Re: Frame connectors wanted - 68-69 factory floor bracing

[farna@xxxxxxx]

Only the 68 door tag has the standards listed by number. 69 reverted to the previous door tag text with a sticker above stating that the vehicle meets "all standards applicable to the 19xx model year" -- or very similar. The floor reinforcements aren't in the 69 TSM "frame" measurements, and there is not individual floorpan parts break down like previous TSMs. 

The 67-72 parts book doesn't show a separate floor support. What it does show is two different numbers for the rail extension that ends under the front seats on pre 68 cars with two different numbers. I would assume that the later part is longer, continuing under the floor to the kick-up for the rear axle as Andrew Hay described. Someone will have to check. The second part is listed as being used on Series 01 beginning with final assembly number E-48062 and W-59129 for 1968 models, all 1969. 

I find it odd that the final assembly number was used as a starting point rather than a body number. This indicates to me that the part was added on the assembly floor, at least for the first batch of cars. I guess that makes sense due to the law coming into affect roughly in the middle of the model year -- those on the production floor would have had the piece attached there, bodies still in the plant would be modified before leaving or be built that way. But this is ONLY CONJECTURE ON MY PART. Don't quote this as fact, but as an educated guess if you happen to repeat it. 

--
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Independent 
Magazine" (AIM)
For all AMC enthusiasts
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original message------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2005 19:35:23 -0500
To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
From: Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Fw: Frame connectors wanted

At 04:16 PM 12/27/2005 -0500, you wrote:
>" From: Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>
>"
>" <snip>
>" >these would be the best, but also the stock frame extensions from a
>" >'68/9 american should be fittable.  they don't connect directly to the
>" >rear rails, but they extend the front rails all the way back to the
>" >kickup over the axle.
>" <snip>
>"
>" Not all 1968's have these. There were a bunch of structural changes to
>" []
>" You want these from a car that lists that it meets Federal Safety Standard
>" #204 on the door tag.
>
>i'll bet this kicked in on 1/1/68, mid model year.

The safety standard [on the NHTSA site I referenced] said it did but the 
parts book offers no clue on when AMC actually started doing it. The parts 
book specifically says to look to see if the standard is listed. My parts 
book covers 1967 and 1968 but the AMX isn't listed so a later printing may 
list starting body numbers for when this change happened. Anyone with a 
later parts book care to look it up?

Matt