virtualwsp

Can anyone recommend where I might be able to get the correct bolts and washer that fasten the fender braces from the inside cowl to the inside fender? My originals are rusted pretty bad. So I have something that I can compare but it seems that no body sells this correct item.

70Post

What year car?

Which brace? 1) The big block hardtop fender brace that runs from the fender area near the hood hinge down to the side of the cowl (these are the long curved tubular braces)? ....0r...

2) Are you talking about the short brace at the bottom/front of the fender that runs up to the core support?

virtualwsp

My car is a 1970 holiday coupe. So it has the long curved tubular braces from the cowl to the extra hole near the hood hinge.

Any help is appreciated.

68conv455

Try AMK Products Inc. You can download an online catalogue from them. Since you have your originals, you should be able to match them up with the correct ones.

Bluevista

Are they the same as a '71? It shows a screw/bolt, nut and washer in my book.
If they are GM Direct has the nut # 1359887
43 cents each and you have to buy 10.

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/

The screw they have at Vintage Parts #3960314

http://www.vpartsinc.com/index.php

$4.59 for SCREW HEX WA HD PNTD.
The flat washer is #406682 and both don't have it, what makes it different than an ordinary basic washer?, black oxide coated?

Al Graaf

I've got the same situation. What diameter are those washers? The hole in the fender is large.
AL

Al Graaf

Patton- why are those holes in the fender so big?
AL

frankr442

If I had to guess, I'd say the hole was large to allow for adjustment.

Al Graaf

That was my thought. Boy some adjustment room huh?
AL

507OLDS

Just a note: They did not install these on the convertibles.No idea why.They need all the help they can get.

Allan R

Maybe they thought the reinforcing on the vert frame was sufficient?

70Post

So the guys on the assembly line could stuff candy wrappers, etc in there

They were testing their new hole saw sets on the assembly line?

WHAT FRANK SAID ABOVE!!...probably some leeway for adjustment as already noted. Think how some cars came with a shim or two on various fender mounting points so you can see where just a bit of extra room may have been needed. And since there's no adjustment (or access) to the cowl mounting point once the fenders were being put on, ANY adjustment that would have been needed was going to occur at that mounting point.

Thus, put in the hole size that leaves nothing to chance...assembly line keeps moving along smoothly and the guy that designed the hole keeps his job.

On the other hand we could create some more "aura" around these cars if we started up a story of these being some "special factory lightened fenders". I mean some of these other brands have the "Swiss cheese cars", and "aluminum front end cars", etc.....here's OUR opportunity!!

70Post

Probably the opposite....converts move around A LOT despite the boxed frames (note how they had to add the QP to door shell striker plate setups). The braces would probably be useless on a convert.....too much flex. Frankly, if you look at them, they don't look like they do much of anything...but they're a cool feature.

70Post

Oh yeah---AMK #12994 for the flat washers and AMK #12891 for the flanged nut (you can use these on other areas underhood as well).

507OLDS

Boxing the frame wasn't enough for sure.Those things are like a soft pretzel.A combination of body reinforcement,and additional frame reinforcement would have been better.
In my opinion,I think the Vista support bars will help better than those curved bars.I've made a few sets out of aluminum,and duplicated the Vista bars.I duplicated the curved bars with aluminum as well,but after the fact,I wondered why did I bother.

TripDeuces

I've never seen these braces you are all talking about. Can someone post a pic? I'd love to see this mod.

11971four4two

These were taken off a 1972 big block a-body

TripDeuces

So those go through the fender then attach to the cowl somehow? Thx for posting those pics 1971four4two

70Post

Yes, they attach to the cowl area that's hidden behind the fenders. Way down at the bottom/side of the cowl. You will also notice a molded channel on the rear half of the plastic wheelwells. These braces occupy that channel on their way up the the fender jamb. There's a big hole on each fender jam forward of the forward most hood hinge mounting point. That's where the integral brace stud sticks through the fender jam hole.

Al Graaf

Patton I love you theoryology on GM matters. Scary part is it is probably all true!
AL

11971four4two

Thanks for the AMK part #'s

They do not "look factory exact to the naked eye" , but I am going to order some for casual use

70Post

Have you compared them to the factory pieces??

Al Graaf

So guys,who is AMK?AL

70Post

I'll do the same....have to dig up the original fasteners from a car here but I think those are EXTREMELY close if not duplicates.

AL - AMK is AMK Products....they sell a slew of bolts, nuts, washers, etc for our cars.

http://amkproducts.com/

BEWARE, HOWEVER....once you get their catalog it's sort of "dangerous". People will see you running around the house out to your garage or shop with this thick catalog in your hands ("WHAT is he doing??....he's at it again") and piles of old bolts will start appearing on tables inside your house with bolt measuring devices (they give you a free one with your first order if you ask for it). It doesn't end there....small but heavy-for-their-size boxes will start appearing at your doorstep and you will be seen furiously tearing them open only to sit and stare at a bunch of new bolts and washers in their little labeled plastic bags. You may begin drooling again....get a bib (they don't send you those). Think "Sears Christmas Catalog But It's All Fasteners".

70Post

Motorhead...If all else fails I can send you a set of what I used as I already have the stuff from AMK......cost wouldn't be too much. GMPartsdirect, you may find, has VERY HIGH shipping (that's a big part of their profit margin)....you have to order a lot to spread the shipping costs out.

I'll look in the Assembly Manual as well and if I can't put my hands on the original set I have here very quickly I'll email a bud and have him pull one set off his car and measure the washer OD, etc.

CLcutlass

parts place fender brace.

I purchased a set of these for my build and I am trying to figure out how to install them. Does the welded nut go up top ? Do they have to attach to the fender first before installation.

lunaboy

Anyone know if the lower fender brace that attaches the fender to the lower cowl are reproduced or do i need to fabricate or cut one off a parts car. my fender dog leg was so rusted out i didn't have to remove those lower bolts.

70Post

I'm not aware of anyone offering just the brace itself. I think "Gearheads78" had to fabricate his own one time on an Abody fender he was working on. I remember him (I'm pretty sure it was him) posting some pics of a form he made.