The core support on my car is 100% solid, but one of the headlight buckets is slightly "tweaked". The whole support is also covered with a thick undercoating which I believe is over 30 years old. I see that these core supports are now available and wonder if it is a better solution than having mine stripped. By the time it is all said and done, the new support will not cost much more than restoring mine. Here are my questions:

1. How accurate are these reproductions?

2. Are the reproductions for a big-block car, or are they universal?

3. My car also has air - are there differences?

4. How good is the finish? Do they still need to be painted?

5. Anyone install one on a '68? How was the fit?

Thanks

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1968 Chevelle SS396 - Yellow 4 speed, air, factory Buick interior
1998 Camaro Z28 - 6 speed
1999 Nissan Maxima SE - 5 speed
2000 Passat Wagon - 5 speed tip

I've been told that the core bolts up nicely untill you install the headlights. Supposedly, the headlights aren't located evenly causing some problems with the grill/ headlight bezels.



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Jason Babal
69 Chevelle SS
3100lbs. W/O driver

The Car Thehttp://www.chevelles.com/showroom/igotta71launch8.JPG (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/igotta71launch8.JPG)

<A HREF="http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/igotta7110.jpg" TARGET=_blank>The Man
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/igotta7110.jpg</A>

http://www.camaro1.com

I'm also looking for a rad support for my '68 'Camino.

Have heard the aftermarket repro is made from thin sheetmetal. I've not seen one, though.

If at all possible, I would keep the original. I bought a repro for my '69 and found that one of the mounting brackets were welded on crooked and the holes for the wiring harness to pass through was all wrong. One side didn't have a hole and the other side had a small hole instead of the correct size. Drilling out large holes through metal isn't easy! I completely destroyed a hole saw in the process.

They had the 4 holes w/nuts for the big block radiator top but if you have a 3 hole small block radiator lid like me, your out of luck! I guess they think we all have AC or big blocks?

These repro supports are of course made in Taiwan so that pretty much sums up the sheet metal quality.

Take the $125+ dollars and have your's sandblasted and refinished. A good soaking in some solvent will remove that undercoating. I bet the metal under that is mint condition!
You'll be much happier. Like this guy---&gt; http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

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Bob (Pa.)

1963 Impala 283
1966 Chevelle SS 409
1969 Malibu 307
1972 Malibu 307
1969 C10 stepside 350
1971 Cheyenne 20 3/4 ton
Somebody stop me... http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

Looking for Chevelle or Impala parts? Click here:
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[This message has been edited by mr409 (edited 12-13-2001).]