Mk1 front subframe fitting problems

[mitch19]

Hi, hope all had a good Xmas. My cars a 65 hydro and I've fitted a dry front subframe. The shell has had a new front wing and front panel on the passenger side. I've put in the front subframe but it's extremely tight at the front passenger side with no wiggle room (scratched the paint:(.Only the drivers side far tower bolt will screw in and all the other tower bolts don't as the subframe is too far back in the car. This is also the case with the rear fitting bolts. Mini spares spacers have been fitted.

Any advise or techniques to get this to fit would be much appreciated as at the moment the only option looks like dropping the frame and modifying or grinding the front passenger side part of the subframe as don't want to mess with the freshly restored she'll.

[STG95F]

Was the front frame fitted when the front Panel was replaced ?

[rolesyboy]

Sounds like as per Ians comment the subframe may not have been fitted when the front end was panelled up.
Also has the correct early type solid mounted front panel been fitted?
Hope it works out well. Mark

[Andrew1967]

Sometimes a couple of photos of the problem area(s) can speak a thousand words and we might be able to give some better guidance.

[swifty]

I wouldn't advise cutting the subframe your fitting at all . Obviously the car was panelled up around the original subframe so what you need to do is alter whatever is stopping the subframe aligning the top bolts . As mentioned this could be no more than getting a bit of clearance where it meets the front panel .. ... Ken

[Dr S]

You mention spacers? What spacers and where? I don't remember any going onto my wet car?

[Richspec]

I had this when i fitted my car up at the bodyshop so i could trailer it home, it was bastard tight at the front panel and i took some paint off as well, plenty of grease and some big adjusting bars between the body and subframe in various places were needed. to get everything in loosely first before we could start to tighten things up, mines defintely got a late front panel.

[Andrew1967]

You mention spacers? What spacers and where? I don't remember any going onto my wet car?

Wet cars don't have spacers that sit between the subframe tower and crossmember. I think the Hydro subframe towers must be slightly taller and don't need them.

This is what I am presuming is being referred to ?

[Spider]

You mention spacers? What spacers and where? I don't remember any going onto my wet car?

There are 'spacers' 'A/R' (as required in the way that the parts book refers to them) between the front subframe rail and the body. Many cars didn't need them at all. They were only a 5/16 x 1-1/4" flat washer.

[1071kev]

Hi, hope all had a good Xmas. My cars a 65 hydro and I've fitted a dry front subframe. The shell has had a new front wing and front panel on the passenger side. I've put in the front subframe but it's extremely tight at the front passenger side with no wiggle room (scratched the paint:(.Only the drivers side far tower bolt will screw in and all the other tower bolts don't as the subframe is too far back in the car. This is also the case with the rear fitting bolts. Mini spares spacers have been fitted.

Any advise or techniques to get this to fit would be much appreciated as at the moment the only option looks like dropping the frame and modifying or grinding the front passenger side part of the subframe as don't want to mess with the freshly restored she'll.

Mitch,
The tower bolts should line up and the correct spacers should be fitted, if the toeboard hasn't been damaged or repaired you should bolt these up too. Any misalignment at the front panel will need to be rectified. Don't try modifying the subframe to fit the body.

Kev

[mitch19]

I don't know whether a subframe was fitted when the front panel was replaced if it was it must have been very tight. The problem seems much like rich spec's. I used the method of sticking screw drivers through the rear subframe holes (only one of which was half accessible at the start) and proceeding to lever it into place bit by bit. Several hours, much scrapped paint and one snapped screwdriver later it's in. Thanks for all the advice guys, much appreciated.