Weld or Bolt Brace to Frame '57 Chevy

I am restoring a 1957 Chevy 2 door ht and have heard stories about what was described to me as a design flaw with the rear shocks that push against the sheet metal under the rear seats and eventually puncture thru the sheet metal because of metal fatigue or weakening due to rust.

Obviously concerned about this and wondered if there was any validity to this story. Out of caution, I've purchased a brace that is meant to be mounted between the frame rails and gives the rear shocks something else and more substantial to push against.

Which would be the better way to install this; welding or bolting the brace with nuts and bolts that go thru the frame? Would really like to hear some opinions, especially from anyone who has done this before and would like to know how it turned out.

Thanks for the help.

 

I would fix the floor if it's broken, then use normal shocks (NOT air shocks), and just run it. My 55 has the original shock mounts and they were fine when I got the car, and I've put 87k miles on it and they're not cracked.

Air shocks are bad news on these cars, but were very common in the 70s-80s

 

I've had ten 57 chevy's, the only one I had that was busted through had air shocks and a built 396 with a 4 speed.

If your just restoring the car then you don't really need it.

 

To answer your question. I would weld it. Fixing the floor would be the correct way. That's just my opinion.

 

Weld it in. Iinstalled gas shocks on my 1957. Also add a crossmember at the rear of the transmission. Never liked the whole trans hanging there with no support.

 

I fixed 2 of them where the shocks pulled through the floor, one on a '55 and one on a '57. The first was fixed using a piece of 3" x 3" angle iron that was pretty stout. Simply welded between the rails and used Dodge Coronet shocks (IIRC) and the studs that came with the shocks.

The 2nd was done with 2" x 2" square tubing, same method but used spacers inside the tubing to keep it from collapsing.

Bob

 

I would weld it as well, but I suppose it really depends on if you are a better bolter than welder.

 

I made my own shock bar with a slip joint on one end & bolted it in to save removing the gas tank. Tri-fives having a box frame, I drilled a larger hole on the outer side & used that to insert allen bolts thru. Actually did the same procedure for a rear trans. mount.