[Super_Dave]

Day two was supposed to be an install day. However...

I unpacked the core support that LMC had delivered. One quick glance told me I was screwed again. The core support was supposed to be year specific for the 73-74... but the integrated braces for the grill supports were straight as an arrow from the bottom of the core support to the top... not slanted at the top half to allow mounting of the grill! Also missing, were the holes for the grill supports adjacent to the headlight buckets... and several other needed holes.

I went online and it seems LMC, Summit, etc all use the same image for the "73-74" core supports but the support is never going to work if you want to mount your grill.

So... I laid the old core support, with the cancer in the lower left from 40+ years of battery leaking, next to the LMC piece of imported crap, and after much head scratching, deduced that the only way to keep the project on track and maximize the use of the free shop, was to to use the LMC Crap Core Support as $150 patch panel.

I called my welding buddy and 'splained my predicament. He said he would look it over if I could get over to his shop post haste. We laid out the core supports, and after looking over a number of alternatives, determined that the profiles of the bends at the base of the LMC Crap Core was close enough, that we could cut a 4" x 16" corner off the bottom left and splice it where the cancer would be cut away on the OEM core. However....

Erick insisted that both ares on both cores be sandblasted and completely rust free... Hell yes, why not?! So, back to the "free shop" with both core supports in tow. The shop truck was loaded up with core supports, inner fenders, hood latches, core support valance, new battery tray, front bumper (back side was showing rust)... heater core box, etc... and made ready for for a sandblasting trip.