I have the tunnel off to replace OD solenoid and install new Heritage carpets. The handbrake assembly is not fastened to the frame. There is an "L" shaped thick metal bracket that looks like it should be welded to the frame, but it is loose. When I lift the handbrake handle, the whole assembly moves up until it hits the sheet metal of the tunnel extension. I cannot see any way to fasten it other than welding (which I do not have the equipment or expertise to do). Any advice would be appreciated as usual...

Hi Tim, You will be required to take the car to a shop and have the bracket re welded. The car is unsafe in its present condition.-Fwiw--Keoke

Thanks, Keoke, that's what I was afraid of. I'll have to clean all the dirt and grease off of it first.

First off, Happy Birthday Tim. Here is the only shot I have of the handbrake mount at the moment. Don't know if it will help you, but here it is anyway.

Thanks Greg, (I'm now 65). Given the amount of grease covering your bracket(even more than is on mine), it is hard to tell the weld lines. I assume the triangular shape L-bracket is welded at the bottom where it sits on the frame (shown in the lower left in your picture.) Is it welded anywhere else, like to the sheet metal of the tunnel extension? (I would expect not because that metal is so thin.)

I took my car into a welding shop (Dunn's Welding in Southfield Michigan) that provides welding support for racing at the local Waterford Hills sports car track. They used a mig welder and fixed it up in no time. It's very satisfying to get things fixed that have been wrong for decades. The car created a lot of interest from the owner and his welders. It was a nice little adventure.

Tim, Good to hear you were able to get it fixed without people making a production out of it. --Keoke--