John Wright just reminded me to look at my album about ducting air from the
grille to the radiator:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6117-grille-to-radiator-duct.html
When I reviewed it I saw something that there may be folks need to know
about:
A frequent problem is broken ends on the filler panel beneath the grille.
That piece is secured with a flange on each end which is bolted to similar
flanges on the bottom of the fender's grille opening. Since those two
5/16" bolts and the rather flimsy flanges they secure are the only thing
restraining the bottoms of the fenders, they're often (usually?) broken.
Visible in one of the photos in my album is the simple fix/repair for that
problem: Acquire a "screen door turnbuckle", a couple of pieces of
all-thread rod (I use 5/16") to fit the turnbuckle, two big fender washers,
and a few nuts. Remove the headlight bezels and choose a location near the
center of the inner vertical side of each headlight bucket. Drill a hole
to fit the all-thread rod in each bucket.
Using the fender washers to distribute the loads inside the buckets,
assemble the turnbuckle, rods, and double nuts so that turning the
turnbuckle pulls the fenders in against the below-grille trim piece. With
the load relieved, the end brackets will be protected from damage after you
repair them (as will probably be needed).
If you choose to mount your grille with springs, that rod is also a handy
place to fasten those.
HTH,
Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI & EBL,
Manny Brakes & 1-Ton, etc., etc., etc.
www.gmcwipersetc.com
grille to the radiator:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6117-grille-to-radiator-duct.html
When I reviewed it I saw something that there may be folks need to know
about:
A frequent problem is broken ends on the filler panel beneath the grille.
That piece is secured with a flange on each end which is bolted to similar
flanges on the bottom of the fender's grille opening. Since those two
5/16" bolts and the rather flimsy flanges they secure are the only thing
restraining the bottoms of the fenders, they're often (usually?) broken.
Visible in one of the photos in my album is the simple fix/repair for that
problem: Acquire a "screen door turnbuckle", a couple of pieces of
all-thread rod (I use 5/16") to fit the turnbuckle, two big fender washers,
and a few nuts. Remove the headlight bezels and choose a location near the
center of the inner vertical side of each headlight bucket. Drill a hole
to fit the all-thread rod in each bucket.
Using the fender washers to distribute the loads inside the buckets,
assemble the turnbuckle, rods, and double nuts so that turning the
turnbuckle pulls the fenders in against the below-grille trim piece. With
the load relieved, the end brackets will be protected from damage after you
repair them (as will probably be needed).
If you choose to mount your grille with springs, that rod is also a handy
place to fasten those.
HTH,
Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI & EBL,
Manny Brakes & 1-Ton, etc., etc., etc.
www.gmcwipersetc.com
