Thank you for writing that piece on "Basic panel alignment"-that is very helpful information for what is turning out to be more than a bit frustrating!

One dumb question though: Does it matter if the car is supported by jackstands on the frame or does it need to be on the ground?

If anyone reading this is interested in aligning their front clip/doors, be sure read martinsr's article. Search under "panel alignment". Very, very helpful.

Thanks again for your generosity in sharing.

Dan Latta

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Dan Latta
Student, Santa Monica City College
1970 El Camino
Current ground up restoration in progress: Everything brand new except rear end: GM 350 crate motor w/ Weiand dual plane intake & Holley 600 cfm carb, long H20 pump, fuel pump, starter, shifting cables. K&N exhaust. Doug Thorley Headers w/ Flowmaster pipe & exhaust. Rebuilt transmission from A1 w/ shift kit & 2500 stall converter, Hurst pro-matic II shifter, re-balanced drive shaft, 15" Powder Coated Rallys w/ BF Goodrich tires, disc & drums & lines, Chevelle SS steering wheel, portion of wiring engine wiring harness, booster/master cylinder, tranny and motor mounts, 4-core radiator, combo oil/tranny cooler, tranny cooler lines, ARP bolts everywhere.
Short Term: replace all suspension bushings, fabricate lower portion of left side rusty firewall, weld in replacement right side rocker, weld new panel behind rear glass, brighter headlights, 3 pt. Retractable seatbelts or racing harness. What color to paint????
Long Term plans: Extensive guage package, New rear-end to replace the 3.08? More radical cam w/ roller rockers, lifters and beefier springs including a new aluminum head-zz5? Convert the interior to black.

Dan, It can make a BIG difference where you have the car supported. You want it supported as it will when the car is one it's tires. So jack stands would have to be under the axle in the rear and the control arms in the front. So the car "thinks" it's on the wheels. If the jack stands are under the cowl for instance, this will bend the car a lot. Just try it, and as you let the jack down with the doors closed you can see the gap go nuts.

This is VERY important, I have gotten in the habit over the years of always doing body repair like that, that way I have no surprises. Even on a quarter or something like that, just doing a large dent there could be a problem if the frame was weak from rust lets say. I know this seems like an over kill but if there is a tiny chance, why not err on the side of caution.

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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"