Holes in inner fender original?

[James B.]

I have attached a pic of the passenger side inner fender on my '67 small block coupe (A O Smith). There are two holes about 3/8" dia. roughly 3" below the drip rail for the plastic ties for the rad to expansion tank hose. About midway down there are 4 holes roughly 1/8" in dia. that form a rectangle. My restorer (friend) questions whether these were original but isn't sure. I have looked through the JG and don't see anything that covers this. Can anyone help? If original were they punched for A/C (my car does not have)? Will appreciate any help, thanks, Jim BakerIMG_0901.jpg

[Leif A.]

Re: Holes in inner fender original?

Could be for the bolts that hold the clamps that contain the lines from the evaporator core on A/C cars...they look similar to where my clamps are installed on my '67 A/C coupe.

[Stephen L.]

Re: Holes in inner fender original?

The AIM (C60 D7) shows 2 clamps for the A/C hoses in this area. 19/64 dia., 3.13 in apart x 2

[Jim S.]

Re: Holes in inner fender original?

Not sure about a 67, but here are the holes and location of my two clamps on a 66 A.O.S. body . Not that close to where your holes are if I am seeing them correctly .To me it looks like 2 holes in the area of my coolant hoses clamp , and 2 indents not drilled , closer to the firewall .

At any rate here is a pic for your perusal. However I don't think They drilled all the holes if the car didn't call for A/C

Jim






Jim

[James B.]

Re: Holes in inner fender original?

Stephen, good sleuthing, I didn't think to look for C60 in AIM. Looks like that is what they are for. My car never had air (2 owners & I have talked to them both) & was never hit or modified so I am assuming AO smithy 1967 just punched the holes in all inner fenders for the addition of AC. Thanks

[John H.]

Re: Holes in inner fender original?

The only holes drilled in the RH inner fender by the molding source on every panel were the two holes for the radiator balance hose push-in retainers, and the (4) rivet holes for the expansion tank mounting bracket. The other holes related to A/C for clamping of the heater and refrigerant hoses were drilled at assembly at St. Louis, only on A/C cars. The four "mystery" holes appear to be exactly the same size and pattern used for an MSD 6AL ignition control box.

[James B.]

Re: Holes in inner fender original?

John, thank-you. My restorer has come to the same conclusion and pointed out the dimples that would have been drilled had it been an A/C car. I will call second owner; he never mentioned MSD. Oh well, just a little more fiberglass work to do. Thanks again, Jim B