Z-bar frame ballstud bracket location/repair help

[smartken22]

Heres one for you all that I need some advice on. This is another hacked repair that was done for the Z-bar. It looks like the firewall got rotted out, so someone drilled through the frame to add a mount in order to make the z-bar work. I want to put it back to normal with the proper frame ballstud bracket pictured. The question is, how do I know where to weld it to since the dimples are gone. I do not want to weld it in and then have an alignment issue when I drop the motor and tranny in.

 

[mopar head]

MMmmm, that`s a tough one, you may have to install engine trans and assemble everything, to find center of that body ball stud, and then do the repair from the outside. scarf that other crap off first. good luck.

 

[pntastar69]

This might help

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=45632&highlight=z-bar+bracket

 

[smartken22]

Perfect! Thanks!

 

[smartken22]

This might help

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=45632&highlight=z-bar+bracket

I really appreciate the help with that link...Heres the progress from this weekend. I worked on the z bar mount and got the tranny up to make sure everything lines up. It looks pretty good to me. The only thing I am not sure about is how high or low the tranny bellhousing goes, but according to the measurements for the bracket I should be good. I also fit checked the shifter while the tranny was in and I noticed that the linkage hits the crossmember so I broke out the shifter that came out of the car originally and noticed that they both have different linkage hookups on the bottoms of the shifter. That brings my next question on whether those are the correct A-body shifters or not. Are there A-body specific shifters? I know that the rods are specific and maybe that will make the difference.

 

[pntastar69]

Use the coors light shifter. Don't know what the other one is.

 

[JohnRR]

Neither of those shifters are OEM Chrysler shifters , the one with the Coors Light handle is closer though , the one with the funky reverse lever is I think for a Muncie .

the reverse lever on a Mopar specific shifter sweeps rearward , A body and B body used the same shifter box , they are easy to find .

 

[smartken22]

Neither of those shifters are OEM Chrysler shifters , the one with the Coors Light handle is closer though , the one with the funky reverse lever is I think for a Muncie .

the reverse lever on a Mopar specific shifter sweeps rearward , A body and B body used the same shifter box , they are easy to find .

Thanks for the input. I knew something did not look right there. I think I am just going to go ahead and order a whole new assembly from Brewers since my shift handles are all rusted anyways.

 

[Brad4406]

Those thin brackets aren't strong enough to preven it from ripping out again if you use a high-pressure pressure plate. We, my best friend and I, replaced the one on my 71 Duster with a piece of 1/4" plate. A 3,400 lb pressure plate would rip that out in no time.

 

[AG340Dart]

I agree with Brad I also used 1/4" steel plate cut to apropriate size works better than original much stiffer stiffer is always better:finga: