How to make a 68 Radiator Support Panle from a 69?

[gkesseru]

From previous links I learned the I could make a 68 rad support panel from a 69 by grinding off the extra bucket bracket. That being done, the panel now does not have the rolled inside lip that the bracket had. Should this be done to set the bucket back a little further. Also, the hole in the panel seems to be oblong (not round) while the 69 hole was round. There does not seem to be enough flat area straight up from the hole to drill and make the square hole for the adjuster.
How should this look?
Does anyone have a 67-68 panel that they could show a close-up?

[gkesseru]

Here's the picture of the flat panel and front and back views of the old extra bracket that I ground off. Notice that the bracket had a large flat area above the hole for the square adjuster hole while the flat panel does not.

[gkesseru]

Let's pop this back to Page 1 so someone may answer it......

[my67c20]

Funny that you be looking for photos. Just got mine blasted and primed today. This is off a 67. Hope this helps.

[gkesseru]

Thanks. Exactly what I was looking for. Looks like inner lip is rolled over and that the opening is round. I'm going to blow this picture up to actual size and use as a template.

[gkesseru]

For those of you that want to make a 67-68 radiator support from a 69-72 panel, yes it's possible, but it's not straight forward. I ground off the extra bracket to reveal the panel behind it. So far so good. Problem now is that the headlight hole in the support panel is not round and it is not located in the right place. Here's a couple of shots with the grill mounted showing the problem. Compare the headlight hole with the black one shown in previous reply. This one is definitely off center. I plan on flattening the bracket I ground off and spot welding it in the right place. I'll post pictures after that is done.

[gkesseru]

Here''s the steps for converting 69-72 support panel to a 68 in pictures.
1. grind off old support adapter. 4" hole was then way off.
2. flatten old bracket and trim off excess
3. mount bucket into flattened bracket and use to mark new hole
4. grind/cut new 4" hole. drill holes for alignment screws and file square.
5. assemble bucket, headlight and retainer. loosely place and hold in place with trim ring.
6. use wedges to hold assembly centered in hole.
7. drill holes and use sheet metal screws from behind to hold flattened bracket in alignment
8. you may leave fastened with screws or later weld in place.

[C10NEWGUY]

I know this is an old thread but I'm wanting to do this conversion however I am curious how the hood latch and support from the 67/68 mount up to the 69 rad support?
Posted via Mobile Device

[Danny Bost]

Originally Posted by C10NEWGUY

I know this is an old thread but I'm wanting to do this conversion however I am curious how the hood latch and support from the 67/68 mount up to the 69 rad support?
Posted via Mobile Device

I don't think that there was an issue at all on the latch. I don't even remember which one I used, but I know that it works. I still haven't done the headlights though, I keep hoping to find a good 67-68 support that I can afford.