The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Dash to Firewall Brace question

Stovebolters;
The previous owner decided to cut out the brace that goes between the firewall and the dash just below the gauges. Does anyone know if that brace was bolted to the dash? Or was it welded to the dash? I didn't notice that the brace held anything in place except for the dash and a few wires - is the brace structural?

Either way, does the dash need to come out in order to put that brace back into its proper position?

Thanks for the advice!

Bruce

Oops! Should have mentioned that its a 1950 3800.

Thx

The brace is bolted between the cowl and dash, not welded. It acts as a support in the column area and minimizes dash flexing. There are two style of braces. Double rods or a stamped steel member. I am not knowledgeable as to what a 3800 would have.

So my 3800 had the stamped steel member. While the previous owner cut the brace out of the dash, for some reason they felt good about just leaving it hanging under the dash. Given this truck isn't going to see a lot of heavy action in the future maybe I'll look for the double-rods as they might be easier to put back in and leave a little more room under the dash.

Thanks for the info Drew!

Bruce, the brace is a TIGHT fit in most cases. It can even be aggravating. The bolts which attach it to the firewall, on my 52 Panel, were the culprits. They were hard to get out, as if spot welded in the little square holes.
You can do it but be paient. I suggest putting on back in to make it sturdy.......I think I have an extra one blasted and primed. If needed drop me a PM...in case the rods don't work.

When I restored my '52, I never could get the stamped brace out so I left it in place. The bolts at the firewall are captured (pressed in) by the brace and not meant to come out.

It takes some effort and possibly a little drilling, but that brace can be removed if necessary. I found it harder to get one back in oddly enough.

That is correct but it will come out like Drew says......:)

I am sure that is true. You can disassemble (get out) anything with enough perseverance. May not be the best end result, but anything is possible.

More patience than perseverance.

Thanks for the offer Chip (or should I call you Mr. Munk?). I'm on my way to my nearest vintage auto parts supplier to see if I can find that brace locally. If I'm unlucky I'll take you up on that offer.

Bruce

Patience? Perseverance? How about swift and blinding violence?

WooHoo! Got 'er done!

A few gentle taps of the hammer and those pressed-in bolts slid right out. With that a quick clean-up of the brace, a new coat of paint, and it slipped right in with a minimal amount of "coaxing".

So I noticed something while I was scrounging through the junk yard for this brace - most of the trucks had a cast two-piece full collar for bolting the steering column to the dash (a pretty substantial one), while mine just had a stamped half-collar that pressed the column up against the dash.

I'm assuming the heavier full collar is correct but it seems like it would make the steering wheel sit lower near your knees. Is the heaver collar the correct one?

Thx - Bruce

My 52 is two pieces.

Stock 1950:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/157222487/large

DG

Thanks guys, good to know. Every step deeper into this truck the more I find that is either broken, replaced, wrong, or just missing. Pulled the wiper motor off last weekend, it was hooked to the wiper arm with half a hacksaw blade. Gotta give grandpa credit - with the nearest chevy dealer 60 miles away he made things work with whatever he could find.

Sounds like the PO used the 54 or later clamp which is not as pretty as the earlier style.

As I restore my '53, I too noticed this brace can be a real pain, and I know that I will be under the dash in this area more than once. So, I welded the bolt heads into the firewall so they can be smoothed, bought another brace, cut the original brace in half, the new brace into 1/3 and 2/3. I connected the 2/3 and 1/2 brace together, overlapping it a bit, and then bolted in place of the 1 piece brace. So when I need to, I can remove the brace when needed by removing the center bolts first, then the ones under the dash.

pretty darn clever.