Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Repair of trunk rear crossmember above rear axel help

Lost in the 60s · President

Email hasn't changed. Maybe you accidentally used the old one ending in visi ? new one is centurylink

That crossmember has tabs on the ends that weld to the inner wheel houses. If you don't want to get involved with whatever you find there, I would section the rusted area of the crossmember and the front floor flange under it, as I mentioned in an earlier email. Cleaning of loose rust, rust conversion application and brushed on epoxy sealer will prevent further decay of the crossmember.

One positive to replacing the entire piece is, you could address the rust between the member and floor flange, but, again, you may open a new can of worms at the wheel houses. That could be a plus also, as then it would all be done correctly.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

I used the new century link one st. Just tried to send one this morning and it was rejected.

Lost in the 60s · President

jim larson wrote:
I used the new century link one st. Just tried to send one this morning and it was rejected.

Don't know... I'm getting email notifications of posts.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

I was trying to send you some YouTube links for trunk/floor/quarter panel replacements from Allison Customs, maybe that is the problem?

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

I might have a chunk left over from a white 66 sport sedan I cut up.

I will look this week.

FREE!

Karl

jim larson · 2K+ Club

more ambition than brains wrote:
I might have a chunk left over from a white 66 sport sedan I cut up.
I will look this week.
FREE!
Karl

Thanks Karl.

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

Have floor chunk, nice dry piece.
Crossmember was cut out.
See Pictures, still free!

Mitch and Randy L. got the remnants of an ElCamino that may have the crossmember.
Mitch used the cowl stuff.
This shell came from coastal Texas, roof was junk, box was not too bad.

Randy needed some pieces for his Elky.

Karl

Lost in the 60s · President

That would still give him a patch panel to put back over the channel repair. Randy would have what was left of the channel. If I remember right, some of it was cut off on the left side.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Thanks Karl. I can use that to patch the left and right corners. We are going to Phoenix for a month, leaving next Sunday. It would be better If I can pick it up after we get back in late January or early February. Is that OK, if not I can drive us sometime this week. Some wheel house issues also.

On another note Mitch, for some reason my emails to you have not being derived, the reason stated is that century has rejected them because they contain spam. But emails from my phone go through.

-- Edited by jim larson on Monday 12th of December 2016 05:56:30 PM

-- Edited by jim larson on Monday 12th of December 2016 07:03:55 PM

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

Will you be back for the Bow Tie Brunch? Jan 21st
Can have it there, maybe Randy will be there, I have a pillar piece for him also.
If he is, perhaps the two of you can figure something out on the actual crossmember.
Looks look wheelhouse is a fairly simple patch using fresh material of similar thickness.

Karl

jim larson · 2K+ Club

more ambition than brains wrote:
Will you be back for the Bow Tie Brunch? Jan 21st
Can have it there, maybe Randy will be there, I have a pillar piece for him also.
If he is, perhaps the two of you can figure something out on the actual crossmember.
Looks look wheelhouse is a fairly simple patch using fresh material of similar thickness.

Karl

Expect to be back at end of Jan. Don't have an exact date as were are going to visit and stay with our daughter and her family. We usually visit in Feb; but she wanted us for Christmas as we have a new granddaughter whom arrived in November. Maybe her husband will kick us out earlier. I will let you know if I am back early enough to make the Bow Tie Brunch; but I don't think so at this time. I will have to get in touch when we get back and make arrangements.

Thats the only part of the wheelhouse that looks to need repair. Two new quarters were put on prior to paint work in 1994; it would have been nice if they addressed this area along with the crossmember at that time.

Lost in the 60s · President

more ambition than brains wrote:
Will you be back for the Bow Tie Brunch? Jan 21st
Can have it there, maybe Randy will be there, I have a pillar piece for him also.
If he is, perhaps the two of you can figure something out on the actual crossmember.
Looks look wheelhouse is a fairly simple patch using fresh material of similar thickness.

Karl

From the pics he sent me, I've suggested repairing the crossmember flange and not replacing it.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Just talked to Randy about the crossmember. I was a little confused, is the crossmember of an el camino the same as for the 2dr coupe or the pieces I would need the same?

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

I would be surprised if they were way different, all body mounts from that location forward are in the same place.
Elcamino passenger floor is same as passenger car. they just added the bed floor from there back.
A good fabricator could deal with the crossmember, and, as stated, use my piece to cover floor.
Where the holes are drilled in mine is the location of junction of passenger and trunk or bed floor.
The "smugglers" box area even still has the brackets for rear seat and nuts for seat belts.

That is why I am fairly confident the crossmembers are the same.

