I am beginning restoration of a 74 that my mom bought when she was 19. I am stuck now as I need to find a radiator support. Ours is rusted out from leaky battery acid. I can find other years...but no 74 listed. Are they different from the other 2nd gen years? i didnt think they would be.

any ideas please let me know! I need one.

other tips on resto welcome...including how to get the old control arm bushings OUT of the control arms!

 

try calling the local wrecking yards. on the bushings i have never changed but i think they are pressed in. see if u can find a dealer shop manual for your yr and model. like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CAMAR...#ht_2730wt_958

 

Looks like they're tough to find,according to this '74-'77 are the same.
http://books.google.com/books?id=jEJ...sult&resnum=13

You might see your local Chevy dealer if you still have one (better hurry) they may have new old stock still available, although likely spendy it will be the real deal and not some crappy Chinese made knockoff.
They should be able to search other dealers,maybe you can turn one up.

 

The 75-77 show up from time to time on craigs list as parts cars. You might fine one on an old race car many of those are solid since they have not seen salt and title less. I hope you don't need quarters for it. You can not get full quarters for a 74.

Infact if it is a manual transmission car you should just give up and let me know where to pick it up. I had a 74 in High school I have a real soft spot for them.
Good luck.

 

The 74 core supports are hard to find and I've kept my eye out for one for about a year now. I've seen only one on ebay in that time when I've been looking but was outbid on it. I think it sold for 400+ but it was in great condition. Not a NOS part but close to it.

 

thanks everyone.
I have that book and now see the supports are intercahngable through later years.

I dont need FULL quarters, but wil need patches/half quarter panel repair/replacement. I have seen the lower quarter panels for sale.
Need door skins, and those quarter parts, nothing on the top half needs any repair.

i know i will be running into new snags everyday...now i know I can count on a little help here.

(i got those bushings out) Its sandblast, paint, and reassemble the front end soon, then moving on to the rear end rebuild.

 

i got a radiator support off of a car i bought for parts. i bought a complete Z28 minus engine, tranny, and title for 500 bucks on craigslist. it was well worth the money to buy a parts car because i used everything off of it and the parts were Z28.

buying a parts car would be your best bet, not only for a radiator support, but for the whole restoration!

 

How bad is the rust? it might be worth having that one repaired if it's not too far gone.

 

The rust is really bad. The body mount is about obliterated on the battery side.
Got a new question for you all...I bought a grill from classic industries and it has no original bolt holes to mount the emblem up front. Common find? They DO make correct grills right?

Thanks for the help - I'll keep my eyes open for a parts car.

 

the emblem does not go on the grill. it goes on the header panel (the thing that holds the grill).