There is a triangular bracket at the front of the engine compartment that connects the fender, radiator support, and front end. On my car, there is only a bracket on the passenger side. There is not a bracket on the drivers side. What is the bracket called and should there, in fact, be on on the drivers side? Thanks.

Picture of engine compartment

Yes, you are missing that one, along with the two bars from that bracket to the fenders.

#13/50 - Gusset Assmbly and the
#40/51 - Brace, front fender to radiator support
http://www.1968firebird.org/illustrated/front/smet1.html

Brett - 67 Drop Top 455!

Wow, thanks for the picture...that sure makes it easier Would you think I could get these from a wreckyard?

For the Gusset check with Terry Ritter
youjincho@prodigy.net tel (954) 721-1459 or Jerry Tallman je_tallman@yahoo.com they might have it....which side do you need? Passenger is harder to find, therefor sometimes a little more $$...EBay has them off and on.....also check w Jeff Martell jmartell@magma.ca
,he was just looking for a set , but I think he may have a less good set on hand ,or might now know who has one or two,...?

for the fender braces, they sell chromed all day long on EBay, if you want non chromed lots o people may have them from before they exchanged...they should be fairly easy to find used , and Classic sells them for 22.95 (part no T9175) in Chrome, 19.95 in black (part no R12067)

You might be able to find them in a wrecking yard, but I know you can buy the braces from Classic industries Page 333 in the firebird catalog. I didn't happen to see the gusset in the catalog.

Augy, i'll have a look in the garage but i think i have a spare set of original fender braces. You pay the shipping and you can have them if i have them.

David

Wow, thanks for the offer blk68firebird400ragtop! I'll gladly pay shipping for whatever your find.

Augy , Bruce says he couldnt find any gussets, thats correct ,none are made after market, cant find in any catalog...the braces you can find...but, take David up on his offer!

Augy, i found one of them (passengerside) I'm pretty sure i have the driverside somewhere here amongst my scattered spare parts.I'll have a look again shortly.If i can't find the other one, you are welcome to the one i do have if you want.

David

Ok, thanks David. I really just need the driver side gusset. I need both driver & passenger braces, though. I see they are $20/pr in Classic Industries but I'd rather buy used and re-paint them. If you have those, I'd glady pay shipping and a "finder's fee" or "tip" if you will. Thanks again for looking, I really appreciate the help.

Augy , for the Gusset ,did you check w Terry ,Jerry or Jeff as I listed above?

At least youre looking for the easier one to find...

Bjorn,

Somehow (maybe in my excitement) I missed your previous post. I'll contact those gentlemen you listed and see what they have. Thanks again.

Augy, i double checked tonight and sorry,i only have the passengerside brace, i could swear i had both.It's yours if you want it.

David Mardave68@aol.com

David, thanks for the offer but I really just need the drivers side. I will keep looking. Thanks for the offer though and I really appreciate you taking the time to look.

No problem Augy. i have the passenger tube brace you are missing, not the passenger gusset you already have.

David

Ok David, I guess I've gotten completely confused by gussets and braces and 40's and 50's and 51's, etc. etc.

I'll let you know soon if I needthe passenger brace. I have at least one or two sources offering to sell me the set (both). I doubt they'll want to break up a set so I will likely end up with both sides anyway.

The gusset is proving to be much harder to find...

Augy , the Gusssets are the triangual style pieces that connect the radiator support to the fender , flat at ea end, maybe 8" long? ....the fender braces are the tube shaped ones that are maybe 14" long ...
I think the braces should be interchangeable, whereas the gusstes are not.....maybe pics are in order at this time?
David , a pic of what you have?
( I cant post pics here)

No need for pictures, I'm clear on what the parts are, just not so clear on what everyone is offering. This really should have been pretty simple...I think I'm making it harder than it should be!

I can get the braces (new or used) but the drivers side gusset is not available new so I must find it used. One source has offered a pair of gussets but they are beat up (hammered on, scratched, etc.). I'd prefer to find just the driver side in decent condition.

