Lug bolts

[ian theobald]

My car has arrived home with new paint on the body tub.
What took minutes to remove seems to be taking ages to refit every thing.
Because I want to repaint the guards at a later stage I have come across the idea of using lug bolts to attach guards and running boards

In theory I should be able to remove and replace and have everything fit back over studs that protude from timber

In case you are wondering ,lug bolts have half section threaded as per wood screw and then remaining as per bolt and used in furniture assembly.
My rear guards and wheel arches have so many holes and hatd to fit things on your own

With the studs now sticking out of side and under front half of rear wheel arch have been able to secure guards tight against piping and can remove and replace in exact location when I finally have re painted.
Fitting missing door checks was a challenge as door would not open fully or close on 1st attempt and realised it is crucial to get both halves perfectly aligned.
I will post more pics later as it is interesting differences in doors and dash on opposite sides of the car.
The drivers door has a uniform amount of distance where outer door skin folds where my passenger side door is closer to inner metal at top front corner before conforming much like the opposite side further down

Likewise the curve of the dash panel under where windscreen attaches is different on each side and seems to be original as the metal when stripped back had no signs of damage or having been altered
Very odd as the drivers side is a gentle ark and passenger side starts curving from in front of the windscreen.
It is what it is but have managed to have both doors fit with similar gaps below dash panel.
Of course my dash now will have to be removed and reshaped or trimmed back but it is not original and somehow think one side was made wider to suit.
It has to be recovered anyway with new material to match doorand side trim that has been in storage..

[ian theobald]

Good day.i have added a few more pictures.

Some readers have probably seen issue prior to car getting tub painted.
I was hoping panel shop would repair but what is stays.
It would seem dash panel is original as there is no evidence of disturbence once stripped back to bare metal but differs from drivers side.
Also passenger door showed no sign of alteration and door skin appeared original yet you can see differs in height at top of the door.
The result is that it makes the door look as if it has dropped but have actually got both the same clearance below dash corners.
I have mounted front mudguard with sufficient clearance so that bonnet sides dont rub as have done so in the past.
Looking underneath seems to have a uniform gap but not sure if should raise up more.
So far have only drilled a small hole and located with a self tapping screw but intend fitting lug bolts so when time comes can simply bolt back to sides.
The theory being will be in exactly the same position.
Who knows if doors came from another car as goes with rear guards as there countless holes that have been drilled over the years.
I have trial fitted interior trim alongside rear tub and seems to align exactly up to corner blocks so thats a relief.
The inner wheel arch does not mate with corner blocks but perhaps extra timber is to attach trim in corners before being hidden by parcel shelf.
Will concentrate on getting the car back on the road as have just paid for another 12 mths full road use.
I may be permantly retired as of next week (redundant) and may need a car to get me into town to carry items that are too heavy for a motor bike..ie cartoon of beer
I once xarried a 20kg bag of cement in a back pack on my motor bike and never again.