Squaring a body that was in an accident, Where to get measurements?

Eotnak · 2025-09-16T14:18:07-0400

On my beloved Ella, a car that I would otherwise have long parted with, I have reached the end of my technical skills.

Many years ago someone hit my dad while he was stopped at a red light. He had it repaired at a body shop, but I don't think they did a great job. I can see wrinkles where I don't think they belong...and I'm not an auto body expert, so I made this bracket for the tailgate area to help me line up the new replacement panels.

The new panel doesn't quite fit like the old one, it is a little high. Before I assume that it is an inferior replacement part, I wanted to measure everything out to make sure the body is square, etc. Does anyone know where to get these measurements? Assembly manual? Repair manual? Thanks.

Indianjohn · 2025-09-16T16:30:39-0400

Which year?

On the GM heritage site you can download a .pdf of your year, there are some sections in it about dimensions!

Old Bear · 2025-09-16T22:16:36-0400

Link to the GM Heritage3 Center downloadable documents for 1970.
1970-Chevrolet-El-Camino.pdf

Eotnak · 2025-09-17T13:41:29-0400

Thanks to both of you. These are helpful but I need just a little more in depth numbers. The section for the bed is great, but it's the top of the quarter panels that has me at a stand still.

Old Bear · 2025-09-17T14:13:49-0400

TC I have a 1970. Not sure it is as it came out of the factory.
What measurement do you need?

Karadjgne · 2025-09-17T23:51:41-0400

It's not so much the exact numbers, it's exactly where you measure from to where and then transposed. Gbody frames were designed to be cheap mass production, not specialized performance like a Ferrari, so even minor front collision can physically push the entire frame on one side backwards several 8ths of an inch, ruining any possibility of getting accurate measurements on anything. As can differences in torque on body bushings, age or wear or deterioration.

It'd take a halfway competent frame shop to tell if the frame is still square and then be able to reset that front corner to line up as it should.

Eotnak · 2025-09-18T14:46:50-0400

Old Bear said:
TC I have a 1970. Not sure it is as it came out of the factory.
What measurement do you need?

I'll post some pictures soon, thanks for the offer!

Karadjgne said:
It's not so much the exact numbers, it's exactly where you measure from to where and then transposed. Gbody frames were designed to be cheap mass production, not specialized performance like a Ferrari, so even minor front collision can physically push the entire frame on one side backwards several 8ths of an inch, ruining any possibility of getting accurate measurements on anything. As can differences in torque on body bushings, age or wear or deterioration.

It'd take a halfway competent frame shop to tell if the frame is still square and then be able to reset that front corner to line up as it should.

I have a good spare frame, it's the body I'm having issues with

Squaring a body that was in an accident, Where to get measurements?

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