question about this reinforcing brace

[shadango]

So I decided to change the oil tonight, since I still had the cheapo oil in there from when I reassembled after my "rag" incident.  No issues there aside from fighting the #&$(^% oil filter to get it off.  LOL

As I was cleaning up I hit the tire with my hand and VIOLA!  there was that annoying noise that I have been hearing over stutter bumps etc......I spent a good hour searching for it, thinking it was my shock or balljoint or something.

Well, I FINALLY figured it out.....it is this....



At the points where the arrows are, it seems that the spots welds have broken and that whole side of the "brace" is loose . .... .

It looks like it reinforcies the vertical rise of the shock "tower"  to the top of the inner fenderwell.... 

So, how bad is this?    My guess is that its been like this since I got the car.....it doesnt look loose..only if you grab it hard will it move.

I was thinking of welding a bead along those two  areas......of course that means that I will mar the engine bay paint....

I could just use some bolts I guess,  but that wouldnt look right either......

I assume this is serious.....but how bad off am I here?  Dead in the water serious or just get to it   when I can sort of deal?  I know unibody cars depend on all sorts of bracing etc to work as a unit.....                                                                                       

[don340-4]

I had the very same problem on my 70 Challenger, the driver side was never spot welded at the factory & I listened to that same banging noise, finally found it, I drilled 1/4 " holes just through perimeter of the brace & plug welded to the inner panel tried to duplicate the look of the spot welds, I put wet towels on the inner fender when I welded it & didn,t damage the paint. No more noise.     

[shadango]

So you just drilled thru the brace then, right?       

I think the brace is spot welded to the other brace under there (the long skinny one)  first and then the skinny one is welded to the panel at the  factory so maybe that is why you were able to do that without hurting the paint?

Any tips on doing the spot welds?   I have a welder and have done a little welding with it, but so far just my LCAs ...reinforcing plates and sway bar brackets......both much thicker metals than in this case...would hgate to blow a hole thru the iner fender....

[shadango]

Well, did the welding today.....





The last pic is the fresh undercoating...looks purple in the pic....it is actually brownish and will dry blackish.

Hopefully my welds will hold. Had the car out for a short ride and they held  ok.

Our roads really suck....and I have a stiff suspension and lower profile tires than stock...wonder if I contributedt o this to begin with?

[don340-4]

That looks great, were you able to save the paint on the inner fender? yours looks as though it was welded at the factory & just broke loose, mine was never welded when I scraped of the undercoat the metal was clean no spot welds, must have been overlooked. 

[shadango]

That looks great, were you able to save the paint on the inner fender? yours looks as though it was welded at the factory & just broke loose, mine was never welded when I scraped of the undercoat the metal was clean no spot welds, must have been overlooked. 

Yeah, the paint is fine......the wet rag was warm when I pulled it off, so it  must have heated up some.....Istill wonder though if I got good enough penetration.....cant see how the paint can be in tact if it went all the way thru.....but it worked for you so I thought I would try it.I think what is happening is it is not welded to the other brace under there and not the inner fender itself....that second brace is seems solid enough and connected tro the inner fender.     

The lower welds, same concern.....it feels solid now....but the paint is intact, and that makes me wonder.

Or is it magic?  LOL