Buick LeSabre 1965 Service Manual page 882

FRONT END SHEET METAL & BUMPERS 12-1
GROUP 1 2
FRONT END SHEET METAL & BUMPERS
CONTENTS OF GROUP 12
Paragraph Subject Page
12-1 Description of Front End
Sheet Metal 12-1
12-2 Fender, Bumper and Hood
Alignment Inspection 12-1
12-3 Fender, Bumper and Hood
Adjustment 12-2
1 2 - 1 DESCRIPTION OF
FRONT END SHEET
METAL
a. Front End Sheet Metal
Assembly
The front end sheet metal as-
sembly is attached to the frame
and body at adjustment points.
See Figures 12-1 and 12-2. The
front of the assembly is supported
by two mounts located at the
frame side rails. Shims at these
locations allow up and down
movement of the front of the sheet
metal assembly. Fore and aft and
side adjustment is allowed by
oversize holes in the inner skirt
assembly. Special washers at the
upper rear locations allow adjust-
ment of the rear assembly. The
lower rear edge of the assembly
is attached to the body at the
rocker panel by bolts on each
side. Shims are used at this lo-
cation to provide up and down
adjustment at the rear of the
fender.
IMPORTANT: The bolts that re-
tain the sheet metal braces must
be torqued to the required
torques. If these bolts are loose,
the braces will not provide addi-
tional support for the sheet metal
assembly.
b. Hood, Hinges and Latch
Mechanism
The hood panel is of one piece
construction, strengthened and
held to shape by a reinforcement
of stamped sheet metal.
The rear of the hood assembly is
attached to the body cowl and fen-
der on each side by hinge assem-
blies which permit the front of the
hood to be raised. A heavy coil
spring connected between each
hinge assembly assists in raising
the hood and holds it in the open
position. See Figures 12-3 and
12-4.
The front of the hood is held down
by a ratchet type hood latch lo-
cated on the upper tie bar.
c. Radiator Mounting and
Adjustment
The radiator is mounted in rub-
ber, using a three-point mounting
system of rubber-faced " U " -
shaped brackets.
Two of the brackets are included
in the lower support bracket as-
sembly which attaches at each end
of the frame. The third is located
at the top center in the guard
and bracket assembly which at-
taches to the upper tie bar. Fore
and aft adjustment is provided by
slotted holes in the bracket
assembly.
1 2 - 2 FENDER, BUMPER
AND HOOD ALIGN-
MENT INSPECTION
The hood, front fenders and bum-
pers must be aligned with each
other on every car to take care
of slight variations in form and
dimensions of the individual parts.
Sheet metal parts stamped in a
given set of dies will vary some-
what in form and dimensions due
to variations in the hardness of
different batches of sheet metal,
which cause the stampings to
spring in varying amounts when
released from the form dies.
The hood and front fenders are
properly aligned during the in-
stallation at the factory; however,
some readjustments may be re-
quired after a car has been
shipped or has been in service for
some time. This is because sheet
metal parts may take a different
"set" as a result of vibration and
shock incident to shipping or
operation during the break-in
period. In judging the need for
readjustment it must be under-
stood that exactly uniform fit and
spacing cannot be obtained on all
cars of a given model.
a. Hood Noises or Panel
Flutter
Squeaks or grunting noises in the
hood when driving over rough
roads do not necessarily indicate
misalignment of hood and fenders.
These noises may be caused by
metal contact at some point where
clearance should exist or when
head bumpers are worn or dry.
If the hood squeaks, check with
1/16" thick feeler all around the
I