1982CorvetteDude

The front of my car seems to “dip” down, I know there is an adjustment in the front (radiator support maybe?) that I can shim to lift the front up a bit and close in the upper door gaps some.

I pulled my radiator support several times over the last few years and using a fiberglass bumper cover now (no honeycomb)….didn’t know if that would make a difference.

I do know that I don’t have any shims in the radiator support…

Any ideas or pics on what to adjust?

Thanks!!

Durango_Boy

I was told that you can loosen all the bolts on the side that hold the clip to the core support, lift and support the front clip, and tighten the bolts to re-adjust the front clip.

I have not tried this, but it makes sense.

I'm not really even sure of the best way to lift it...maybe a lifting strap wrapped around the nose, and a cherry picker.

BTW - How far out of Missouri are you? Think you'll make it up this way for the Corvette Cup in Columbia on April 12th? Or maybe even the show up at Lake of the Ozarks?

bojangies46

When is the show at the Lake? thanks JON

kevinator80

I have been playing with my gaps lately too and need to know the answer to this question.

I think you put a jack under the plate(frame extension) under the nose of the car and raise it there after you loosen the bolts forward inside each fender. I am not sure about that so I didn't try it yet. When I receive my car the body had been removed and some of the bolts/shims were bagged. I still have one large washer/shim that I believe needs to be placed on the mount up front. The problem with this is that when you raise the bumper support the headlights don't move up with it. Correct? So you then have to adjust the headlight buckets. One problem creates two more. Does it ever end?

BarryK

the issue is that you pulled the core support out of the car and probably didn't support the nose of the car while it was out. this will allow the front to droop. I made the same mistake when I pulled the core support out of my '78.

To fix the problem was easy:

1. there are 3 bolts on each side that hold the core support in. loosen but do not remove these bolts.

2. put a floor jack under the core support. I used a piece of 2x4 between the jack and the core support to distribute the load evenly.

3. jack up the support until you get the nose raised enough to even up your gaps and any clearance issues you may be having between the fan shroud and fan blades (on my '78 when I reinstalled everything initially the nose had dropped enough that the fan blades were hitting the fan shroud).

4. once you get the nose where you want it to be tighten the core support bolts back up while the front is still being raised by the floor jack.

5. you MIGHT have to go slightly higher than you want initially because on my car after I tightened the bolts and lowered the jack the nose still dropped down slightly (about 1/16") so I had to go back, raise it back up again slightly higher then where I wanted it to be, retighten the bolts again and when i removed the jack it once again dropped that same 1/16" but now it was just where I needed it to be.

This shouldn't take you much more than 30-45 minutes total.

It's even easier when the front wheels are off but if they are on the car you usually have to turn the steering wheel to move the wheel out of the way to get access to the core support bolts when you loosen and tighten them on each side

kevinator80

That makes sense Barry, thanks.

So, by raising the core support the headlights and all move with it? My headlights could stand to be moved up a bit, but not enough for me to worry about it as it sits now.

1982CorvetteDude

We are about 6 hours from columbia....wish it was a little closer

1982CorvetteDude

Thanks for the help guys

SIXFOOTER

The headlight bar is mounted to the underside of the front clip, so they will stay in the same position relative to the holes. If they need adjustment there are several on the assemblies to do them. Fix the drooping nose first, let it settle and then do the lights

Durango_Boy

If you have headlight door alignment problems, do them last.

bluegtp

1982CorvetteDude

another question, what is the radiator support bolted to? Is there something underneath?

It seems like I used the three side bolts on each side (to the fenders) to support it.....that may be the biggest reason why it's sagging.

I looked underneath and could see any mounting points to the frame. I may have to dig my aim out when I get home tonight.

Good thing is I just installed my new poly body mounts and bolts. Easiest thing I ever done to the car, all the old bolts/rubber came right out and took me about 2-1/2 hours to do with air tools.

1982CorvetteDude

Ok....According to the AIM, the radiator support bolts to the frame via the bottom of the three holes on each side.

I feel like an idiot but I know for a fact I don't have a bolt in those holes....just the upper two on each side :thud: I know why....I couldn't get a bolt in them at the time and got lazy

Now all I need to do is jack up the support and slide a bolt in each side and I should be good to go :thumbsup:

Joe45

Not sure I am getting the jist of this post. Jacking up the core support to close gaps up front, would that create issues with the upper surround bonded to the windshield pillar and possibly create door gap issues?
Learning as I go!
Joe

BarryK

it won't affect the surround at the windshield.
It WILL affect the gap at the doors but if you need to raise the nose up because it's dropped for one reason or another than the gaps are already messed up from the lowered nose and raising it back up again should now also correct those gaps

bluegtp

so which bolts from this diagram do i remove for the adjustment? or which number bolts in the diagram?

1982CorvetteDude

The very bottom ones,




You won't be able to see them unless you remove the side plastic extensions that hold the front outer bumper brace the parking lights bolt into.



On the picture below...# 1 is the bolt you loosen to adjust your radiator support up/down (which raises fron cap to close gap) You loosen the bolt and put a jack under the radiator support and raise it until you get the desired height....then tighten the bolts.

#2 are the two bolts that attach the front frame extension to the frame.....you have adjustment in these also. You loosen these bolts and put a jack under the very front of the frame extension ......loosen these two bolts on each side and use the jack to get the desired height....then re-tighten down.




And lastly don't forget the rubber bushing bewteen the nose and frame extension....sometimes they can deteriorate

bluegtp

gotcha, thanks for the clarity!


ryan

Primoz

would this procedure work on 71 vette? I also have the same problem because of my mistake (removing the core) but my doors are aligned OK!