Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

jim larson · 2K+ Club

What should I ask for this sheet metal bracing on a 66?

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Guess I should have asked how to best remove the area? Looks like there are spot welds along the package tray and along the wheel welds. Best to just drill these out, if I want to save the package tray? It appears the end of the braces are welded to the floor, should I just try to grind the off?

No idea of how it is attached in the sail panel area, really need some advice on that area.

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

Drag it up for the Bow Tie Brunch.

Takes about two hours, drills and sawzall!
Karl

Chris R · 2K+ Club

I would take the advice of the guys in the Team Chevelle posting you made on this. Spot welds, get a decent drill and a few nice spot weld bits and start drilling them out.

Lost in the 60s · President

Jim, since you want the bracing, just use a standard drill bit and drill thru the welds. There are a TON of them into the wheel house and package tray. It is also spot welded to the floor pan. Use a piece of 180 paper to lightly scuff the area of the welds and they will stick out better to locate and center punch. Some of them will require a 3/8ths bit while others are 5/16ths. I usually start with the 5/16ths and if they don't release go to the bigger drill.

Karl's right on, in that it will take up to a couple hours to do it cleanly.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
Jim, since you want the bracing, just use a standard drill bit and drill thru the welds. There are a TON of them into the wheel house and package tray. It is also spot welded to the floor pan. Use a piece of 180 paper to lightly scuff the area of the welds and they will stick out better to locate and center punch. Some of them will require a 3/8ths bit while others are 5/16ths. I usually start with the 5/16ths and if they don't release go to the bigger drill.

Karl's right on, in that it will take up to a couple hours to do it cleanly.

Thanks, I just came in from the garage. I took the torsion bars off to get better access. I plan to drill out the spot welds on the brackets that hold the trunk hinges, I think there are 5 around the bottom and 4 on top of the brace.

It looks like this will give me access to drill out the spot welds that you would have to access from the inside of the trunk that are holding in the package tray and the braces. Then I will go inside and drill out the spot welds holding the bracing to the wheel wells and the floor. Does this sound OK?

I am not sure how to separate the panel on top of the package tray from the quarter panels. It looks like there is some lead filling the seam between the panel and the quarter panel. If so, will a small torch heat the lead enough to melt the lead? Will the whole thing, the bracing, the package tray, and the panel between the window and the trunk come out then?

If I am reading you correctly, I can just drill though the spot weld and into the other sheet metal if I plan to throw that sheet metal away? So If I want to save the package tray, I should use a spot weld cutter when separating the bracing from the package tray?

Lots of questions; but this if my first time disassembling a car. Thanks

Lost in the 60s · President

It sounds like you plan to remove the entire package tray and bracing at the same time ?

Yes, there are spot welds holding the tray assembly to the quarter panel inner structure. You access them from in the trunk and the underside of the tray. I'm not aware of any lead in that area, although there may be some mig welds in there. I've never removed a package tray.

As for the extension panel, if the window channel is rusted out, I don't see any reason to remove it, as they are readily available aftermarket and reasonably priced. If it is indeed good, the spot welds for that are inside the trunk, along with the tray welds.

Release the trunk lift rods first, or you will be fighting the tension as you drill out the welds.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

I took the torsion bars out yesterday. Thanks

Lost in the 60s · President

I guess I missed that part about the lift, torsion, bars.

I took some pics of mine and forgot that the package tray is one piece with that hinge panel under the extension panel...

The window channel is part of the extension panel. As long as the package tray isn't rusted too badly, it is worth saving. A new extension panel will cover it. It looks like a LOT of work and a PITA to get at the spot welds on the sides of that tray/extension panel with the hinge and it's brace in the way. You may need to remove those first.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
I guess I missed that part about the lift, torsion, bars.
I took some pics of mine and forgot that the package tray is one piece with that hinge panel under the extension panel...
The window channel is part of the extension panel. As long as the package tray isn't rusted too badly, it is worth saving. A new extension panel will cover it. It looks like a LOT of work and a PITA to get at the spot welds on the sides of that tray/extension panel with the hinge and it's brace in the way. You may need to remove those first.

Thanks Mitch. I removed the brackets holding the torsion bars that is spot welded to the package tray and the wheel well. Those spot welds back in there that hold the brackets the guy wants still look to be a PITA as you noted. That looks to be spot welded before the package tray goes in and then the panel goes on top of the package tray.

