rust problem
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 4
From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
I agree. You may have to use a die grinder to take the head of that bolt off. Have you looked at the bolts behind the covers in the rear wheel wells (#3 mounts)? Those are the ones that gave me fits. I ended up using an acetylene torch. I used a small piece of exhaust tubing flattened enough to fit through the opening as a shield and shot the cutting torch down the tube to melt the head of the bolt off. Another alternative that I thought of later would be to use the die grinder with a long shanked carbide burr.
After you get the body off, you WILL have access to the nuts. They are in sheet metal cages that often rust away. You will have to buy or fabricate new cages and buy new body nuts. Then you will have to have a welder weld them into place. You may also be able to pop rivet the cages in place but I welded mine.
Vette Products of Michigan, Paragon Reproductions, Caledonia Corvettes or Corvette Central are a few places located in Michigan that have the replacement nuts and cages.
You will also probably find that the #4 sheet metal reinforcements (behind the rear wheels) will more than likely be rusted away. You can pop rivet new ones in place or use the original aluminum rivets as I did.
Good Luck!! Removing the body from a Corvette is like pulling a loose thread from a sweater, it just keeps unravelling with no apparent end in sight!
After you get the body off, you WILL have access to the nuts. They are in sheet metal cages that often rust away. You will have to buy or fabricate new cages and buy new body nuts. Then you will have to have a welder weld them into place. You may also be able to pop rivet the cages in place but I welded mine.
Vette Products of Michigan, Paragon Reproductions, Caledonia Corvettes or Corvette Central are a few places located in Michigan that have the replacement nuts and cages.
You will also probably find that the #4 sheet metal reinforcements (behind the rear wheels) will more than likely be rusted away. You can pop rivet new ones in place or use the original aluminum rivets as I did.
Good Luck!! Removing the body from a Corvette is like pulling a loose thread from a sweater, it just keeps unravelling with no apparent end in sight!
Last edited by LemansBlue68; Nov 18, 2005 at 01:12 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
[QUOTE=LemansBlue68]You will also probably find that the #4 sheet metal reinforcements (behind the rear wheels) will more than likely be rusted away. You can pop rivet new ones in place or use the original aluminum rivets as I did.
QUOTE]
Especially in a convertible. These were the only mounts I had any trouble with when I removed the body on my 71. Real PITA. Had to chisel the nut and cage off of the bolt. There were no repair parts available so I cut some thick aluminum sheet (3/8"), drilled and threaded for the body mount bolt and riveted it to the body to replace the rusted out mounting cage and nut.
Orville
QUOTE]
Especially in a convertible. These were the only mounts I had any trouble with when I removed the body on my 71. Real PITA. Had to chisel the nut and cage off of the bolt. There were no repair parts available so I cut some thick aluminum sheet (3/8"), drilled and threaded for the body mount bolt and riveted it to the body to replace the rusted out mounting cage and nut. Orville
