crholds442

I have a 1969 442 convertible with a transplanted 455. It is a recent purchase and I was trying to get to the no. 8 cylinder plug hole to thread my compression tester when I crawled underneath the Factory AC Evap coil box, and to my dismay I spotted the rear mount/bracket to the lower control arm, and it was nearly ripped off and actually tearing part of the frame out as well!! Is this a common zone of stress fracturing around this rear lower bracket, or has there been trauma ? When I inspected the car at purchase I did not notice this at all and some of the frame tear looks fresh and un rusted. Could this have happened in transport from Orlando to Texas? I have a mig welder and cutting torch and I am visualizing the shaping of a 3 inch angle iron weld securing the bracket and supporting the frame damage. What is the best/proper way to handle this break?

gearheads78

Post a picure of exactly what is going on.

firefrost gold

wow braver than me it sounds terminal a lot riding on that bracket plus a alinement nightmare.

crholds442

I have tried to upload pictures from my computer and there is some sort of missing token??
frustrated....

Rickman48

Get that vehicle to a frame shop!
You can't possibly weld in a piece of 'angle iron' correctly, without the exact measurements!
Try it, and you'll pay triple when it won't align correctly, and they've got to cut it and open it up again!
Should be around $200, from your description! Plus alignment. And they guarantee their work!

crholds442

Sounds like good advice!! I'll find a frame shop and talk to them about the problem.
Thanks.

Bluevista

I bet the driver chained the the car down using that bracket or somewhere close to it on the control arm, I would check the other side and the frame and brackets in the rear too. Otherwise I've seen damage like that from side collisions when the other car hits the wheel. I had a car transported cross country years ago and the guy hooked the chains into those side frame holes and the holes and frame were all bent out of shape when I got the car. It's nothing new, I've heard all kinds of stories like that over the years.
Between the cranking down of the turnbuckles too much and the car bouncing during shipment with hardly any give it could have easily ripped that bracket off during shipment.

Lady72nRob71

X2 - I have heard about this a lot. I am thinking many of these transporters do not know what they are doing...

Rickman48

Also have seen this when a guys doing a 'burnout' while the wheel is turned all the way, or hit a curb!
Did it seem to pull right or left while you were driving it??

The important thing is to get it fixed, CORRECTLY!!!

Take before and after pictures, and send them to the transport insurance company - who knows???

crholds442

I have not noticed any pull left or right, but the passenger side front tire rubs slightly on the front fender if I brake while backing up and turning to the left. The symptom fits the damage. This low compression 455 engine does not run well enough for a "burnout" and there never will be a burnout as long as I own this car! I am taking my picts. to a front suspension specialist here in town and see what they say. I will probably be contacting my insurance co. DAS was the shipper for the Olds. I certainly wish I had picts. of this area of the suspension before it was shipped!

Rickman48

I'd not call my Insurance until everything else is exhausted - no sense paying your deductable to get your first 'strike'!!

crholds442

When I examined the frame/lower rear control arm bracket with picts. I've determined that clearly the break is old and completely rusted and the tear is continuing with fresh steel showing. I've located a reputable frame shop in town and I will get the car over there as soon as I can stabilize that tear with tack welding. Otherwise, I'll have to tow it over there. I thought all I needed was to get my horn, wipers, backup lites, etc. to work and I was ready for inspection..... HA!!

Wyze

I hope all goes well!!!
Keep us posted!!!!

crholds442

I really have yet to figure out how to handle picts on this website. I did join the "convertibles" group and have a shot of me, the olds and the frame tear so you have a clearer idea what I'm dealing with. Frame expert told me to jerk the engine out so he could get a good weld. You notice how darned close the header pipe is to the tear? He is confident the rest of the frame is good and he can guarantee the fix. Not a bad time to rebuild the engine. I've got J heads (74 smog heads) so I'll go with Edelbrock, etc via Summit Racing. I'll probably switch to the engine forum to contimue my story. Thanks all for your help!