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New to the forum, located in Australia. I have a 1974 SB coupe that I purchased as a road race car, with a view to making it a 454, as the rules allow factory engine configuration. After running it at one meeting as a 350, I discovered numerous problems (that I should have expected), which need fixing.
First thing, the front end fibreglass bodywork is completely mis-aligned (and I've subsequently found out, it's off a 1975). When I bought the car, the owner told me "it's misaligned because when we removed the body it just wasn't put on straight. easy fix." The price was so good I didn't really mind. But after trying to fit electric fans to the radiator, I found it was so misaligned that they didn't fit between the upper control arms. So I removed the front bumper and stuff, and discovered the car had taken a hit on the RHF, which pushed the whole front end over and bent the front end framework. Hence this message.
The car is a road race car, and will have fixed Le Mans style head lamps. I have no need for vacuum tanks and what not, and as such, no real need for such a massive network of steel forward of the axle! I've looked around and can't find any real answers, are there any aftermarket suppliers of maybe a skeleton frame that would hold the front end up, without the need for the heavy factory equipment? Being that I'm in Australia, second hand spares are difficult to obtain.
Hard to see, but it's bent across to the driver's side.
Thank you so much. I have MANY other questions to make, so I hope I don't become annoying . Any help is greatly appreciated.
My 78 was similarly damaged. After removing entire front end body I found the passenger upper control arm bracket distorted and the frame extension was a parallelogram. Cut off the old bracket and welded on a Zip replacement. Sliced into the webbing on the frame extension to resquare it and weld up the slices. Fortunately the main frame itself was undamaged as reported by my local frame shop. Before installing front clip I discovered that the supporting fiberglass components in the area of the passenger fresh air plenum had been shifted by the right front hit. Removed, cleaned and rebounded them. Reinstalled the front clip and all is good now. Best part was closing up the 1/2” gap between the passenger door and fender from the sloppy body work of the prior owner. Took a year of part time work but it was worth the effort.
My 78 was similarly damaged. After removing entire front end body I found the passenger upper control arm bracket distorted and the frame extension was a parallelogram. Cut off the old bracket and welded on a Zip replacement. Sliced into the webbing on the frame extension to resquare it and weld up the slices. Fortunately the main frame itself was undamaged as reported by my local frame shop. Before installing front clip I discovered that the supporting fiberglass components in the area of the passenger fresh air plenum had been shifted by the right front hit. Removed, cleaned and rebounded them. Reinstalled the front clip and all is good now. Best part was closing up the 1/2” gap between the passenger door and fender from the sloppy body work of the prior owner. Took a year of part time work but it was worth the effort.
That sucks, but good to know it got sorted and that there's light at the end of my tunnel! I too have the giant gap between the passenger door and fender, I was going to try to run sort of how it was, but it started getting to me visually how apalling it looked, and then when the radiator didnt fit....
Originally Posted by Richard Daugird
Building a race car? Looks like it's time to get a MIG welder.
Found this great blog. Screen name Mainevette has a superb series on restoring a 71 coupe. Has a really good sequence on debonding and rebinding the front clip. Hope it helps. Radovette
Not sure if it matters at this point but the front end looks like it's a 1975 or newer - 1974 did not have the "scallop" on the nose. Rear bumper cover is a 1974 though which was split down the middle.
Not sure if it matters at this point but the front end looks like it's a 1975 or newer - 1974 did not have the "scallop" on the nose. Rear bumper cover is a 1974 though which was split down the middle.
Hey mate, thanks for the info. Yeah, I found out about the front end differences when I contacted a local fibreglass manufacturer regarding a front bumper without the bumperettes. The list grows longer!
1974 Front Bumper/Frame
. Any help is greatly appreciated.
