I suspect some of your panels are replacements and are what they are and cannot be made "perfect" without adding or removing metal.

As mentioned, factory gaps where never what today's production cars are let alone a "Kindig" restoration.

Reactions: 1

jadams

· #20 · 3 mo ago

You have received sound advice.
As well as Tp_Smith above showed you, the time to fix gaps is before you throw paint at it. I will add one thing. Your door to qtr gap is ok, maybe slightly high at the rear. Dropping it ANY will open the gap at the top of the front fender. Raising the front of the fender would close that gap there, but would throw your hood alignment off.
The only "somewhat simple" approach would be to close and massage the only panel that is common, the drivers door. Metal can be added and taken away in the problem areas and the repaint match is a crap shoot. I would drive it just like it is.

Reactions: 1

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