Quote:
Originally Posted by Sieg
Great suggestion Carl  I could probably do the same with 2" x 3" reinforcing plates as well, at least I think there's enough room inside the rocker to position the plate.
I cut some side plates out of 12g today just to see "how it felt" so to speak. I clamped it on the exterior for the photo.
With the plates positioned on the backside of the panel approx. 80% of top line is braced by the stamped lip of the panel, add plug welds, and a 7/16" bolt through the center and I think it had the potential to be strong enough to handle the potential load forces. I doubt the factory roof mount is as strong as the side plate as it's mounted with two 1/4 or 5/16 bolts. If I add the rocker strap to the system the roof mount would most likely fail.
The other issues I'm factoring are all the numerous inherent safety shortcomings of cars engineered in the 60's, an impact hard enough to tear those plates lose will probably put the steering column and/or subframe in very undesirable locations.
Thoughts?  |
Sieg, you're doing a great job with this. The backing plate idea on the side panel makes a lot of sense too. I'm assuming the two concerns there are folding up or tearing as the vertical force is applied. I think you solved both issues as long as the panel doesn't want to fold above the reinforced area under load. Your backing plate and location is well thought out.
Back to the rocker mount location, it seems as though something along the lines of what Carl suggested would have to be done. I'm concerned about a bracket top welded tearing off right around the weld. Carls idea of placing a wide plate with bottom side welded nut below the rocker mimics what the factory did by spreading the load out and forcing a larger area to have to be torn through. Granted this force would be pulling straight up rather than more of a shear force like the factory front seat belt locations.
Again, Great Job!
Looking forward to seeing this develop.