I'm restoring my '66 convertible and I'm in the process of assembling the headlight support rod that mounts between the body near the headlight opening and the "L" shaped bracket that has a weld nut on one end of the bracket and a hole on the other end. The orientation of this bracket has got me confused. The assembly manual shows that the lower end of the "L" bracket should be facing toward the front of the car. My problem is that when I do that I can't get it to line up with the holes in the core support or the valance and since the angle on the bracket doesn't line up with the angle on the core support. If the lower end of the bracket were pointing towards the rear of the car the holes line up. Is the assembly manual wrong or am I just doing something wrong here?
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Bob Puls, 30633 -
Re: 66 Support Rod "L" Bracket Installation
I was confused by the AIM and had a similar confusion with a 67 BB. When I got a car here there was no screw through the lower valence up into the brackets. The valence was replaced(generic 63-67 GM replacement years ago). To get it to fit, I had to mount the L bracket rearward and drill a hole in the replacement valence to line up, done both sides.
Ah, I see John said the AIM is wrong.Comment
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Re: 66 Support Rod "L" Bracket Installation
So what's the rest of the story?
The 63&64AIM shows bracket facing forward which is how my car is assembled, see picture. Know the set up in this area got modified due in part to radiator change (BB stuff???). The brackets are very different, the 64 being an "L" shape.
So the AIM print never got updated (not the first time). Is the backwards direction & bracket shape change for 1965 on??Comment
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Re: 66 Support Rod "L" Bracket Installation
Not saying it's gospel, but Corvette Central shows 2 different L brackets. One for 63-65, one for 66-67. So maybe they install rearward only on 66-67. My '63 was definitely facing forward as your 64 shows.
442111 63-65
442121 66-67
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Re: 66 Support Rod "L" Bracket Installation
They changed for '66-'67, as the angle of the radiator support changed from '65, moving the bottom of the support forward relative to the lower valance panel, and they didn't pick that up in the A.I.M. illustration.Comment
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Re: 66 Support Rod "L" Bracket Installation
And for 66-67 there will be two holes on each side of the panel. One (the rear) is not used.Comment
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Re: 66 Support Rod "L" Bracket Installation
Yup - photo below shows what a '66-'67 should look like.
67Cutout.JPGComment
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Re: 66 Support Rod "L" Bracket Installation
Assume that became the generic replacement panel for 63-67 cars.
Is there a reason for the cut out in the area of the recess for the bumper bracket?
(keep learning)Comment
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Re: 66 Support Rod "L" Bracket Installation
This TBS may help. I don't think the '66 TIM&JG covers this configuration.
TSB '66 Nose Brace.jpgComment
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Re: 66 Support Rod "L" Bracket Installation
I dont know of any explanation given for the cut out, but I suspect it is for access to the bolt. The cut out began with the radiator angle change.Comment
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Re: 66 Support Rod "L" Bracket Installation
John,thanks I was browsing the site and looked into the discussion not realizing what I was about to learn.
I took my "66" coupe apart the other day (1978 to be exact).At that time I was doing a job for a local plating co.
I was forever taking small parts over to be plated,Well this article shed light on two brackets that have been in my MISC.
parts box ever since 1978.I now know where they go and will install when the weather gets a little warmer up here.
P.S. my brackets have a slight offset near the lower portion of the arm with the mounting hole,and the short leg with the welded nut is at 90 degrees to the long leg.
Francis
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