Slick 60's

Hey all - forgive me if this has been discussed before, but, like many of you, I have core support issues with my '66.

I've seen a lot of posts about re-configuring the '64 supports to fit the '66 inner fenders, modifying the radiator mounting brackets and the battery tray, and so forth. I've noticed that a lot of these only rust at the bottom, near the frame mounts, and (like mine), still have usable metal above. Lately I've been wondering if it might be easier to just chop off the lower rusted sections, and use a reproduction '64 support to patch the original '66 support. Have any of you tried this? Is this a lot more difficult than I'm making it out to be?

It could probably be done. The long, flat sheetmetal areas just above the mounting points may be the biggest challenge. It would be fairly easy to weld the formed sections in place as you need them. The flat panels on either side of the radiator opening would be the hardest piece to weld without warping it completely out of shape.

JMO,
SPark

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=30924&start=240#p269490

Here is a link from theastronaut's build. He did just what you are asking.

I was going to say the same thing...I did this to my support. The vertical angle metal had a flat plate welded to the bottom,drilled and bolted to the frame.Both sides.Used my engine hoist to level front clip.drilled and bolted to good metal on support.Took a couple hours,that was six years it still works.
This was real cheap $15.00
Dan

I chopped and welded a 64 re-pop to the bottom of my 66. Stupid easy and all my 66 stuff fits. IMHO.

It's too bad someone doesn't repop just the lower portion that we typically need. That would save us some $$.

Ihave rebuilt the outer parts of the support with angle iron before, I promise it will NEVER go away .. You can't see it from anywhere but from underneath .. and thats nice. If I was doing a real bad one now (on the cheap) I think I would remove the front tin. Jack the support up to where it needs to be. cut the rot out, and just build between the frame and support. I believe I have rebuilt two bad ones and one decent one.. This is a part personally I would rather over build, than risk rusting out again in my lifetime. I always consider a job well done if someone had the truck fifty years from now and looked at my work and they said.

"This S*n of a B*tch who rebuilt this wasn't messin around !"

I do have a lot of angle stock handy, so I might be able to do something like this. Either way, I'll probably try to patch the '66 support that I have. Thanks for the advice! I'll report back with my findings.

If you can't find a good original one , and scratch building the repair isn't to your taste ...using a repop for your patch piece is noble and hardcore from my viewpoint ! I don't see a bad way to do it! I am falling far behind the guys that are going for such original quality rebuilds...


I am all about saving them, anyway is a good way