Main supports for a MC 7

[peenhead]

Are there main supports for a '73 MC 7 and what is the easiest/best way to inspect them?

Thanks

[bevans6]

The MC-7 is a stressed skin monocoque over a space frame, which is to say the chassis is made up of all of the small tubes that you can see in the luggage bays, and behind the inner walls in the passenger compartment and roof, with the stainless steel and aluminium outer skin hard riveted on.  The main stress areas would be the air beams that both hold the suspension air and carry all of the suspension load from the axles into the chassis.  They are quite simply large empty boxes that the air springs bolt to.  They tend to rust on top and leak air, and can become structurally unsound if that rust has gone too far.  the fix for the air leaking is pretty simple, to plate over the tops of the air bags so the air beams are no longer used to hold air, at the expense of a stiffer, less compliant ride.  The other main beam section is the engine cradle.  This is a structural tube-frame structure hung from the rear bulkhead and the floor and roof structure of the chassis that holds the engine and transmission.  It can certainly crack and rust to the point of failure, and can be inspected pretty easily.

Brian