Thin bar behind front license plate: ????

[69427]

What the heck is the function of the 3/8-1/2 inch round bar that angles down from inside the front bumper point, on down to just in front of the radiator (on my '69)?

 

[mrvette]

Must be 1/2 dzn GM cars over the decades with a similar bar, all of them removed by me...

I removed that from my '72 shortly after buying the car....no problems...

:clap:

OH, the only purpose I can figger on any of them....is to increase the parts count in event of a front end bump....

 

[pcf_mark]

If it is the one that reaches from the base of the rad support to the metal stamping under the fiberglass in the very V of the front end it is suppoesed to keep the front end from vibrating. If you have a big cam or a crappy idle you can see this point of the fiberglass "rattle" or vibrate. Probably no long term impact of leaving it off. Maybe the headlight opening corners would crack sooner???

I think GM is cheap - if it was not needed (long or short term durability) it would probably not be included. But as Gene pointed out - who the heck knows what GM was thinking anyway!

 

[Twin_Turbo]

reinforcement for the header bar holding the heavy headlamp assemblies.

 

[BBShark]

It triangulates the center support bracket and keeps the front end from drooping or vibrating as others said. It is in tension so it probably works pretty well despite it's small diameter.

Early 68's had a similar rod that was attached to the lower radiator support and attached to the rear header that the back of the headlights are bolted to.

 

[69427]

Thanks for the replies, guys. It's definitely got me thinking.
Right now the thing is shaped like a hockey stick. My last track outing (prior to doing the frame and suspension change) resulted in a broken transmission. It was October and getting dark at the end of the session when the transmission broke, and I got towed into the pits with a long strap tied around this bar. Probably not the best way to do it, but I needed to do something quick, and this was the only thing I could wrap the strap around (the pace car spoiler didn't allow for running a strap under it to the frame).

I'll soak the forty year old bolts, and try to get the bar out to straighten it back to how it should be.

Thanks again!

 

[JeffP1167]

What the heck is the function of the 3/8-1/2 inch round bar that angles down from inside the front bumper point, on down to just in front of the radiator (on my '69)?

Is that a Monte carlo turbo emblem in your avatar? I kinda remember a emblem on my old 1980 turbo monte carlo like that, think it was on the hood blister.

 

[69427]

What the heck is the function of the 3/8-1/2 inch round bar that angles down from inside the front bumper point, on down to just in front of the radiator (on my '69)?

Is that a Monte carlo turbo emblem in your avatar? I kinda remember a emblem on my old 1980 turbo monte carlo like that, think it was on the hood blister.

You are correct! I bought a few of those emblems years ago, and put one on the rear bumper of my '84. Plans are to put a couple on the hood bulge sides whenever I get back to finishing the 'glass work on the hood.

 

[Jclgodale3]

reinforcement for the header bar holding the heavy headlamp assemblies.

I agree. Without it will also cause misalignment of the headlight panel and the front of the hood. In other words, the headlight panel will tend to droop

 

[mrvette]

reinforcement for the header bar holding the heavy headlamp assemblies.

I agree. Without it will also cause misalignment of the headlight panel and the front of the hood. In other words, the headlight panel will tend to droop

Didn't seem to react that way with my '72...as that bar was gone from the scene for several years, but I have to admit hitting the deer what busted hell outta the headlights did cause the nose to droop at the hood, I fixed that by another plastic brace, the nose point seems to rest nice on the bumper right there where the U bracket ties in....I just inserted a rubber pad there to shut it up from vibration...

 

[JeffP1167]

What the heck is the function of the 3/8-1/2 inch round bar that angles down from inside the front bumper point, on down to just in front of the radiator (on my '69)?

Is that a Monte carlo turbo emblem in your avatar? I kinda remember a emblem on my old 1980 turbo monte carlo like that, think it was on the hood blister.

You are correct! I bought a few of those emblems years ago, and put one on the rear bumper of my '84. Plans are to put a couple on the hood bulge sides whenever I get back to finishing the 'glass work on the hood.

Figured it was, that was a fun car when I had it. Wish I would have kept that car aside from the quadrajet I like the hot air buick motor.