Core support

Rust in the original core support leaves no other option other than replacing it. The damage is quite bad and a repair would probably only be temporary before new rust holes appeared. The part traps water to excess because of how it is canted in the car.

If there were no options other than repair it might be worth trying to repair it, but this reproduction is a good copy, right down to the placement of the welds.

Most don't like reproductions, other than those made by General Motors through its Restoration Parts series, but some reproductions like this are very good.

This will not be installed until the front clip is reinstalled and the blackout of the engine bay is complete. Locating the clip back into its original spot will incorporate the core support so replacing it now would make putting the clip back on just that much more difficult.

The original core support is shimmed with what looks like a dozen shims. There's a good chance the same will have to be used for the new one.

This will be scuffed and sealed with epoxy primer before it gets a coat of matte black paint.