So...

Still looking for a drivers side gusset assm. Thanks for all the help!

Hey, thanks to everyone for your help. I was able to get a pair of these off of eBay and they look like they're in pretty good condition.

I'm going to need the hardware to install them. The bolts that attach to the fender look like giant pan-head screws. Any recommendations on where to find this hardware? Thanks again

Augy,
If you're referring to the four (two on each side) screws that look like philips drive, those are rare Pozidriv screws. I have never found a source for an exact repro of those. However, check the PY and other repro vendor catalogs, I believe they offer a philips replacement.
Jim

Jim,

What is PY? I looked in Classic Industries but found nothing. Where else might I try? Thanks.

Augy , PY is Performance Years , deal w/ lots of Pontiac stuff...here`s their website... web page ...
good luck!

Augy, At the PY site, check out part RFF17B - 67-69 SUPP TO FDR SCREW SET. See if that's what your looking for. I suspect they are philips and not Pozidrive. Both look very similar. For anyone wondering about the difference, here's a link I saved some time ago which has a description: http://www.justbrits.com/pozi/pozidriv.html

Thanks, that looks like it probably is the part.

Any chance someone would take a picture of their front end (hood up) and engine bay and send to me? I'm curious about a couple of other holes now Thanks.

Here's a couple on my webpage. What specifically are you looking for and I'll post some close-ups.
http://www.geocities.com/jims68fb/Engine.html

Geez, this is getting ridiculous. Looking at your photo, I realize I'm missing a few other items!

What are the pieces that sit between the radiator support, front end, and gusset assembly's called? They're the parts that look like they have a big "X" on them. Are they plastic or metal? I'm missing those.

I'm also missing the brace that runs from the middle of the fender to the radiator support. Are those standard on a 326?



Maybe I should just post pics of MY engine compartment and let everyone tell me what's missing

Man-oh-man, I think your car looks better every time I check it out, Jim.

Augy,
You may not have those "X" panels. Those were standard on the 400s and cars with air conditioning. They help better direct air through the radiator for cooling. If your 326 did not have AC, it probably did not get them from the factory.
However, the braces were on all 1st Gens and that's what several of our colleagues are referring to in earlier posts here.

Ok, that is good to know. The car did not have AC so I guess I don't need those panels.

As for the braces, I feel like a dark cloud has been lifted I had seen some chrome braces on a Camaro that ran from the radiator support to the fender but came towards the front of the car. I assumed I was missing those. Now that I look at the picture Jim posted of his engine compartment, I see that the braces run to the mid-fender.

I have GOT to find a local FGF owner so I have something to go off of. This message board (and all the kind folks who use it) have been a tremendous resource. I go back through this thread and feel like an idiot I must have my mind on a thousand differnet things I want to do to the car that I can't seem to see the forest for the trees!!!

Well, at least I have a handle on the parts I need. Now if I can only find the hardware to install them....

One more quick thing...

Do the braces and the gussets fit both Firebird and Camaro's?

Where are you in Iowa?

I'm in the Des Moines area. There are a couple of hangouts around here where muscle car owners and admirers get together once or twice a week. I just haven't had the opportunity to go yet. In fact, I had planned to go last night but the weather was cooperating. There is a big car show this weekend (The Good Guys Heartland Show) at the fairgrounds with over 3000 cars. I plan to visit that and take lots of pictures.

I'm sure I'll find some local people willing to offer advice once I get out there. Just want to say again how much I appreciate all the help everyone has offered here.

We make the drive from NE Illinois to Colorado quite often. Always get our first refuel at Merle Hay Road.

I work about a mile up the road from that exit. Do you take the Firebird on that drive? I'm missing a/c, cruise, headrests, etc. etc. after just an hour or two!

The Bird made that trip a couple times back in the early 70's but it only makes short show, cruise, and fun runs now. I'll never forget driving it around the Rockies, up Pikes Peak and around Yellowstone. My longest trip in it now is probably 80-100 miles. We take our GMC on long trips.