69 Front End Bracing?

[Michael M.]

I have my 68 going into the paint shop today. I am having some of the front end panels replaced and someone on this Board mentioned that in 69 GM added extra bracing to the front end to prevent sagging. My car is a driver and I would like to add this additional bracing but I don't know what was done, or what parts were added, etc.

Can anyone help me? Thanks.

[Henry J.]

Re: 69 Front End Bracing?

Michael:

Look at a Paragon catalog (page 108) or visit Paragon's website to investigate their item #2036K. This may be (part of) what you are looking for.

My February-built 68 does not have this brace.

[Michael M.]

Re: 69 Front End Bracing?

Thanks Henry. I'll check it out.

[John C.]

Re: 69 Front End Bracing?

Michael

View B from the attached 1969 AIM shows the side nose supports added for that year. You will need to change the header bar on the hood surround for the brackets to have a place to bolt to. If your car has TI adding the brackets will also force the relocation of the amplifier slightly on the front wheel well.

During the 1968 model year the center nose support was also changed. Early 1968 cars had a center support but it was a different style. See attached picture. Late cars had the rod style support Henry references.


John

[Wayne W.]

Re: 69 Front End Bracing?

Really don't have to change the header bar. The brackets do the holding, the bolt just locates the bracket on the header. A simple sheet metal screw will do fine there. Drill a hole and let the sheet metal screw do the threading.

[Terry M.]

Re: 69 Front End Bracing?

Then there is the addition of a lip to the fiberglass of the front surround at the corner of the hood opening. Way back in the old days (even before the black background of the tech board) someone posted pictures of this "feature" that was added to 1969s to strengthen the hood surround and prevent stress cracking at the hood corner opening.

[Michael M.]

Re: 69 Front End Bracing?

John, that picture was very helpful. Could you also please post the page from the '69 AIM that shows the center support rods and how they attach? It would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

Also, I am replacing the top surround with a GM NOS piece but it is not form '68 as the header bar support is glued on (no rivets). I suspect this part will have the needed mounting holes, etc.

[John C.]

Re: 69 Front End Bracing?

Michael

Here is the page from the AIM that shows the center support rod. The scan is from the 68 AIM as my copy of that year is much cleaner. The rod mounts the same both years.

John

[Michael M.]

Re: 69 Front End Bracing?

Thanks John. So it looks like there was only 1 center support rod. For some reason I thought there were 2 on the 69's.

I have an early '68 built in November, 67. Is the center rod support better than the older style. Could I use both? Just curious. I want to provide as much support as possible for the front end. Thanks again for your help.

[John C.]

Re: 69 Front End Bracing?

Michael

You can't use both as they attach to the same location on the front steel reinforcement beam. If you have the complete early center support I would just leave it as is. I don't think the rod style offers any improvement in support when finished. The advantage of the rod support as I see it is that it is simpler and it can be installed as soon as the radiator core support is in place in the body. The body does not have to be on the car. The early 68 style can only be installed once body is on the car and the frame front cross member is in place.

John