For quite some time I've been looking for core support cross braces for my 66 Wildcat Convertible. The only reason is because I saw an illustration in the 66 Chassis Service Manual, Figure 130-6 for 45-46-48000 Hood Latch and Radiator Braces in 66 Chassis Service Manual shows "Brace Assembly - 2" on "View B (Convertible Models Only)". After seeing this, I figured mine had been removed when my grandfather had the engine replace back in 1980 or 81. He had a shop do it and I was still young enough not to know about cars. So, when I started the restoration, I just thought I would need to find a pair to replace the "missing" support braces. I posted a request for support braces in the "Parts Wanted" section, and had a couple of responses, from a couple of extremely knowledgeable big car guys, that support braces weren't used on 66 B-body convertibles. Then I have confirmation that they were used on 65 convertibles, on an Electra that NewMexGuy is parting. So that got me thinking. Did GM just reprint a page from the 65 Chassis Service Manual and fail to properly edit it before publication? Or, like the script badges on early 66 Wildcat's, was it an early production run thing that was omitted later in the model year? What I would like to see is anybody with a 66 Electra / LeSabre / Wildcat to post here with the date & plant of manufacture, and whether or not they have the core support braces. Also, if you have a 65, please post the same information. For the record, my Wildcat was produced in Kansas City, MO in 9/65, so it's a pretty early 66 with the script badges. I don't know what all of this will tell me, other than whether or not I should continue looking for cross bracing...... Thanks,
I'll have to take a look at the Electra, but I don't recall any core bracing at all. In fact, I'm just about positive there wasn't anything. As for Buick using a reprinted picture, - happened all the time; - the manuals would be set up and published long before the model was released, and unless the engineering change was monumental, like a whole frame and body change, they would recycle older "stock" pictures.
They are in the November 1966 parts book, Group 8.155, Part #1368794, for 1965-66 LeSabre, Wildcat and Electra, convertibles only. A later book published in 1969 shows this part for 1965 convertibles only.
Mark, These run from the front of the frame to the top-front of the core support, behind the grill. If they are actually there is the kicker. Thanks,
I looked at mine today, and no, there's nothing there. I took a look in my chassis manual to see what they were supposed to look like, and yeah, they're gone, I don't think they were ever there on my car.
If you can tell where on the car they would've mounted, you should be able to tell if anything was every bolted into the holes since the metal/paint would be scratched up or deformed a little.
