Align body panels before or after bodywork and paint.

[Dannytheangler]

Hello everyone long times it's been but I'm about to weld in the passenger quarter panel and was wondering. There is new metal around most of the car. The only bondo and sanding work that has to be done is on the doors, hood, and where the lower part of quarter panel meets the rocker. Should I align the body panels before or after bondo work and paint? I'm saying this because I'm realisizing the door jams need to be stripped of the old paint and redone.

[Xghobo]

Before during and after

[roguedc72]

I did all my panel alignment on my 72 challenger before it went to the bodyshop, not all body men have an eye for straightness, plus it will save you hours of labor, I spent many hours till I was happy with the way the doors aligned with the quarter panel and rockers, then the front fenders to the doors, also, I didn't think I needed to put the hood on, when I did I found the fenders were to far in at the rear, pinching the hood, so I adjusted the fenders out, guess what? I also had to realign the doors again. Another thing, if you plan on running fat tires on the rear, now is the time to trim or roll your fender flanges for clearance,ask me how I know. Now send it to the body shop. Hope this helps

[torredcuda]

Always align all your panels and get good gaps first as you may have to hammer and dolly or otherwise "adjust" some edges, then do bodywork, then paint.

[Mr Cuda]

We have a joke around here, that you paint, then weld.

[7E-Bodies]

Definitely before, and with 52 pounds of weight in the doors (to simulate window and hardware).

[jimynick]

Always align all your panels and get good gaps first as you may have to hammer and dolly or otherwise "adjust" some edges, then do bodywork, then paint.

X2. Trying to pry a newly painted fender away from a newly painted door is not a situation you want to be experiencing; trust me here. 

[Dannytheangler]

Thanks for all the replies.

[MoparLeo]

Rear quarters, next door to q-panel, next fender to door and cowl, hood the cowl/fenders.
 Replace/have door hinges rebuilt properly before hanging doors. Don't wait for the paint/body guy to tell you your hingeshave too much play, will not hold alignment.
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/how-to-aligning-mopar-body-panels/

[SalC]

Definitely before, and with 52 pounds of weight in the doors (to simulate window and hardware).

I heard about this before, but if you line everything up and do the body work, then add the windows and door hardware, shouldn't you just have to readjust and line up the body lines? Can you shed some light on why I would need to add weight first? Thanks...

[mopar jack]

If you are doing the work line up all panels and gaps then take a 1/8 inch drill to make holes in the hinges at the doors and hood. This allows you to remove panels for body work and aid in realignment. see pic of hood hinge