Factory Side Pipe question

[Leif A.]

A winter project of mine is redoing the attachment areas on my factory side pipe car. I had the covers off recently to reattach the insulation and the mounting areas look real amateurish and they're not holding the retaining nuts very well.
What I'm looking for are pictures of some nice factory attaching areas so that I can reconstruct the ugliness that I currently have.
Thanks to anyone who can be of assistance.

[Richard M.]

Re: Factory Side Pipe question

Leif,

Bevel the opening a lot and put thick backup tape behind it with a folded bottom edge to keep the mix from sagging. Mix some finely cut mat threads with resin or epoxy to fill and reshape. Keep same thickness.

Drill new holes for the screws.

It'll be time consuming.

Rich

[Leif A.]

Re: Factory Side Pipe question

Thanks, Rich...that was the process I was thinking of using to make the repairs. What I need are pictures of what the holes/keyholes look like on an undamaged rail. If I'm going to go to through this much effort, I want to make the repair as accurate as possible...even though I'll be the only one who knows it's done correctly.

[John F.]

Re: Factory Side Pipe question

Take photos along the way.

[Leif A.]

Re: Factory Side Pipe question

Take photos along the way.

I will, John...for posterity

[Richard M.]

Re: Factory Side Pipe question

Leif, Of the original N14 cars I've worked on those areas where the J-Nuts attach are often quite crude. I would be more concerned about functionality, so that there is enough strength in the repairs and proper thickness to hold the clips.

Here are some photos of one I came across on a 67. As you can see they're pretty rough.
DSC_0927.jpegDSC_0930.jpegDSC_0926.jpegDSC_0943.jpegDSC_0958.jpeg
DSC_0927.jpeg


Here are some when I was recoating the cage sills on the same car. As can be seen one was a bit deformed and as I recall I touched that up with some epoxy in the cracks. A few pieces of thin wood(wax paper coated) and small c-clamps held it tight while curing.
P1050020.jpgP1050017.jpgP1050011.jpgP1050001.jpgP1050006.jpg

Here is a example of how I repair areas like that. In this case it was the upper grille support tab, but similar process I'd use to repair those on yours as I outlined earlier. I used resin mixed with some chopped mat on this. It held up over time.
P1060080.jpgP1060077.jpgP1060081.jpgP1060095.jpgP1060094.jpg

[Leif A.]

Re: Factory Side Pipe question

Rich,
Thank you for all the terrific pictures...as always. What I'm trying to determine is where the J-nut slides on the panel, was there only a single hole for the screw to go through the cover and then enter the J-nut or was there more of a key way as in my second picture? All of your pictures have the J-nut in place and I can't see behind the nut to see what type of hole there is.
Thanks again for all your help.

[Richard M.]

Re: Factory Side Pipe question

Leif,

I think they were holes. Faint memory but I think the AIM shows drill size info. But on the line anything could've happened.

Rich

[Gary B.]

3D47213A-44C2-4F33-970A-83171BB2DC93.jpg

[Richard M.]

Re: Factory Side Pipe question

Thanks Gary, Yes they must be the ones. And we can see holes not slots, so Leif.... There you go.

Rich

[Leif A.]

Re: Factory Side Pipe question

Gary,
I had been staring at the same picture in my '67 AIM and missed the forest for the trees. Don't quite understand why in parenthesis it says (3) holes when there are a total of 8 holes. Two for the retainer bar, four for the side pipe cover and two more for the ends of the molding. Anyway, now that I am looking at this, I can see there are holes only...nothing elongated or otherwise. Thank you.

[Richard M.]

Re: Factory Side Pipe question

I think because the other holes are for the "PROD RETAINER" used for undercar exhaust, i.e. the standard Rocker Panels. Admitedly, confusing, but the 3 holes referenced may be added for N14 only. Unsure.

Edit... Appears that standard Rocker retainer holes were 9/32 at those locations and 2 were to be enlarged for N14, the 3rd an additional hole for N14.

All other holes were "Existing", so they must have been drilled earlier in the build process, likely at the body fab area.

From the 67 AIM, UPC 1 ASM F4...

Rocker.jpg

Rich

[Leif A.]

Re: Factory Side Pipe question

Rich,
Food for thought, for sure. Along with your help and a fellow member PM, I have all the info I'm going to need for "repairs". I'll post pics of the process as I get into it. Thanks again.