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64 BODY MANUAL
2. Set one end of the tram on the top vertical marking of
the right front body pillar and adjust the other end of the
tram to contact a fixed location at the bottom of the left
center body pillar. Lock the tram at this measurement.
Then check between the top vertical marking on the left
front body pillar and a similar fixed location at the bottom
of the right center body pillar. The tram should touch all
four fixed locations exactly. If it is found that there is a
difference, it will indicate that the body has been forced
sideways and back. Then the body jack should be placed
in the same angle as measured to force the body out in the
direction of the shortest measurement.
3. Set one end of the tram on the top vertical marking of
the right front body pillar and adjust the other end of the
tram to contact the bottom vertical marking on the right
center body pillar. Check with the measurement on the
left side of the body. This will indicate to what degree
force should be applied to maintain the correct measure-
ment in the event it is found necessary to apply force at
another angle on the same body pillar.
FINAL CHECK OF BODY
REPAIR
Check the body carefully for minor misalignments. Check
the alignment of the windshield opening by using an
undamaged windshield glass. Use a feeler gauge between
the glass and the glass channel to locate the irregularities
and high
spots. BE SURE TO REMOVE ALL HIGH SPOTS IN
THE GLASS CHANNEL TO PREVENT GLASS
BREAKAGE.
Check the door openings by using the repaired doors and
use a feeler gauge to locate high or low spots between the
door and door opening. Cross-checking with a tram will
determine the squareness of the body cross sections.
Check the fit of the quarter windows by using an undam-
aged glass as a template. With the use of a feeler gauge,
locate and mark all low spots. A wooden block or a
caulking tool will raise the low spots.
Check the body alignment to be certain that the repair
work has not caused any distortion. Check the squareness
of the top at the front section. Check the vertical cross
section of the cowl assembly.
FINAL CHECK REPAIR
SUGGESTIONS
If, in final checking, a front body pillar is found to be too
far forward with the roof and too high over the front pillar,
proceed as follows: Place the body jack diagonally across
the door opening, Tightening the jack will then pull the
pillar back and lower the top all in one operation. All
existing strains in the body that might tend to draw the
body out of alignment must be normalized with alternate
light applications of heat and hammering, It is particularly
important that reinforcements be thoroughly and com-
pletely normalized to prevent their springing back and
causing a buckle.
NORMALIZING:
Normalizing is a heating process to reduce the internal
strains set up in the metal by the bending and re-aligning
operations. It can be applied to any part of the body where
internal strains must be relieved by heating at the bent or
buckled areas. This is accomplished while the body jack
or forcing tool is in place and after that part of the dam-
aged area has been forced to its proper location. The torch
should be applied to heat those parts that are buckled and
wrinkled to a dark red color. The body jack or forcing tool
should be left in place while the metal is allowed to cool
slowly.
This process will remove the wrinkles and will relieve the
internal strains.
CAUTION: DO NOT USE A RUBBER HEAD ON
THE BODY JACK WHEN APPLYING HEAT. THE
HEAT WILL NATURALLY CAUSE RAPID DETE-
RIORATION OF THE RUBBER.
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