Upper Control Arm Mount / Shock Tower Brace - 66 Satellite

[66 Sat]

Hi guys, I'm restoring a 66 Satellite and need to weld in new Upper Control Arm Mount / Shock Tower Braces - one on each side. Does the motor need to come out to get enough access? It's got a 318 Poly which is pretty wide and there doesn't seem to be much space. The steering box looks pretty close too. I'm not doing the works myself and can't weld, so am unsure of how much space is required. At the moment I seem to pulling off more parts than I'm replacing and removing the engine certainly wasn't the plan yet - this is my first restoration and it's quite daunting at times!
Any advice welcome, especially from people who've had to do the same.
Cheers

 

[modelmaker]

Why are you doing that? I do not see any rust damage or obvious reason why?

 

[Auggie56]

My left one has rust in the same spot as yours. If your going to do a good job, and want to paint it right, I'd pull the motor. Besides, you want to go big block, right ? BTW: Who did you purchase your part from ? Parts Geek sells them.

 

[66 Sat]

Why are you doing that? I do not see any rust damage or obvious reason why?

There is rust damage but photos don't always show it. One of the bolts holding the UCA on is so rusted it has formed a single piece of metal with the bracket and the washers. If I didn't have to change them I wouldn't - I'm not a restoration masochist!

 

[66 Sat]

My left one has rust in the same spot as yours. If your going to do a good job, and want to paint it right, I'd pull the motor. Besides, you want to go big block, right ? BTW: Who did you purchase your part from ? Parts Geek sells them.

I bought them from Rock Auto - they are the Goodmark ones. About $83 each, shipped to Australia in less than a week! They are made in Taiwan, probably won't last 50 years likes the originals but seem pretty good quality.
I wasn't going to put a big block in it, was going to stick with the Poly if possible. It has the aluminium Wieand 4 barrel aluminium intake, just needs some headers and a cam maybe. If I do go a big block it has to be a 426 hemi, that's what my kids want to do.