Need Help Identifying This Hole

[paulsec]

Restoring my 69 RS/SS and there is a hole in the lower rear of the driver’s side inner fender that looks like it was cut with a torch (in red circle). Is this factory or not? It’s the same size as the two punched holes above it. If factory, what was it used for? Thanks for your help on this.

[CantRepeat]

It is a factory hole but I'm not sure why the edges are curled up like that. The inner fender support bolts to that.

[David K]

Is that a genuine part?

[paulsec]

Yes, OEM.

[paulsec]

Figured it out. My passenger side inner fender has this same hole punched out. This driver's side hole was added at the factory with a torch for an unknown reason. It matches the passenger side hole location. 

[MO]

Hard to believe that would have happened at the factory.

[paulsec]

Agreed that the factory wouldn't/shouldn't have cut this hole with a torch, but there it is somehow. The factory used a torch to cutout the 4 speed transmission hole in the floorpan so maybe if a hole was missing they did this also? I guess I could weld it up and cut a hole the right way.

[David K]

If the hole wasn't punched during the stamp process, it was done during the Fisher Body buck build at some pont.

[MO]

The factory used a torch to cutout the 4 speed transmission hole in the floorpan

Again, no.

[Badshifter]

In 1969 the factory absolutely used a torch to cut the holes in four-speed cars.

[Sauron327]

The factory used a torch to cutout the 4 speed transmission hole in the floorpan

Again, no.

69s were torch cut. 67 and 68 were punched with a reinforcement ring spot welded underneath.

[KurtS]

69s were torch cut. 67 and 68 were punched with a reinforcement ring spot welded underneath.

Correct. Surprising process, but that's how it was done.

[MO]

Surprising. Would never have imagined 69's were handled differently than 67"s. Apologies for the misunderstanding.

[David K]

You had one job to do when building the die for stamping....Lol

[MO]

Yeah, it's not like they didn't have enough time to change it if they wanted.