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Thought I would pass this on to all of you who own a 70-72 Cutlass with the W-25 OAI Hood option. Have noticed small cracks in the metal sub frame side rails on mine. Going to have a shop weld them up... Have included photos. Suggest you all take a serious look at yours.... left side left side left side right side right side right side
Be nice if the welder could fit backer plates in the affected areas, plug-weld those in then stitch the crack closed with a fine TIG...grind/paint/gone.
Definitely search for a seasoned body guy to do this.
Be nice if the welder could fit backer plates in the affected areas, plug-weld those in then stitch the crack closed with a fine TIG...grind/paint/gone.
Definitely search for a seasoned body guy to do this.
I would add one thing. Drill a small hole at the end of each crack in the sheet metal to terminate the crack. Dremel and small diameter carbide would work. .
55 years…. Nothing lasts anymore!😂. This is normal maintenance for these hoods. Some have faired better than others, (or worse!) Proper lubrication is the key to preventing the problem. Repair, ensure proper operation, lubricate and go on down the road.
It's a fatigue crack. Those notches are part of the controlled front end collision design to minimize the risk of decapitation in an head-on. Unfortunately these cars were barely designed to last ten years. Half a century is well beyond anything intended. Stuff happens.
