68 charger gap to large where fender meets the piece below windshield.

[Dave27]

So I was fitting my fenders on my 68 and I have the gaps pretty nice between the front edge of the doors and the back edge of the fenders probly 1/8th inch. The problem is the gap between the fender (and I forget what its called) the body piece between the hood and the window that your wipers poke through. The gap between that and the fender appears to be to large. The only way I could see to make it smaller would be to move the fender back and grind some off the rear edge of the fender to maintain a door gap or add onto the fender at the topwhere it meets that windshield vallience thing,or do they all fit this way.What have you guys done.They are not stock fenders they are new AMD fenders other then that they fit and look spectacular.....Thankyou in advance Dave

[cudaken]

 Dave, pictures would help and the body part is called a cowling.

I would need to go measure my 68 Road Runner but I think it should be around a 1/4 inch.

Here is a picture of a 32,000 mile 68 Hemi Charger I did if it is of any help.

http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cudaken/media/Charger%20Site/68CHARGERHOODANDRFENDERTOP2-12-02_zps772dded0.jpg.html]

Cuda Ken 

[Charger-Bodie]

Hows the gap between the door and quarter? can the doors go back any?

[Dino]

1/8" seems a bit small for a car like this.  It's not a Honda!  Give it a bit more so it's even all the way around.

There's an order to set panel gaps.  First up is the gap between doors and rear quarters.  The quarter doesn't move so that's your baseline.

Next up is gap between doors and fenders.  Now you line up the hood as best you can and focus on the gap between hood and cowl and fenders and cowl.  Make it as uniform as you can.  Now toe the front fenders in or out to make the gaps between hood and fender even.  If the hood lines up nice but one gap between fender and hood is bigger than the other side, open the hood and push it over. ie manipulate the hinges. 

Close hood, admire work, give pat on shoulder, go grab a beer.

[Dave27]

Cowl yes thankyou!! Yes all the pictures and info helps. So everything should be as close to 1/4 " as possible,door to quarter,door to fender,fender to hood all  1/4" or so.The reason I have an 1/8th between the door and fender is because I was trying to close the gap between the fender and cowl. I only messed with it alittle bit. I'll put some time on it tonight and see what I can do. here is the only picture I have right now but doesnt really show my issue very well. Ill take more pictures tonight if time allows.Weekdays are hard with work and everything.In this picture the hood is just sitting there but I have it bolted on now. The cowl is not adjustable correct.

[Dino]

Correct, cowl is not going anywhere.

These cars had serious quality control issues and the tolerances for gaps and fitting parts are a joke so all you can do (without modification) is to get it all as even as you can.  I would remove the fenders so you have better access to the door hinges.  Line up the door with the quarter and the rocker.  Try to get the body lines as closely matched as possible.  You can tinker with a lot of things but uneven body lines will be a real eye sore.

I used to have plastic blocks in different sizes to make sure the gaps were even all the way round.  You could make some just to stick between door and rocker.  Oh and do the adjustments with the door latch removed.  You want it to close perfectly without the lock first.  Also make sure there is no play in the door hinges.

The worst part of the gap thing is the lower rear door corner where it meets the quarter/rocker.  Once lined up you'll see what you have to do to make it look a bit better.

Don't do anything with fenders and hood until those doors line up with quarter and rocker.  If the door needs adjustment afterwards it will only have to go straight towards front or rear but that's a very easy adjustment.  Trying to do it all at once will drive you nuts.

[Dave27]

Sounds good Thankyou!!!. I only have 3 bolts in the fenders just snug so taking them off is no problem at all.

[Dino]

Excellent.

Go slow, take your time, do not get discouraged.  Do both doors before the fenders and you'll be just fine.

Do you have shims? 

[Dave27]

Sure do bought a shim kit

[Dino]

Sure do bought a shim kit

[cudaken]

Sounds good Thank you!!!. I only have 3 bolts in the fenders just snug so taking them off is no problem at all.

Dave, do you have the bolt in that mounted to the cowling?

http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cudaken/media/Charger%20Site/1-davebaysite_zps341cb793.jpg.html]

When tighten it will pull the gap in a little.

   Cuda Ken

[Dave27]

Sounds good Thank you!!!. I only have 3 bolts in the fenders just snug so taking them off is no problem at all.

Dave, do you have the bolt in that mounted to the cowling?

http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cudaken/media/Charger%20Site/1-davebaysite_zps341cb793.jpg.html]

When tighten it will pull the gap in a little.

  Cuda Ken

I have the one in that comes down from the top I believe thats the only one correct. See there is movement still left to go in that hole that I could move it back but if I go back any further it will hit the door.

[Dave27]

Sounds good Thank you!!!. I only have 3 bolts in the fenders just snug so taking them off is no problem at all.

Dave, do you have the bolt in that mounted to the cowling?

http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cudaken/media/Charger%20Site/1-davebaysite_zps341cb793.jpg.html]

When tighten it will pull the gap in a little.

LOL just wanted to give a late update .You hit the nail on the head. No I did not have that cowling bolt in hidden underneath. I didnt know it was there.....Thankyou guys for the help.I have everything fitting pretty nice now but I'm still going to fine tune it a bit more

   Cuda Ken

[cudaken]

Glad I was of some help.

Cuda Ken