Reassembling dog house off frame....good or bad idea

[Ken B]

I am thinking about reassembling my "front clip" off the frame to start getting parts and pieces back together. I dont want to put it on frame as I am still needing to pull the engine. But getting a little crowded in my garage with all these parts laying around.
Is this a good idea or does it make more work when i am ready to put the dog house back on the truck?

 

[PrairieDrifter]

I'd say it's easier to put it back together in pieces. More efficient too I think, and you only need one person. You won't have to undo bolts you've already put in, to readjust body panels. Less chance of scratching things up, if you care about that.

 

[Ken B]

just tripping over stuff and wondered if i assembled and moved it out of the garage I could have some more space , you make sense. Do things once.....the scratching isnt an issue old paint.
thanks

 

[Keith Seymore]

The assembly plant did it both ways. Some plants would assemble the clip as a unit (aka "Buck Build") and bring it to the final line. When I was doing it the pieces came together individually.

When I was at Flint: Line 2 (Blazer and Suburban) did buck build, and Line 1 (pickup) did piecemeal. Same product, same plant - two different assembly process.

K

 

[Ken B]

interesting Keith....do you have a preference or opinion on which is better for a garage build?

 

[Keith Seymore]

Piecemeal.

Set the radiator support on the frame, loose.

Hang the LH fender and fit it to the door. Hang the RH fender and fit it to the door. Set the hood and scoot the front end side-to-side to align the hood-to-fender gaps.

Tighten everything down at that point.

K

 

[Ken B]

thanks guys.
it takes long enough to do this stuff....no sense in doing it wrong or doing it twice.

 

[idahovette]

Trust me, this won't be the LAST time

 

[Ken B]

hey I can hope cant I????
A little foggy in the head, have been painting with POR 15 in a closed garage.....