So, I have been working hard to get this front end on my 1969 Firebird for a couple weeks now. Lots of time using Google, reading through here, etc. and I am still having a really tough time. I have assembled a ton of different vehicles, and I have to say, the 69 Firebird had to take the cake for parts complexity and the need for each part to work together in order for it to not look all jerry-rigged in place. You can probably sense my frustration....
So, a bit of back story... I had rusty and dented oem front fenders and core support, so I opted for aftermarket front fenders and a factory-fit core support specifically for the Firebird. The fenders actually fit pretty good at the doors, but the issue I am having is at the front end support brackets, and where the fenders bolt to the core support. The core support fits perfect everywhere, except is about 3/8" too low where the fenders are supposed to bolt to it. See the following pic:
Secondarily, the upper long bracket that runs left to right across the whole top of the front end is about 1/2" too low from allowing the headlight surrounds from matching up to the top of the fenders. If I raise the bumper bracket it raises the upper long bracket, which pushes up the side corner brackets, which in turn raises the upper fender which further emphasizes the issue of the fender being higher than the headlight surround.
I could eliminate the corner brackets with the rubber bumpers that space between the long upper bracket and the corner brackets, but when I do this, then the inner corner of the fender dips down at an angle, so I would need to twist the fender so that it stays put without the bumpers. I hope that makes sense.
Finally, is there some way to pre-assemble the headlight pieces and the upper long bracket, independent of the lower brackets and bumper brackets? It is difficult to assemble the headlight surrounds after all of the other stuff is assembled, as some of the nuts/bolts are tough to get to. I have the assembly manual, but it only has pics, doesn't mention anything about what order to assemble the front end.
Thanks for letting me vent, and thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
Last edited by vdubn; 08/05/1501:49 PM.
1969 Firebird Semi-Pro-Touring. 406 CID, 10:1, 3.36 Rear End with Yukon Posi, Converted from Auto to Muncie M22 RockCrusher (Wide Ratio), 3" Hotchkis lowering leafs and springs. Trans Am Hood
Found out how to attach them to the thread, and also fixed the links.
1969 Firebird Semi-Pro-Touring. 406 CID, 10:1, 3.36 Rear End with Yukon Posi, Converted from Auto to Muncie M22 RockCrusher (Wide Ratio), 3" Hotchkis lowering leafs and springs. Trans Am Hood
Not sure at what point you are now. But I just replaced the front clip back on my 69 vert three weeks ago. I found it much easier to assemble on two saw horses and with a friend, install it using the four bolts mounting it to the frame. There are a lot of adjustments on the front end. I was able to loosen some bolts up inside of the headlight buckets to make fine adjustments. Hope that helps.
Many of the bolts were slotted on the front end for a reason but essentially the thing can be assembled as a unit and put on as one piece as ICsnipe suggested. Assuming things aren't bent you can often loosen items then attach the major connectors then go back and make all the rest fit. Keep in mind you will often see gaps on even the best 69s. Things may have been bent before and now they just don't line up with the new fenders?
I've had mine apart twice and it was a bear each time. Each time I ended up with a bolts that I couldn't make line up when reassembling. I know one of my frame connectors is bent slightly so it doesn't bother me too much but it makes me wonder how they were on in the first place! I just left them off for now. Something had to give somewhere. Perhaps you can attach in key places and "massage things" into place? (pic 2). You may need to lean on it a little? Its hard to see how far you need to go from a pic but sometime once you get one it you can get another and so on...
I've found every aftermarket part I've ever put on any type of car or truck has needed more than a little massaging to get it to fit. I put an aftermarket 400 hood on a 68 that took two days of molding to get it to 'almost' fit.
Haven't had anything to do with a 69 but my 68 was something like yours in the first pic I could see. The fender mounting flash was about 3/8" above the rad support, there were washers to fill the gap. That was before I took the front off the car. I replaced the rad support and the body mounts, it was the body mounts under the support. Almost looks like your rad support is sitting too low, maybe the body mounts under the rad support are not thick enough, not likely but maybe worth a look? The other body mounts may also be having an effect on the front alignment
These cars weren't exactly lined perfectly when they were new. Door gaps could have been tight at the bottom and wide at the top. the fender is almost three times as long as it is high. Perhaps you may have to widen the gap at the top of the fender at the door, 1/8" more clearance at the top rear will drop the front down 3/8".
I'm anything but a body man, just sort of thinking out loud.