inner fender support bracket question

[Bryan_Tenn]

I have a 72 & the RH inner fender & rad core support is shot so I have a complete setup from a 74 in great shape.

I've read all the articles & info posted here about what holes to drill, etc.. I also read that you have to use the cab brackets from the 74 as they are more narrow. I assumed just where the inner fender sits is more narrow but now I see the actual bolt holes don't line up

SOOOO, my question is, do I need to just line up the 2 on the outside & modify the 74 bracket (extend it) so the bolt hole on the inside lines up?

I was just gonna cut the 74 bracket, & cut my original, & weld the piece from my original onto the 74 to extend it out to where all 3 bolt holes line up.

Am I on the right track?

[sargentrs]

I would mock it up with a fender bolted to the inner fender, line up the bumps, and see where it falls before I cut, weld or drill anything.

[Bryan_Tenn]

well, this is pretty cut & dry without mocking anything up. The bolt holes on the bracket don't line up with the bolt holes on the firewall. The 73-79 brackets are narrower than 67-72. So I dont need to mock anything up to see this has to be modified

[Bryan_Tenn]

I just want to make sure im doing the right thing before I cut up my original set of brackets to modify the 74 brackets

[sargentrs]

Might want to take another look at how those brackets bolt in. I could be wrong but aren't the nuts where the original brackets bolt in "captured" somehow behind the cowl? If you drill new holes you won't be able to get in there with nuts or anything?

[Bryan_Tenn]

exactly. So I cant drill new holes in the cab, I have to modify my bracket to line up with those holes

[sargentrs]

Yep. I get where you're going now. Good luck and let us see how it comes out. I'm sure several people will be interested.

[Bryan_Tenn]

well I guess the way I was thinking is the only way to do it. Its got dark on me so I will try to mess with it tomorrow.

[Bryan_Tenn]

I know theres a lot of info on here & complete articles on the 73-79 inner fender swap, and I've seen it written here that the 73-79 hood hinges & mount brackets must be used but "with some modifications" is all I've seen. I just don't see any other way to do it but extend the brackets about an inch

[Bryan_Tenn]

when I say extend I mean make the bracket on the inside wider so the inside lone bolt hole lines up

[Bryan_Tenn]

well, I just cut the brackets & welded them, looks okay. I would post pics if i knew how

I laid the 72 down on paper & traced it so that is the pattern of the 3 cab nuts

Then I lined up the 2 vertical holes on the 74 bracket & traced it over it. That showed me exactly how much I needed to widen it

I cut right down the center of the hole on the 74 bracket & the complete hole on the 72, welded it up acoording to my pattern, blended it, sandblasted it, looks good. Well, it will work anyway lets put it that way

[Bryan_Tenn]

[img]

there seemed to be some confusion as to what I was talking about, I know I dont always use the right lingo, sorry

heres one i found on google. the 73-79 bracket/support is narrower so doesnt line up with the 72. So I cut the lone hole to the inside off each bracket & made it wider where it bolts to the cab

well I see that image didnt post

[fordman]

ive seen pics of this. They just used the two outer bolt holes on the outer side. They left the inner on float with no bolt.