Anybody have trouble with the plate that spans the front width of a 69 delta 88 and supports the radiator, rusting apart at the battery mount?

 

Do you need one or are you asking how to repair yours? I have one on my parts car. I am in Kansas City.

 

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Oldsguy:
Do you need one or are you asking how to repair yours? I have one on my parts car. I am in Kansas City.<hr></blockquote>

Hi oldsguy,
I think I need to replace it but it looks like it's spot welded to the plates on the ends (behind the headlights). Is this a tough job?
I wonder what's involved before I start taking apart my front end?

 

Give me a chance to go an look at the parts car. The upper support, radiator, engine and most of the other stuff is already out so it should be pretty easy to find out. I don't remember exactly how it looks or is attached. Off the cuff, I would say if it is bolted would be the easiest job, spot welds would be a little harder as they would have to be drilled out. Let me take a look.

 

Thanks oldsguy,
I'll probably replace it regardless; so if you could maybe send a pic, and let me know how you took it out, and how much?

 

We got blasted by the ice storm here in K.C. so I didn't go out to look at it last night. I promise I will though. I don't have a digital camera but will try to borrow one. Will be keeping in touch for sure.

Dan

 

I looked at the parts car this morning before heading for work. It looks like the lower radiator mount is all spot welded. It starts somewhere below where the battery is mounted on the driver's side and about the same place on the passenger side but not all the way to the fenders, extendes inward on both sides to the sides of the radiator, drops down the sides of the radiator, then turns inward for a base for the radiator and the lower radiator mounting brackets. It is all one piece and looks to be stamped steel with rolled edges. It is spot welded to the pieces of metal on either side (drivers' side is the one the battery sits on) and to another piece of steel in the vertical position and possible on the bottom to the cross member (not sure about that one). I was using a flashlight and holding the hood on my head/shoulder (weighted with snow/ice) to look at it. You mentioned that it was rusted and corroded out around the battery area. It might be easier to get a new piece of stell fabricated up and welded in place of the part that is damaged. Considering you would have to remove the radiator, top support, fan shroud and any small accessories, then drill out all the spot welds, then put the replacement piece (if you got mine) in and bolt it in place or re-weld it if you can do that. Also, I am not sure about the shipping costs but it is a good 50 inches long and 8 to 12 inches wide so it would be considered an oversized piecs I imagine. The price of shipping might be better put into paying someone to fabricate up a repair piece. At any rate, let me know what you want to do. I could take this piece out after the weather gets better. I just hate working on the ice and snow and the temperature this morning was 16 degrees. I live in Kansas City if you want to check on shipping and figure $20 or $30 bucks would be a fair price for my labor to take it apart and pack it up. Whatever you want to do. Good luck.

BTW tell me about your Delta.

 

Thanks for all your help oldsguy. the more I look at it, the more I think I'm just gonig to fix it.
I'm a fabricator at work so I should be able to patch it up and weld it. I'ts to bad they made that all one peice. I don't feel like taking apart the entire front end. Thanks again olsduy.

 

No problem, good luck.