Alignment Tips and Tricks: Getting Your Project Straight From the Start

Alignment from the start of your project will ensure all your hard work gapping, metal working and body working will translate to the finale results you want. We lay out some of tricks learned the hard way so you won't have to. Here at Sylvester's Customs we are constantly changing and evolving to bring our customers the best possible end product. Don't start your project without watching this first!!!!! Know someone that will be starting a project soon?? Share this with them and they will thank you for all the headaches you save them.
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Filmed and Produced by Blown Grit Productions:
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[@HouseofChop]

The keys to the vault!!! Every second of this video is breaking down years of acquired knowledge and what I’m sure was painful trial and error at some points. An incredible resource in one place. Anyone looking to do a rebuild of any kind, at any level, should watch this. A one stop shop to all the tricks 🔥 As always very well done gentlemen 🙌🏼

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Thank you so much

[@deankay4434]

House of Chop. “The Keys to the Vault!!” Best line I have heard period. This one and a number of others, But they need to be watched twice or more. I stopped just to make notes! And I turn 63. Keys to the vault and Travis has those and the combination! Well done. DK ase master since 78.

[@clarkharvell5242]

So many things I never would have thought of! Thanks you have to be the best instructor out there!

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Thank you very much

[@chuckgilbert2035]

I have been a line mechanic for 45 years. Now during retirement I am doing my project with paint and body work. I am not happy with my 80% job and so glad I clicked on your video before I put paint on. Going to have to redo a lot of work but better now. Just saying thanks for the info. I will make this job better.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

That is so awesome that’s exactly the kind of comments we want to hear thank you for watching new video will be out every Friday

[@dakotasclassiccars7246]

Thank you for all of your content. My cars might not come out 100%, but if I take the care to try then maybe I’ll land at the 80/90/95%, but I’m trying. Info like this helps so much in progress. I had a body line I fought with for a long time. I ignored the processes you outlined and went with instinct, but my instinct was wrong and finally when I did the process you explain in your body line video and just stuck with the process it came out perfect pretty quickly.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

So awesome to hear!!! Thank you for watching!

[@craigtittsworth9440]

Thank you again brother, THAT'S why you're the Professional!

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@kirkize]

I do restorations for a living and nice to watch you do the things I do as habit. I also enjoy to watch as I might learn a new tip or trick As I don’t know everything. Keep up the great builds and quality work . Nice to keep the bar high and help others, I try to do the same. Take care .

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Thank you!! You too

[@infinite7501]

Spot on, Great Info. I get a new folder and notebook for every project. I write EVERYTHING down in that notebook. Every receipt goes into the folder. Take thousands of pictures. If you're doing this as a paid job it will save your ass in the end when the customer starts questioning what was done to finish the job.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Thank you!!

[@Stoked778]

Dude, your videos are so helpful for a figure it out guy like me. Thank you!

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Awesome! You are welcome

[@DachsAutos]

A great bit of knowledge and some good reminders for all. Lots of little details that you show from the years of experience. I'm finding the biggest difference between the experts and new guys (me) is the know-how to actually get it done vs. the mindset of "I know what needs to be done, but don't know how to do it" --- Excellent video

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Thank you 👊🏻

[@MatthewScott]

You do it the way old school builders here do. Keep it up. 💪🏻👊🏻

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Thank you!!

[@scotcorvette5821]

As usual Travis, spot on. Most mechs won't take time to do this. But it's so important to prefit everything as an assembled car before paint to fix those areas need massaging or more care to be primo

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Thank you

[@cmceleney80]

Travis, I'm a perfectionist. Love to watch your 100% way. I owned Autostar Refinishing. Felt successful until I had a motorcycle accident the put me living in hospitals for months with a brain injury. Now, 10+ years later, wanting to do a custom shop. Just don't know were to start?

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Where I started was just taking in one car at a time in my garage at home and slowly taking classes every year on metal shaping and metal finishing. We have classes as well

[@chevelleranch7481]

Great advice as usual. Most guys don't consider the effects of worn body bushings , door weight and weatherstripping. I think most guys just don't want to put in the time it takes to get something perfect. You are right about having to assemble and disassemble the car multiple times to do it right. The guys that don't usually understand that are the customers and the TV watchers that think a restoration is a quick process.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@eddiehigginbotham7748]

It’s all in the details! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge!

