66 Center Grill attaching point bracket Question

[Nick M.]

I am replacing my Radiator (Dewitts of course) and front Radiator support on my 66 vert.

Once I pulled those two items, I noticed that the Grill had been Baba'd into place. missing screws, Center top and bottom mounts not attached, other points, machine screws and nuts were used, the two front support rods weren't even bolted in place and were just hanging. I am glad no one put any force on the nose of my car.

In the photo below, is a riveted metal (to fiberglass lower valence)front center plate, which you screw the center bottom Grill mount into. This does not look right to me. For one, the Rivets holding the plate in place are newer and the plate looks to big.(almost home made)

Can someone please forward a photo of this area?

Also, from what you see, is anything else not correct.

I can see project creep coming on!!!!!!

I called LIC to ask the question if they carried a replacement correct center plate and he had no clue. in section 03, of the LIC cataloge, can anyone see where that plate would be located, so I can order it along with a long list of other items?

Thanks in advance.

[Joe R.]

Re: 66 Center Grill attaching point bracket Question

Nick,

Your going to need to visit a friend or make a friend that has a 66-67 Corvette. You are looking for something that doesn't exist! There are no plates for mounting those strut rods. They are mounted at the bottom of the radiator support with an "L" shaped bracket. They are different for SB's and BB's. The bottom center of the grille is mounted to the fiberglass with a "U" nut and screw. The top center of the grille is mounted via a rod to the front center of the headlight support close to the hood.

Sorry I don't have a picture but the assembly manual is what you need. It can be purchased thru the NCRS Cincy office.

JR

[John C.]

Re: 66 Center Grill attaching point bracket Question

Nick

Here is picture of how the grille should be attached to a tab in the fiberglass. U-nut is below the shims. That must of broken off an they came up with the home made plate you have.

John

grille tab.jpg

[Gene M.]

Re: 66 Center Grill attaching point bracket Question

Nick, It looks like the fiberglass tabs are broken off top and bottom. Your photo is too dark to see fine detail. The riveted on plate is bogus non original. That is were the bottom fiberglass tab should be.

[Matt L.]

Re: 66 Center Grill attaching point bracket Question

i hope this helps some. its a close up pic of the clip and screw on the bottom middle tab.
66 vette 021.jpg

take care,
matt

[Nick M.]

Re: 66 Center Grill attaching point bracket Question

Thank you all for the great info.

No wonder the gentleman at Long Island Corvette had no idea of what I was trying to explain to him.

I guess some fiberglass work is in order and I will order that clip and screw.

Now for the top center grill attachment point, would someone have a picture of how that is supposed to look like (a picture is worth a thousand words)?

The top grill mount is unattached and just sitting there.

[John C.]

Re: 66 Center Grill attaching point bracket Question

Nick

There should also be a fiberglass tab at the top. The grill mounting bolt goes through the tab and screws into a rod that come down from the front header. See attached pictures.

John

grill mount 1.jpggrill mount 2.jpg

[David L.]

Re: 66 Center Grill attaching point bracket Question

The 66 AIM (UPC 11-13, B3) does show the 3886883 reinforcement ("L" bracket on bottom) but not the 3897387 rod. The 67 AIM (UPC 11-13, B1) does show the 3897387 rod.

Dave



1966 (Small).JPG1967 (Small).JPG

[John H.]

Re: 66 Center Grill attaching point bracket Question

The 66 AIM (UPC 11-13, B3) does show the 3886883 reinforcement ("L" bracket on bottom)

Dave -

That "L" bracket is for the bottom end of the headlight opening support rod, not for the grille.

[Nick M.]

Re: 66 Center Grill attaching point bracket Question

Thank you all for the great responses and photos.

I have ordered all the missing pieces from LIC.

In attempting to recreate the tabs on the Top and Bottom, are there any suggestions on how to ensure a strong enough tab is created (Fiber glassing process)? As originally this was one large piece of fiberglass, I am afraid that just adding fiberglass and grinding it into required shape will not have enough structural integrity.

Thoughts?