Hi there, I am currently restoring a 1955 chev 2nd series truck. One of the upper rear shock mounts has been welded to the cross member that goes from the left to the right frame rail. On the other upper rear shock mount, the bolt is broke off. I am trying to go as original as I can in most cases. What would be the easiest way to fix this? I was actually thinking that it might be the easiest and the most correct to get an original cross member with good shock mounts and replace the cross member. Only problem is, what do I do with respect to the rivets that hold it to the frame? Are there new ones available? Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks.
Hello There are no substitute rivets for your chassis (or somewhere in a old marine base) Beware it can be hard to drive them out Because there from some sort of steel that eats your drills the cross member is also used as a stiffner for the frame Loosen them of the frame can make your frame kind of wobbly and putting the crossmember together with bolts will never be as tight as the rivets(thats why the used them,they can handle the force that's put on the frame when you drive thru a dip best is to use the holes from the old shock mount with a mount that you can find on a scrapyard. And tighten them down with fine threaded bolts with lock washers That will do the trick Better to leave the crossmember in place for frame stiffnes