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Glad it was helpful!

[@angelonikitaras2977]

another great video with simple clear instructions ... well done Travis

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Thank you

[@class5bodyworks]

Great video! I've been doing this for a while but it's nice to see someone put it into words. I work with a lot of fiberglass parts on classic Mustangs and one thing I can say is it's not very forgiving getting the final fit dialed in even after pinning and taking the other precautions. Fiberglass is a different animal. It can get you chasing your tail trying to figure out why the panel you made fit 3 days ago is slightly off now and needs reworked. Very frustrating. Or decklid compression issues when you could close it with one finger before. Winter to humid summers drive me nuts. Keep up the good work. You'd make a great instructor.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Thank you very much. I couldn’t agree more!!

[@chops6474]

Travis I learn the fine details from your content. I’m in South Florida and I have the same issues as you with fast drying Ultra. Adding Xtra helps , but anymore it seems I’m just using Xtra by itself. Race against time it seems. This isn’t my idea I’ll chip in here about the pilot holes for all hinges, but I now use pop rivets to stick in the pilot holes for alignment. They slide in and stay in place. Pull out and reuse. Cheers!

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Thank you!!

[@Mariovlogs-pf4jl]

Thanks so much for this video I needed this one

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Awesome thank you

[@p-m2127]

Very good info!

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Thank you!

[@deankay4434]

Excellent advice as usual. I add two things to sub-frame, full frame vehicles either one. Measure at different point underneath the vehicle while raised and level. Plus as he mentioned both, but adjust strikers and hinges with new weatherstripping installed. Bend and adjust the flange these fit on. Use a dollar bill when closed on top of one to see if it pulls thru as this becomes a wind noise after done. A for measure, we have all seen the cuts shaped like a “V” or “U” in sheet metal where they are spot welded. These are part of the holding jig used at the factory to hold panels as they on in order. Use these and mounts, holes stamped for trans mounts, front bumpers and in an “X” pattern should be 1/6th of each other. Bigger, yes! But off by 3/4” or more, look close. What did they hit or who hit them. Inside measuring from fixed locations provide that extra level of “Knowing” what is real close and what may need to go to a frame shop. The tiny drill holes can also be filled with a finger over tape using a heavy bodied seam sealer then touched up with paint mixed for the same color. It takes extra time but think of what you get when done. Thanks again Travis.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Best comment I’ve had thanks for sharing!!! All great info

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Dean any interest in doing a podcast with us remotely.

[@deankay4434]

@@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS I wish I could but to busy bouncing off Drs. My lumbar is a mess and 4 fusions, 2 bone, 2 metal, 1 done twice, RFA, now spinal cord implant that worked above the belt at 60+% or better, they installed a permeant one, same everything they claim, but goes down legs into my heels. Low back or above belt dude, not down my butt, legs into my calves & heels. Travis, you got an easy place plain spoken way of teaching and you are doing good! I mean it brother. I just happened to have injuries or worn parts that forced me into different jobs from diagnostics & fixing to holding 4hr tech seminars in 7 states and teaching in 13 tech colleges working for Raytheon and representing ACDelco. The best part was in our contract that we got a week in Jan/Feb and again a week after July 4th to go somewhere and all of us here from engineering, ask questions and see stuff! Behind the curtain and I was a sponge. Car guys can’t get it out, it is in our blood and co-mingled with our DNA. I love what you do and how you do it. Vegas twice, Torrance, Burbank & Long Beach. If it has something to do with engines, hydrogen, how they are made and what is next. I sat in the front row with 17 rows empty behind me and everyone at the back. Love info because it is knowledge! If you quit learning, you ain’t got a heart beat!

[@deankay4434]

@@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS Travis, I am truly humbled you would even ask! Thank you.🙏 You could do an hour on seam sealers and I would watch twice! I simply repaired things after confirming the complaint. Never cut corner and always use best practices is what I learned as an apprentice in a two man shop. Later in years, having to change jobs, I landed somewhere I never dreamed, ACDelco. I saw things at GM I will never forget, from what some call “Skunk Works / Area 57” to hydrogen fuel cell labs, where honest engineers were happy someone was interested in their work and ask them questions, then listen. It made them happy! Do you know each manufacturer does their own “MPG” testing, not the EPA. Plus, GM had the only high altitude static emissions lab in the entire US. Then a day at a stamping facility. It was strange to 6 cable pulley systems on one chunk of steel being moved. These dies are crazy at 12 tons for the bottom shaping anvil and 10 tons for upper male die on a 90 ton press. The reinforced concrete floor below these machines was 20 foot thick with four 8” corner pins machined to 0.003” fitment. I can’t unsee what was in front of me.

