Goodmark trunkpan + AMD braces = BAD IDEA!!!

[Sean]

Went to lay out the trunk braces on my trunk pan only to find out that they didn't fit together.  There's no gap at the front part of the of the trunk pan but there's an increasing gap as you look rearward.

Anyone ever get a Goodmark pan to work with AMD braces? 

I'm guessing my next step would be to order some Goodmark trunk braces?  Anyone have experience putting Goodmark braces on a Goodmark trunkpan?  Do they fit good?

Any advice on what to do next?

[Challenger III]

Sean,
How does the pan fit on your frame rails? My factory braces didn't fit my AMD trunk floor perfectly either. I forced them together somewhat with sheetmetal screws, test fitted on the car, then welded. If you have to "modify" the tank braces, I don't think it would hurt anything!

[67vertman]

I used both AMD trunk pan and braces, and they didn't fit all that well either.  I think no matter what you use, there will be some issues.  But they didn't have the type of gaps you are showing.

[Sean]

Mike,
Just got in from the garage.  The trunkpan fits in really nice and matches up to the frame rails well.  I'm thinking I might have to cut the braces to fit right and then reinforce them from the inside as to not interfere with the gas tank.  I'm thinking that it wont have to be to pretty as the tank is going to cover the area that I'd be cutting.  There's just too much of a gap to try to bend them.  I'm seeing about a 3/8 gap.

Thanks for the heads up Ron!  Looks like there's not easy way...  LOL!!!

Sean

**EDIT**

Added a pic with arrows showing where the gap is.   

[rallye73]

I think there was a gap on the factory pan also. Maybe somebody with an original trunk pan can chime in. There is a gap in mine also. I used the goodmark 2 piece pan and original braces.

[Sean]

I think there was a gap on the factory pan also. Maybe somebody with an original trunk pan can chime in. There is a gap in mine also. I used the goodmark 2 piece pan and original braces.

Hey John,
Thanks for the feedback!  The gap starts at the front of the pan and gets bigger as you move towards the rear of the car.  It's not just at that one spot.  I dug out the original braces and they sit on it pretty good, hardly any gap at all.  They just need a lot of cleaning to be good enough to put back on the car.  Not sure what will be more work, cleaning up the old or making the new ones work.

Sean

[torredcuda]

I wouldn`t expect them to fit perfect just laying on each other as there is always some fitting but 3/8" does some like a lot.I wouls try clamping/screwing the pan to the frame rails first and then and see if you can get the pan and braces to clamp together better before you start cutting.If needed just cut a slice in the braces at the kick up and reweld.

[72cudamaan]

Looks to me like the braces are being held away by the edge just to the left of your picture. Maybe just a lil tweaking there could make the brace sit quite a bit lower.   

[344speed]

Sean, have you tried setting the original ones on there to see if they fit better? If they do fit considerably better it is not that hard to clean them up.

[Sean]

Mike,
You're absolutely right.  I think if the braces were a 1/4 to 1/2 inch longer, it wouldn't be a problem. 

344speed,
I think cleaning up the old ones may be the way to go.  I set them on the pan and they fit pretty good.

Sean 

[383DART]

I purchased amd trunk floor,roof skin,rear tail light panel, 1/4 panels,trunk floor extensions,& deck lid.everything fit very well for a 72 cuda.

[Challenger III]

I wouldn`t expect them to fit perfect just laying on each other as there is always some fitting but 3/8" does some like a lot.I wouls try clamping/screwing the pan to the frame rails first and then and see if you can get the pan and braces to clamp together better before you start cutting.If needed just cut a slice in the braces at the kick up and reweld.

  If you already have new ones, might as well use 'em. "Adjust" them if needed. 

[rhamson]

Here are a couple of shots of a '72 Challenger if it helps.  These are original and what they should look like and fit.

[rhamson]

Another shot.

[Sean]

Thanks rhamson for the pics!  The braces & pan I got are far from that.

Will take some playing with but I'll get it.

Sean