Early 1966 Grille Center Support Rods ("Pencil Rod" Brace)

[Tom D.]

[Donald H.]

Re: Early 1966 Grille Center Support Rods ("Pencil Rod" Brace)

I don't have a definitive answer, but the 66 AIM UPC 11-13 sheet B1 (PDF) attached shows the support rod from the top of the grille to the upper nose support structure was added to the drawing 12-3-65

Don

[Tom D.]

Re: Early 1966 Grille Center Support Rods ("Pencil Rod" Brace)

Donald: Someone called to say early could be defined as before that date. His early '66 never had a center grille brace, only a screw into a u-nut (or j-nut?) that was attached to the fiberglass tab.

[Mike B.]

Re: Early 1966 Grille Center Support Rods ("Pencil Rod" Brace)

Good Morning Tom,

When I bought my '66 back in the '80s the front bumpers had been removed as were other things. The upper grill support rod was also missing. For a long time I assumed that Bubbuh had taken off with it too. I even bought one to replace it.

Then later on, during front end work at the body shop I discovered that my header bar's rear center hole was smooth bore. No evidence of a screw ever being used there. And there was no evidence that a rod had rested up against the hole either. This leads me to believe that my car didn't have this brace bar. Looking at Don's posted AIM shot, see the circled note #7 pointing to "Existing Hole".

My car, VIN #72XX was final assembled on December 1st, 1965. This is right on the cusp of when this drawing was introduced.

Cheers, Mike

[Tom D.]

Re: Early 1966 Grille Center Support Rods ("Pencil Rod" Brace)

Thanks very much. I am not pretty sure that #2999 should not have one.

[Mike B.]

Re: Early 1966 Grille Center Support Rods ("Pencil Rod" Brace)

I've got a related question here. I've always wondered what the screw looked like (and measurements) that attached this rod to the header bar. I've got some ideas, but I'm not sure. See this same AIM page UPC 11-13, sheet B1, part #9419727. Anyone?

Mike

[Tom D.]

Re: Early 1966 Grille Center Support Rods ("Pencil Rod" Brace)

I think it is a "self taping" 1/4-20 bolt. The head is "flanged head" which is a hex, with a not to big, integrated flange. The head mark is inside a recessed area on the head.

You don't really need the self taping function, if a bolt has been there before. Think I have a photo of what Paragon offers somewhere. Their number is 3744, as I recall. LICS sold me one in a kit, and I think it was "WB" on a the recessed head (on their offering).