Body mount question Tub to fender alignment

[clembs]

Hey I have installed the energy suspension body mount kit on my 1970 fj40. Everything went on well but now I have a 1/2" gap at the sill for the hood (tub to fenders). The kit did not come with shims and I am looking into what shims to buy. All old shims were too rusted to re-use and that was 3 years ago so they are long gone.
I was thinking rubber belting but if you guys know how it should be done please let me know.
Thanks brent

 

[Catfish28]

I used steel washers on the front mounts to shim it up. Believe I had to bring mine up 1/4 inch or so.

 

[reddingcruiser]

The front tub mounts (on the overhang brackets) are taller than the rest, are yours? Do you have a thin spacer under the Bib hinge?

 

[clembs]

thanks, yeah redding i have the largest ones on the front outriggers (i think 1 or so inch thick). I have not put the front bib on so far, just the fenders to get an idea of the fit. The fenders are .5 in high on pass side and 1/3in on drivers.

 

[reddingcruiser]

What's the history of your 40? I built one years ago that had a sag in the frame right where the front tub brackets are located. The rig was pretty thrashed when I got it so no telling what abuse it was subjected to by the PO(s). It took a frame shop to straighten it out. That's where I learned that a tell-tale sign for that condition (or collapsed rubber mounts) is when the front edge of the hood sticks out over the top of the bib.

 

[clembs]

unfortunately the hood is still at the painter. I am in the process of a full frame off so the frame was blasted and looked perfect. I would say if anything the mounting surface did have rust from the former mounts so they were pitted (maybe 1/8th -1/4th"). Overall things look very true and clean. Just didn't know if people ever adjust the fenders down or shim the front of the tub up.

 

[reddingcruiser]

unfortunately the hood is still at the painter. I am in the process of a full frame off so the frame was blasted and looked perfect. I would say if anything the mounting surface did have rust from the former mounts so they were pitted (maybe 1/8th -1/4th"). Overall things look very true and clean. Just didn't know if people ever adjust the fenders down or shim the front of the tub up.

I'm not saying this is the case with your 40, but I can assure from personal experience that the amount of deflection in the frame necessary to cause misalignment of the tub, hood and fenders is almost impossible to 'see' on a bare frame, (even if everything appeared to fit before the rig was disassembled). You need to measure it. If the frame is within factory spec, no shimming should be necessary. Assuming the body mounts are correct and the frame is 'straight', there is generally enough movement in the mounting holes in the frame and the slotted holes in the fender brackets and hood hinges to get everything into alignment.