69 conv. under dash support braces
I have a couple of under dash support braces missing on my 69 conv. under the drivers side. I think some of these are only used on the soft top cars. These are solid steel braces with mounting holes in each end. I have not been able to locate these anywhere yet. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Re: 69 conv. under dash support braces
Thomas-----
The braces were used for ALL 1969 convertibles, not just soft-top cars. In fact, I can tell you that with absolute certainty since I have a hard-top only 1969 that I purchased brand new. It has the rods. Beyond that, it would not be logical to use the braces only soft-top only cars since a soft top could always be later installed on an original hard-top only car. I did just that myself. The under-dash bracing rods were installed on all 1968-75 convertibles.
These rods are not "solid steel". They are TUBULAR steel with flattened ends. These were all discontinued by GM "eons" ago. I do not think they are reproduced, so if you need them your only source is going to be used. I don't understand why you need them, though. Did some previous owner remove them?In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: 69 conv. under dash support braces
Thanks for your reply Joe. Sorry for the confusion. I was using the phrase "soft top car" in place of convertible, but I was not thinking about the convertibles that came with hard tops only. I realize these braces were additional supports in the convertible cars. I don't know why some of mine are missing. I think it is two of the smaller ones on the drivers side. Maybe someone took them out for some reason and forgot to replace them. Since I bought my car used I have no idea what happened. It sure is hard to check out every little detail when buying a used car. How many people would know to look for something like this? If I want to replace these braces, I guess I will have to make my own or get some from a wrecking yard.Comment
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Re: 69 conv. under dash support braces
I've never once ever thought of correcting Joe Lucia, but maybe this is the time. So here goes, and apologies to Joe if I'm wrong.
On my non-AC 1970 convertible, there is 3 solid rods on the Drivers side, and 1 tubular rod on the passenger side. With out looking at my AIM, I believe the 3 solid rods were standard on convertibles and coupes, to support the steering column mount.
Now, I have seen on a non-AC 1969 convertible, that the passenger side had 2 tubular rods, much like the 1970 and later AC convertibles had installed to stiffen the cowl because of the evaporator box hanging there.
BobComment
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Re: 69 conv. under dash support braces
Under dash brace configuration varies with the car's configuration. Check out option C60 (A/C) and you should find additional braces installed to accommodate that option.
On where to get? I think you'll have to find a competent Corvette 'bone yard' to supply you missing brace rods...Comment
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Re: 69 conv. under dash support braces
Thomas------
I would not think it would be too difficult to get these braces from a Corvette salvage vendor. I would not think that these would be a "high demand" item. I'd try one like Pacific Corvette in Puyallup, WA (www.pacvette.co)In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 69 conv. under dash support braces
The Stingray Guide book by Bizzoco pointed out (page 41) that complaints by early A/C convertible owners brought about this engineering change, adding these braces. He states the change happened around 5 May 1968 with S/N 417648. However, I saw one with the braces on a earlier car (S/N16882), that ProTeam barn find L88 listed on eBay some time ago. Maybe they were just beefing up this earlier L88, a test car. I went back and looked at the pictures and maybe it was just that litle plastic cover that you find on some cars.Last edited by Dale C.; November 18, 2010, 07:16 PM.Comment
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Re: 69 conv. under dash support braces
Thanks to everyone who responded to my question. Seems like there is some confussion about these braces. Based on what I have heard maybe I do not need these braces on my car. My car does not have A/C, but it is a convertible. I saw these braces pictured in the Assembly Manual for a 69 Corvette and just assumed mine were missing. The mounting holes are all there and it makes since that a convertible might need the additional braces for more support than a T-top car. I think I will keep trying to locate these braces and install them. My car is also a big block car. Maybe they had more braces. Thanks again.
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Re: 69 conv. under dash support braces
Thomas
All convertibles should have the braces on the drivers side. The braces on the passenger side were added mid production in the 68 model year. I believe it was early April of 68. They were already in production when my mid April 68 car was built.
The 69 AIM makes it very confusing as they show the passenger side braces in the C60 AC option section. In the 68 AIM they are shown in the general body section. I don't know why they were moved but I believe it is because the braces were also to be added to coupes that had the C60 AC option.
Attached is a picture of one of the braces on my 68 convertible with out AC.
JohnComment
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Re: 69 conv. under dash support braces
Not all 68 convertibles had the additonal bracing. My FEB built original owner 68 convertible with L79 small block does not have air conditioning and it does not have the additional bracing.Comment
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Re: 69 conv. under dash support braces
Thomas------Thanks to everyone who responded to my question. Seems like there is some confussion about these braces. Based on what I have heard maybe I do not need these braces on my car. My car does not have A/C, but it is a convertible. I saw these braces pictured in the Assembly Manual for a 69 Corvette and just assumed mine were missing. The mounting holes are all there and it makes since that a convertible might need the additional braces for more support than a T-top car. I think I will keep trying to locate these braces and install them. My car is also a big block car. Maybe they had more braces. Thanks again.
I think the circumstance of a convertible having the braces versus not having the braces applies only to 1968. If your car is a 1969 convertible, it originally had the braces.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 69 conv. under dash support braces
My analysis (support '68-69 JG + '70-72 JG team) was based on a review of the AIM books side by side. That revealed:
(1) '68 convertibles (whether SB or BB) had essentially the same under dash bracing system regardless of A/C equipped or not.
(2) When the '68 convertible WAS equipped with A/C, ONE RH underdash brace changed PN (allow clearance for the larger Harrison air box).
(3) For '69 & up, the bracing system was considerably different on convertibles.
(4) Those without A/C had one system (as shown on the base convertible car in the AIM) and another, more complex system for A/C equipped convertibles.
(5) Look-see verification of a handfull of 'untouched' cars confirmed the construction defined by the AIM books...Comment
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Re: 69 conv. under dash support braces
I'm with Jack on this one...spot on.KramdenComment
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Re: 69 conv. under dash support braces
While I agree with some of what Jack has concluded I also have to disagree with some of it as well.
I agree with Jack's on his points one and two. This is for cars built after early April 68 when the changes to the passenger side bracing came into production.
For point 3, 4, and 5, I'm not so sure.
I have both a 68 and a 69 convertible with out AC and they use the same bracing configuration. My 68 was built in April and my 69 in Dec 68. Attached are pictures of the braces on the two cars.
As you can see they have the bracing configuration that is the one shown in the 68 AIM in the general body section. I've attached a picture of it for reference.
I have seen this configuration on many 69s without AC.
Only explanation I have for the discrepancy with what is in the AIM shows is maybe the 68 bracing configuration for cars with out AC carried over into the 69 model year and was then changed some time during that model year.
Joe, you'll note one of my braces on my 69 is painted and the other is not.Comment
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