I noticed that the sheet metal fits very good on trucks we put on an S10 frame or use a 70's or 80's front frame clip. Finally the light went off in the old noggin (the light gets dimmer with each passing year) and I realized it's because we FIT THE TRUCK TO THE METAL, not the metal to the truck. With this in mind and, a 55.1 getting 47-53 front sheet metal, we fit all the front pieces together on the floor and fastened together with several small tacks. On places where gaps are needed, like allowing for the rubber hood bumpers. small straps are tacked on to maintain the desired fit. Now with hooks in the headlight holes and in the center of the wheel opening and with the straps joined over the center of the hood the whole assembly balances well. With one person inside the engine compartment and two outside the whole clip is lowered into place and notes are made of any interference points or gaps and corrective action is taken. I realize that this is not a practical tip for trucks that are in any sort of finished state or in a home garage where extra bodies aren't on call but, if doing one from scratch, it is something to keep in mind. I didn't take pix but included is one of our "mule" AD with all the sheetmetal in place and being lowered onto an S10 chassis. All the mounts are then tweaked to fit. The second pic is of the real AD bolted to those mounts.
Thanks for the short course Evan Great instructions for the class Evan! I was wandering around a bit disoriented in Southeast Texas about 7-8 years ago with my 54 in a million pieces, and buying books. Reading books that seemed to leave out the critical info to get me from one step to the next. From someone who did their first and only build in his own backyard, is still learning from his mistakes, thanks again for more of your master craftsman's insight, and for sharing. Jim
