Method for mounting plastic body panel

A method for mounting a plastic panel on a metal substructure of a vehicle body to enable precise surface alignment of the panel relative an adjacent body panel and to accommodate thermal and hygroscopic growth of the plastic panel comprising the steps of:

• attaching one end portion of the plastic panel on the metal substructure;
• slidably mounting a plastic first mounting member on the metal substructure to underlie the other end portion of the plastic panel to permit movement of the first mounting member relative the one end portion of the plastic panel, said first mounting member having a plastic flexure spring integral therewith and engageable with the substructure to slidably preposition the plastic first mounting member at a certain desired longitudinal sliding position relative the fixed one end portion of the plastic panel;
• adjustably mounting a second mounting member on the first mounting member via helical thread means acting between the first and second mounting members to enable rotation of the second mounting member to effect adjustment of the position of the second mounting member transversely relative to the metal understructure to thereby establish the second mounting member at a precise transverse position relative the body panel adjacent the other end portion of the plastic panel;
• drilling a fastener hole in the second mounting member at a precise longitudinal position relative to the adjacent body panel;
• and
• installing a fastener between the other end portion of the plastic panel and the second mounting member so that the plastic panel other end portion obtains a precise surface alignment with the adjacent body panel and so that the other end portion is movable longitudinally with the mounting members relative to the one end portion of the plastic panel upon thermal or hygroscopic growth of the plastic panel as permitted by yielding of the spring means.