63 Valiant - rust in front A-arm mounts
I would suggest taking a real good look at the rest of the frame rail which that bracket is welded to since it may also be rusted. If you don't have one, get a pnuematic needle gun ( harbor freight has them pretty cheap) and run the needle gun all over the frame from every angle possible. That will dislodge rusted metal. Wire wheels will usually polish the rust and give the illusion it is solid metal.
Then, my first attempt would be to weld in new frame patches, if necessary, followed by replacement bracket (if available). I found this in an old post but was unable to find the part on their site so you may want to call them yourself and ask. An old post on this forum said they are available from Auto Body Specialties but that sure sounds like a common name.
If not available, or if too expensive, and if you are skilled in fabrication and welding, or know someone who is, I would cut back to solid thick material and replace rusted areas with new patches. There is no need in my mind to bend it all in one or two pieces, but rather flat patches, welded together on the corners should work...but it will only be as good as the welds and the joint preparation. As a certified weld inspector I have seen some beautiful welds with zero penetration that failed miserably. This is a pretty critical safety component so I would recommend having the welds performed by someone with considerable experience. This may sound strange but I would trust a boiler maker over an auto body tech to perform a weld of this importance since they are tested at every job they go to with regards to penetration and other weld issues.
I would suggest taking a real good look at the rest of the frame rail which that bracket is welded to since it may also be rusted. If you don't have one, get a pnuematic needle gun ( harbor freight has them pretty cheap) and run the needle gun all over the frame from every angle possible. That will dislodge rusted metal. Wire wheels will usually polish the rust and give the illusion it is solid metal.
Then, my first attempt would be to weld in new frame patches, if necessary, followed by replacement bracket (if available). I found this in an old post but was unable to find the part on their site so you may want to call them yourself and ask. An old post on this forum said they are available from Auto Body Specialties but that sure sounds like a common name.
If not available, or if too expensive, and if you are skilled in fabrication and welding, or know someone who is, I would cut back to solid thick material and replace rusted areas with new patches. There is no need in my mind to bend it all in one or two pieces, but rather flat patches, welded together on the corners should work...but it will only be as good as the welds and the joint preparation. As a certified weld inspector I have seen some beautiful welds with zero penetration that failed miserably. This is a pretty critical safety component so I would recommend having the welds performed by someone with considerable experience. This may sound strange but I would trust a boiler maker over an auto body tech to perform a weld of this importance since they are tested at every job they go to with regards to penetration and other weld issues.