How do you do your gaps and alignment?

[The WidowMaker]

ive done a lot of reading and watching of videos, but im still trying to learn the best way to gap and align panels. so far ive been adding metal with either a rod welded to the edge or just weld, and then grinding it back. i can get an even gap all the way down the panel, but im now looking at how to make the panel alignment perfect when sighted down the side.

so once i get the panel gap and alignment as close to perfect as possible (and i mean CLOSE), what do you guys do next? ive seen some who cover both panels and the gap with a layer of filler. then they block the entire seam, and finally cut the gap back out.

is this how most do it?

any better ways?

any good videos or youtube clips?

as long as you arent adding length to the door or fender or adding too much filler depth, i dont see how this could be bad.

any product better than another? rage, all metal????

Thanks, Tim

[68protouring454]

get as close as possible, then skim filler on each panel and block across the two panels

[ItDoRun]

Jake,
How wide of a block do you use?

[68protouring454]

11 inch durablock, sometimes 16 inch durablock, block with 80/180. once happy with car all around i will poly prime together and block poly primer in same fashion, once happy i take apart and urethane prime for final wet sanding
jake

[The WidowMaker]

jake, if you laid a straight edge across, would it be perfectly flat, or are you just making it better. you can see in the top pic that i would have to add a little filler. would this be too much? would you tap the door edge out and try to make it even?



here are a couple of the how the panels sat 2 years ago. i spent about 8 hours cutting the back of the fender about every inch to get it to line up with the door.





here is a pic of the new built in desk for the kithcen. i spent about 3 months building the whole kitchen from scratch. i sprayed about 10 gallons of product between sealer, high build primer, pigmented conversion varnish and my clear topcoat cv. all had to be less than 4 mils total. wood cabinets are easier than a car, but it still gave me a ton of confidence to spray, now i just need to learn to bodywork metal.



Tim

[The WidowMaker]

still not sure why the pics wont show. this is the only site i have issues with. im using the [img][/img] format???????????

[customcam]

Weres Dan at?

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by The WidowMaker

still not sure why the pics wont show. this is the only site i have issues with. im using the [img][/img] format???????????

There are directions on how to post pics up on this site - but basically - you have to load your pics up on Photobucket first - then copy and paste the pic address from there into your post here.

It's a MAJOR nuisance... but it is what it is.

Your cabinet/desk is killer!!

[68protouring454]

Originally Posted by The WidowMaker

jake, if you laid a straight edge across, would it be perfectly flat, or are you just making it better. you can see in the top pic that i would have to add a little filler. would this be too much? would you tap the door edge out and try to make it even?



here are a couple of the how the panels sat 2 years ago. i spent about 8 hours cutting the back of the fender about every inch to get it to line up with the door.





here is a pic of the new built in desk for the kithcen. i spent about 3 months building the whole kitchen from scratch. i sprayed about 10 gallons of product between sealer, high build primer, pigmented conversion varnish and my clear topcoat cv. all had to be less than 4 mils total. wood cabinets are easier than a car, but it still gave me a ton of confidence to spray, now i just need to learn to bodywork metal.



Tim

top pick, depends on what the edge of the fender does, but yes work the door edge some more, then assemble whole car so all gaps are as good as you can get hood, fenders, doors. dont do any gap work unless entire car is together. then fit doors to quarters, then doors to fender the fender to hood and hood to header if car has header.
panels should have epoxy on them once metal worked, install then block over gaps and see exactely whats going on, and either work metal more or use filler, block and watch whats going on, to make perfect.

in the 2nd and third pics, they appear(in those pics) to be ready for skimming or poly primer (3-4 coats) and block sanding to make perfect.