1959 Cowl Support Frame damage w/ pictures, advice?

[Michael A.]

Recently removed a front end clip that was beyond repair, and it appears the cowl support frame is bent in two locations. Looking at pictures found elsewhere seems to confirm that the areas shown below need to be straightened before a new front end is put on. Any comments or advice? Thanks!
cs1.jpgcs3.jpgcs4.jpgcs5.jpg

[Richard M.]

Re: 1959 Cowl Support Frame damage w/ pictures, advice?

Michael,

I would temporarily line up and install the FE to the body, then using the underdash as a guide, align and then bend the damaged parts to line up with the appropriate areas.

On many cars, I have seen Phillips Head screws used to hold the reinforcements in position under the dash, screwed in from the top windshield/lower frame channel "groove". You may see holes in your reinforcement where they were originally. BTW, those big elongated holes in yours are for the T-bolts.

Rich

[Michael A.]

Re: 1959 Cowl Support Frame damage w/ pictures, advice?

Thanks for the help, Rich. Also, Phillips head screws were used on this car just as you described.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1959 Cowl Support Frame damage w/ pictures, advice?

Ah, yes I see the screws in your pictures now, I missed them before.

It's good yours is a '59, as all reinforcements were originally aluminum, bolted together with 1/4-20 bolts, but changed late '59 sometime, not sure when.....to welded steel for the remainder of C1 production. I've had to repair several steel reinforced cars due to rust. Rockers are prone to rust as well as the door hinge pillar supports. A few pics below.

This may not help too much, because I installed a one-piece hand laid FE on a '59 a few years ago, but this link has some pictures of the skirts and other bonding areas that might help.....Here. Unfortunately, the owner, who's a friend, didn't want to do it right by using a press molded FE as you are. PM FE's are more expensive, but it turned out to be more work and cost with the HL FE in the end, as much additional labor was required to "make it fit". It turned out to be a wash cost wise.

A very important area to double check is the hood alignment to the forward surround. You need to be sure the hood will sit slightly below the surround before you bond the FE to the skirts. This way you can adjust the hinges to raise the hood up to the surround. I have some info in the link above, same as for HL or PM FE's. There is not much hood adjustment in the hinges by design.

Rich

Hinge pillar info.....

1959 Aluminum
P8140002.jpg

1960 rusted steel - missing floor pieces
P8140014.jpg

Self-abricated brace & reinforcement for "bolt-in" repair
P8140020.jpg

Finished repair
P8140031.jpg

[Michael A.]

Re: 1959 Cowl Support Frame damage w/ pictures, advice?

Thanks again for the helpful information, Rich. We actually came across your website when initially researching replacement front end options, and the fit issues you describe made the decision to go with press molded much easier. No doubt youll see some more questions here about this project!

[Richard M.]

Re: 1959 Cowl Support Frame damage w/ pictures, advice?

Your welcome Michael, I'm glad it was helpful.

If you'd ever like to speak live some time....just drop me a email through the PM system here with your phone# and a good time to call and we can talk. I'm in Kissimmee FL right now at the Winter Regionals and won't be back home until Sunday. I'm pretty busy during the weekdays with my Corvette work projects but free in the evenings for a little "overtime". I'm in FL....EST.

Rich