Rear Body Filler Panel Attaching Reinforcement Plates -1970

[Clark E.]

The bottom edge of body panel below the rear light assemblies on each side has two indentations with three holes for small steel plates. Each plate is held to the body panel by two rivets. The center hole is for the screw that holds the filler panel to the body. Two questions: (1) Do the steel plates attach to the underside of the body panel so that only the rivet heads are visible from the rear of the vehicle and, (2) are the visible rivet heads painted the body color or left natural? Thanks...Clark

[Edward J.]

Re: Rear Body Filler Panel Attaching Reinforcement Plates -1970

Clarke, the plates are attached to the underside, and not sure about the paint on the rivit heads but would say they were painted , I don't believe that you can see them any way once the exhaust panel is in place.

[Clark E.]

Re: Rear Body Filler Panel Attaching Reinforcement Plates -1970

Thanks Ed. You're correct, the rivets are behind the filler panel once installed and are not visible...Clark

[Wayne W.]

Re: Rear Body Filler Panel Attaching Reinforcement Plates -1970

Now the question, were they painted? They were on the body at painting, but if the body was done the same way the midyears were done, the panel was bolted on during paint. That would mean the rivots were not painted.

[Kurt G.]

Re: Rear Body Filler Panel Attaching Reinforcement Plates -1970

On my untouched '72 the rivets are painted body color, although 41 years has worn most of it off.