Karl

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

P.S. no rush on my end!
Karl

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Thanks Karl for offer to holding the trunk floor for me. Randy said he most likely will attend the Bow Tie Brunch. And he would give the crossmember to you or Mitch. Would that be OK with you guys?

Lost in the 60s · President

jim larson wrote:
Thanks Karl for offer to holding the trunk floor for me. Randy said he most likely will attend the Bow Tie Brunch. And he would give the crossmember to you or Mitch. Would that be OK with you guys?

If all you are replacing/repairing of the crossmember is the piece cut out in the pic, you don't need it from Randy. That can be cut from a piece of 16 gauge and welded onto the crossmember and then plug welded down to the repaired floor pan.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

I am not a welder, so a friend offered to do the welding if it works out. He suggested I get a crossmember ( new or used), and that we should cut the old crossmember horizontally for about 10" on so along the bottom rear edge of the crossmember leaving about 1/4 of and inch. Then he would cut out a piece to lay on top of that edge and the edge of the rear floor flange. So he could get a good weld at the rear floor flange and a good weld at the rear edge of the bottom of crossmember and then butt weld the remains 2" along the bottom of the new cut piece to the bottom edge of the old of center piece. Then that piece would have the lip that extends down that is spot welded to the floor flange and the wheelhouse as that piece is broken off on the drivers side. That was his preference.

Mitch are you saying to just lay a L shaped piece about 10" long on top of the rear floor flange, weld it to the floor flange and then weld it to the bottom edge of the crossmember for the 10", weld the broken tab back on to the crossmember?

I was thinking that if Randy was not going to use the crossmember, That having it on hand would give me more options, depending upon what I decided to do and who I can get to do the welding. And maybe it would have good cage nuts as I need those. Or I could just order a new one, I see Goodmark sell one and also Golden Star.

cart.php https://www.carid.com/

-- Edited by jim larson on Tuesday 13th of December 2016 06:31:38 PM

Lost in the 60s · President

Yeah, it won't hurt to get it from Randy. I don't remember if the bolts came out of the nuts OK.

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

If Randy is willing to cut it out, it is important he cut well beyond edges of crossmember.
Smugglers box just above seat belt nuts set in floor.
Bed floor about 4-6 inches behind crossmember.
Wheelhouse may be similar in crossmember area, so cutting further out and well up into wheelhouse leaves some extra material for patching your wheelhouse.

Karl

-- Edited by more ambition than brains on Tuesday 13th of December 2016 08:10:58 PM

-- Edited by more ambition than brains on Tuesday 13th of December 2016 08:12:45 PM

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

Some Pictures of both

Note Seat belt fastener location. Inner wheel house is different style, truck is smooth and heavier material.

Passenger floor pan IS same in both vehicles. difference is trunk floor or bed floor, confident crossmember is the same due to body mount and passenger floor locations/overlap.

Hope this helps,

Karl

-- Edited by more ambition than brains on Thursday 15th of December 2016 11:24:12 AM

jim larson · 2K+ Club

That 4 dr hardtop is coming along nicely!

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

Look familiar?

It has your wheels and tires on it.

Karl

jim larson · 2K+ Club

more ambition than brains wrote:
Look familiar?
It has your wheels and tires on it.

Karl

Now that you mention it, I forgot that you got rims and tires from me.

On another Note, I talked to Randy yesterday. He is going to cut the crossmember out as you suggested and drop it off at the Bow Tie Brunch. I told him to give it to you as I am getting the top rear floor pan from you when I get back from AZ. Hope that is OK with you. Here are the latest two photos from the drivers side.

-- Edited by jim larson on Thursday 22nd of December 2016 11:12:39 AM

-- Edited by jim larson on Thursday 22nd of December 2016 11:14:02 AM

-- Edited by jim larson on Thursday 22nd of December 2016 11:14:59 AM

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Making some progress. Everything is cut out, now just cleaning and getting ready for welding. It is turning out to be more time consuming than I anticipated. Hopefully car will be drivable by spring. Karl, I just sent you a PM regarding the floor section.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Mitch installed the crossmember at the club meeting. The he patched the wheel wells and trunk floor section this Yesterday and Tomorrow. Thanks again the a great guy. Chevelle is home in Lake city and ready to finish and put back on the road this spring. A couple of photos from the job.

-- Edited by jim larson on Tuesday 21st of March 2017 07:02:12 PM

Chris S · Active Member

Looks great Jim. You guys made a lot of progress since I left on Saturday. Thanks for the pics.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

I undercoated the wheelhouse's and found some original 1st design springs for the 66 SS and had them stripped and powder coated. There were about 1" taller and the coil diameter was 5/8" instead of the 1/2" coil that came with the car. It has raised the opening of the wheel well about 3" and I am not sure because I seem to have misplaced my previous measurements, look much better.