broken 'sombrero'
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 298
Likes: 16
broken 'sombrero'
As I finish up dismantling the very original rear suspension of my 67, the driver's side 'sombrero' (rear diff crossmember mount) is completely broken off. It looks like someone tried to weld it in place, but the weld quality looks terrible.
The rest of the frame had surface rustiness but was really solid. no rust holes anywhere. this is a car that sat for a long time in a garage, but I dont know what it did in the 1970s.
Is it common for this mount to break off the frame? Or is this just limited rust? i dont see how it could be corrosion, but the mount really ripped apart the frame metal when it broke I think. I plan to weld it back in place - i think i can do the welding adequately
kind of scary to think the car was driving with only one rear diff mount. the front mount looked good.
The rest of the frame had surface rustiness but was really solid. no rust holes anywhere. this is a car that sat for a long time in a garage, but I dont know what it did in the 1970s.
Is it common for this mount to break off the frame? Or is this just limited rust? i dont see how it could be corrosion, but the mount really ripped apart the frame metal when it broke I think. I plan to weld it back in place - i think i can do the welding adequately
kind of scary to think the car was driving with only one rear diff mount. the front mount looked good.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
As I finish up dismantling the very original rear suspension of my 67, the driver's side 'sombrero' (rear diff crossmember mount) is completely broken off. It looks like someone tried to weld it in place, but the weld quality looks terrible.
The rest of the frame had surface rustiness but was really solid. no rust holes anywhere. this is a car that sat for a long time in a garage, but I dont know what it did in the 1970s.
Is it common for this mount to break off the frame? Or is this just limited rust? i dont see how it could be corrosion, but the mount really ripped apart the frame metal when it broke I think. I plan to weld it back in place - i think i can do the welding adequately
kind of scary to think the car was driving with only one rear diff mount. the front mount looked good.
The rest of the frame had surface rustiness but was really solid. no rust holes anywhere. this is a car that sat for a long time in a garage, but I dont know what it did in the 1970s.
Is it common for this mount to break off the frame? Or is this just limited rust? i dont see how it could be corrosion, but the mount really ripped apart the frame metal when it broke I think. I plan to weld it back in place - i think i can do the welding adequately
kind of scary to think the car was driving with only one rear diff mount. the front mount looked good.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 298
Likes: 16
that's what i think happened to my car
i plan to just weld it back where it used to be. the "bubba" repair that broke before I got the car was a quarter inch off from where it started.
other than just restoring back to the original location, are there any measurement criteria for this bracket?
i plan to just weld it back where it used to be. the "bubba" repair that broke before I got the car was a quarter inch off from where it started.
other than just restoring back to the original location, are there any measurement criteria for this bracket?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 101
From: Riverhead New York
I bought my 67 Coupe 1972. It had spent it's first Five Years in White Plains which is in New York City. So I would say Pot Holes will also do this as I had to Weld my mount also. Al W.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
that's what i think happened to my car
i plan to just weld it back where it used to be. the "bubba" repair that broke before I got the car was a quarter inch off from where it started.
other than just restoring back to the original location, are there any measurement criteria for this bracket?
i plan to just weld it back where it used to be. the "bubba" repair that broke before I got the car was a quarter inch off from where it started.
other than just restoring back to the original location, are there any measurement criteria for this bracket?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Racer
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 264
Likes: 3
All welders know...its all about the penetration.
hehe giggle teeheehee you down-state types and your "snow". Come to Syracuse.....
If you don't feel comfortable welding that back in place, and don't know anyone; you can call up your local steel fab shop. Most have trucks with welding equipment on them and the guys take them home so they can go to the job site directly in the morning. Ask him to stop by on his way home, burn that in and give him a pizza and wings to take home to the wife and kids plus a few bucks for welding consumables.
hehe giggle teeheehee you down-state types and your "snow". Come to Syracuse.....
If you don't feel comfortable welding that back in place, and don't know anyone; you can call up your local steel fab shop. Most have trucks with welding equipment on them and the guys take them home so they can go to the job site directly in the morning. Ask him to stop by on his way home, burn that in and give him a pizza and wings to take home to the wife and kids plus a few bucks for welding consumables.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 298
Likes: 16
As a follow up, I welded the piece back in place. I lifted the frame with this piece, so I think/hope it will hold up better than 'bubba's' fix, which was done from below and broke free at some point.
FYI, the crossmember restoration was much easier than I thought. The old bushings pressed out easily (once i bent the tangs back up, which was also easy). And the new bushings pressed in easily.
I feared it would be a nightmare removing the old bushings but it was not
So far, the only challenge has been in the upper shock mount bolts, which corroded to the bushings, so required sawzall to cut them out.
every other piece of the rear suspension has come out easily.
The spindle knock off tool was perfect for its job too
FYI, the crossmember restoration was much easier than I thought. The old bushings pressed out easily (once i bent the tangs back up, which was also easy). And the new bushings pressed in easily.
I feared it would be a nightmare removing the old bushings but it was not
So far, the only challenge has been in the upper shock mount bolts, which corroded to the bushings, so required sawzall to cut them out.
every other piece of the rear suspension has come out easily.
The spindle knock off tool was perfect for its job too