Uneven Bodywork?

[carl4x4]

I've always thought my '69 Ghia was a bit lower on the drivers side front but I thought it might be the front torsion bars sagging with age. I decided to jack up the front beam and put it on two axle stands either side of the beam tonight so the front suspension was level, thus ruling out any sagging front torsion bars.

With this I measured from the top of the front headlamp bowls to ground, and the top of the arches to ground. The front drivers side bodywork is around 10-11mm lower than the passenger side. I thought it might be the opposite rear suspension sagging so I measured the back of the car when it was back off the axle stands, the rear lights are about even, but the rear arches, the drivers side is about 5mm higher. I've heard stories of the rear arches being uneven from the factory so no big problem there but the front is quite noticeable.

I've fitted adjustable spring plates on the back so I could wind down the suspension on the opposite side but that would mean the rear would end up uneven. I'm not sure if this is just a "feature" of this hand built car or something more serious like the body has maybe shifted on the floorpan and got slightly twisted perhaps. Or maybe the front beam mounting is not aligned right, although I don't know if that's even possible.

Of course they might just all be like this...?

[FJCamper]

Hi Carl,

Contrary to most assumptions, Ghia bodies left the factory fairly straight and even. Too much individuality and doors, hoods, and glass doesn't fit, even to the point of binding on flexing (being jacked up), windshields cracking, etc.

But, I have seen bodies that set uneven on the floorpans due to some previous damage. If you get under the car and look at the body-to-floorpan contacts, you might see wrinkled sheet metal in places. You might have rusted and collapsing heater channels.

Since Ghia bodies are more or less of one piece, they are often repaired by the "clip" method, welding two halves together to make one body, or even one major quarter grafted in.

Scrape surface paint away on different body sections, see if it all the same color underneath.

FJC

[carl4x4]

Thanks for the reply, I've measured the wheelbase both sides (crudely with a spirit level down to the ground and then marking the floor with tape) both sides are within 5mm of each other which is almost certainly down to my method of measuring, so I'm re-assured by that. Also measured the bottom corners of the screen opening and the top of the sills, both are equal and level.
I know one of the front headlamp bowls has been replaced over the car's lifetime so I'm starting to wonder if the difference isn't down to a bit of inaccurate previous repairs on one of the front sides. Question is, which one, and will I open up a hornets nest by trying to fix a previous repair or just accept it...