[@danamcintyre3565]

Very good information, sometimes you have to pound that in your own head. But like you said if you don't have any trouble the very last time you put things together. My son and I started a project years ago and I told him bag and tag everything we are not putting this thing back together tomorrow, well he didn't do it and we both lost interest in it and it became someone else project.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Been there I understand

[@husky1239]

Very informative and great tips thank you for the video

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Welcome 👍🏻👊🏻

[@adalbertopadilla7423]

Thank you.I learn a lot with you

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Glad to hear it!

[@jasonhull5712]

Yes,yes and yes. This is where my OCD shines ! Lol Anyone watching buy a cowl induction hood for a second gen Camaro and find its 1/4" longer on one side vs the other.. I've bought two now and both are the same. Passengers side is literally 1/4" longer.. you can see it from the bottom so I'm not sure how to remove that much without making it look like poo underneath.. may have to give up on the cowl induction..

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Pretty crazy sometimes. Good luck !

[@TonyPret]

thanks, very helpful......

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Thank you

[@juggernautxtr]

my high school auto body teacher had us use an scratch awl around hinges once you had the gaps set, it would make inset in the paint/primer that you could hardly see unless you knew what to look for. once finished it just looked like lighting shadow.

[@dennisschickling2249]

Ya Nice Video. I got my 1967 Camaro Rally Sport Convertible in 1982. I blow it apart in 1995. It's on Two Floors. I WISH that I Know what I Now Back then. Back to the Drawing Board. Thanks. #STAYSAFE #PHILLYPHILLY 🇺🇸

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Good luck!

[@Americal1970]

You just scared the hell out of me. I had trouble with the wheel well liner. Some were slotted. I fixed it.... I bent the chrome edging to fit..

[@RS-gh2mf]

Biggest mistake I've seen over the last 50 year's, is guy's blend all their panels perfectly, then nothing line up afterwards. I always tape new weatherstrips on the doors and decklid when doing my body work

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@junkyarddawgfixit8970]

It seems like as these cars get older its harder to find good original survivor examples that we really need to get correct body shape patterns and body opening dimensions, this is increasingly important data when restoring vehicles that are basket cases, have accumulated collision and weather-related damage. With the aftermarket panels being produced overseas it becomes evident that the people involved with development of these parts and panels are not passionate "car people" and a lot is being lost in translation, and the installation of such components actually requires a substantially higher level of skill and proficiency to arrive at anything close to original form and fit. Starting to think that a data base of these critical "as built" dimensions could be a valuable resource going foward.....

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Absolutely agree

[@snail5341]

Hey why don’t y’all find a foxbody mustang to repaint. Start to finish. Oh btw I just happen to have one I want to do and want videos for instruction. 😁

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

🤣🤣🤣 next mustang on the books is a 69

[@pward684]

The holes u drill in the hinges after everything is final assembled do u put anything in the hole to prevent moisture or leaking

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Seam sealer 👌🏻 then touch up paint

[@jimhoran5445]

👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@e.s.bryant765]

Thanks man. I really want to see the stupid miticulous stuff.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

🙌🏻👍🏻👊🏻

[@Jesusisnotwhite777]

Aren't you from the ie do you still do classes

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Yes I am. Nuevo Ca and yes we do either message me on instagram or email me [e-mail] or sign up for notifications at sylvesterscustoms.com where once we post next years schedule you’ll get dibs. We just finished our last class for 2023 today actually. New schedule will be out soon!

[@Jesusisnotwhite777]

@@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS wow thank you hopefully I'm still in the state .... by then would love to take it... I've always done collision and worked on classics on the side but always wanted to learn metal work and restoration professionally great work 💯

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

@@Jesusisnotwhite777 thank you. Even if you leave you can always fly in and take it next year guaranteed to be worth every penny.