Please help - Reconstructing axle bolt chassis section

Hi Guys,

Got some major rot on the 79. The inner axle bolt plate has rotted through so the only thing holding the bolts was the outer repair panel - whoever repaired it in the past ignored the internal rot.  

Has anyone repaired this before. If so how did they go about it. The position of the bolts must be spot on otherwise the rear axle will be out of alignmnet slightly - I guess a mm or so wouldn't hurt since the actual bolt holes on the axle are elongate which suggests you can adjust its position very slightly once it is on?

I aim to strip the other side to get the dimensions of the internal plate (the one welded to the inner sill that is folded at the bottom and provides the strength for the axle bolts).  I will then copy this for refabricating the other side. The plate I will make up will also have elongate holes so that i can tack weld the bolts in situ doubly making sure the distance between the bolts etc is spot on.  Is this a sound way of going about it???

Apart from copying the other side how else can I make sure that the bolts are correctly welded in place to avoid any misalignment of the axle? Will it be necessary to take very acurate measurements of the distance between the rear bolts and the front wheels somehow.

Any suggestions much appreciated. Help me restore this 79 as it deserves, cheers

see rustmunchers resto

He's done exactly what your asking with some good pics

personally, I'd make a few markers on other areas of the body that line up with the bolts, and maybe an exact measurement from the rear panel to each bolt.. I've not done this before (or should that be yet!) so that's only my best guess.. I'm sure others have they're own ways to make these bolt position measurements

got any pics of your project?

anyway.. hope that is of some help