It also mounts the grill and filler panel, after trimming it down the remaining core support doesn't weight much of anything, its the fiberglass fenders that are heavy. These pieces are about four times the thickness of race weight fiberglass. I considered your suggestion from the start, but this is stuff is bolt together and like I said didn't cost anything but time.

This gig still uses stock headlight buckets, grill, steel filler panel etc.

If I had the extra coin I would have purchased a one piece and went the tube support route.