I think I want to cut that panel off, If I can without damaging the package tray and then take a saws-all and cut along the top and bottom up to where the brace is spot welded to the front area of the wheel well. Then I can drill out the remaing spot welds from the back seat and take the bracing along with the package tray out in one piece. Then remove the package tray from the bracing. Does that sound like a better plan/

No sure how to cut the panel off without damaging the package tray and bracing. Would it be best to attack this with a grinder and a thin wheel like 1/32? I just don't know how much depth I have without cutting into the package tray. I was thinking of just cutting a rectangle out on each end of the panel so that I don't cut into the bracing or package tray and go from there. Is that panel spot welded to the package tray in the window channel?

Lost in the 60s · President

I believe the extension panel that is on top of the tray is welded to the tray first and then that assembly welded to the inner structure. If you aren't concerned about saving the roof pillar, just cut above the tray/extension with the saws-all and remove it together. If you weren't so dang far away, we could have that out in a half hour with my plasma..

SShink · 3K+ Club

Maybe I missed it in the posts below Jim, but why are you saving this back seat bracing from the scrap pile? Is this for your red '66 or another project car?

jim larson · 2K+ Club

SShink wrote:
Maybe I missed it in the posts below Jim, but why are you saving this back seat bracing from the scrap pile? Is this for your red '66 or another project car?

A guy from St. Paul by the name of Tim, says he needs it and although we have not agree on a price, I think we will agree on a price. I don't plan to gouge him, I am thinking $150. This is what some guys on TC suggested or $100 if he removes it. I don't know why he needs it, maybe he is repairing damage someone did at one time. Any opinions on why a previous owner would have cut up the bracing. This bracing includes sheet metal that goes along the side of the package tray between the package tray and the sail panel area.

-- Edited by jim larson on Wednesday 31st of December 2014 09:26:29 AM

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
I believe the extension panel that is on top of the tray is welded to the tray first and then that assembly welded to the inner structure. If you aren't concerned about saving the roof pillar, just cut above the tray/extension with the saws-all and remove it together. If you weren't so dang far away, we could have that out in a half hour with my plasma..

I looked at some video's online of a plasma cutter in use. Sure looks like it would be the cats meow for someone doing a lot of body work. I am doing this as a learning process and to get winter from being two boring. Hoping to buy some tools with any profits. Mitch, I will bring the RH rear extension, the two eye brows molding and the hood lip molding to the bow-tie lunch for you to look at. Were you also interested in a grill, I have two you could look at? The filler panel moldings I plan to keep.

Lost in the 60s · President

I don't need the RH extension. The left one has 3 broken studs that I may attempt to drill and tap for bolts. I THINK I have another pair of extensions in my collection of "stuff' on a shelf and keep forgetting to dig out and see if they are any better.

The plasma is quick and easy, but like a cut off wheel, sprays sparks around. That is something you would need to be very mindful of if you use one to cut off parts. The sparks will melt into window glass instantly and leave a divot when you dig them out. You wouldn't want your other cars in the vicinity or else cover them with blankets and tarps to prevent accidental damage.

If you look at the pics of the Malibu trunk floor install, you'll see a white fiberglass burn blanket over the roof and protecting the interior and 2 orange screens to stop sparks from all cutting and welding operations. I learned the hard way about sparks on glass and invested in some prevention accessories.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Sorry about the mix-up on the extension. I thought you needed the passenger side. Do you want me to dig out the grills?

Lost in the 60s · President

jim larson wrote:
Sorry about the mix-up on the extension. I thought you needed the passenger side. Do you want me to dig out the grills?

No mix up, I wasn't sure which side was the worst when we talked at the dinner.

Let me look at mine again. I don't recall if the Malibu grill is bent bad enough to replace. I will look tomorrow.

Lost in the 60s · President

OK, I looked at my grilles. The Malibu is decent but quite sand blasted. If you have a better one, I would be interested in it.

The SS grille is pretty good.

They could both stand better headlight bezels as the outside edge seems to attract dents on these cars. If yours are decent, I would like to see them.

Also, if the core support is rusty, I may be interested in it and all the headlight attaching hardware. I'm thinking about making a wall decoration with my extra SS grille in my spare time...

I did find my other set of tail light extensions and they are both good. I'm all set there...