#4 Body Mount Bolt
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 5,877
Likes: 1
From: Park Ridge IL
#4 Body Mount Bolt
I've got all the body mount bolts out, as well as everything else connecting the body to the frame, except the #4 body mount bolts. Does anyone know if it is a captured nut, or is it a nut that is accessible from inside the passenger compartment. The car is a convertible, so the deck hinges are blocking my view of the pocket where the nut is.
Btw, is there an easy way to get to the deck hinge upper bolts? I was easily able to remove the bottom bolt, but there feels like there are two bolts on the top bolting the hinge to the underside of the rear deck that is practically inaccessible with a wrench...
Btw, is there an easy way to get to the deck hinge upper bolts? I was easily able to remove the bottom bolt, but there feels like there are two bolts on the top bolting the hinge to the underside of the rear deck that is practically inaccessible with a wrench...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
# 4 is a caged nut assembly. Chances are if the bolt spins, the cage is toasts too. I torch the bolt head off, and with a pry-bar, remove the cage and remains of the bolt from the hinge area. Upon re-assembly, forget about the cage and just use a bolt inserted thru the top, and nut the bottom. Yes, you can get to the hinge support bolts, but it is a PITA. 
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
I had the same problem. The nut cage is riveted to the body under the deck lid hinge spring. It has probably rusted from accumulated moisture leakage from the deck weatherstrip. Remove the hinge, and use a cut off wheel to remove the bolt head from the bottom, then pull out the remains from the top. Paragon has replacement nut cages you can rivet in. When I did mine, replacement parts were not readily available so I pulled a "Bubba". I cut pieces of 3/8 aluminum to fit the body recess under the hinge, and drilled and tapped for the body mount bolts. I used some black weatherstrip adhesive to glue them in (so they won't move up and down when you are bolting or unbolting. The fit in the body recess keeps them from turning. And, they will never rust.
Orville
Orville
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 5,877
Likes: 1
From: Park Ridge IL
Thanks, I was afraid of that. I must have jinxed myself because after I got all the other body mount bolts off with ease, I mentioned how easy it was. Naturally, the last bolts are the only ones that are seized, and of course the convertible deck hinge bolts are nearly impossible to reach - worse than than the brake booster nuts under the dash.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 4
From: Va
I just went thru this on my 71 Vert
You don't have to take the upper convertible hinge bolts out. Just remove the lower bolt and pry out the spacer and you can gain access. It still tight but doable. Grind off the rivets retaining the nut cage to body and remove it. I also had to replace the #4 body mount reinforcement. There were 3 or 4 rivets retaining it. In order to gain access to the one on the rear you have to grind a opening in the fiberglass to get at the head of the rivet.
Instead of using rivets to reinstall I used stainless steel screws, washers, and nylocks.
Not fun but doable.
Instead of using rivets to reinstall I used stainless steel screws, washers, and nylocks.
Not fun but doable.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
Likes: 9
actually that one is probably the easiest to remove since you have good access to the head and bushing, either grind off the head bolt or cut straight through the body mount itself and the bolt thread
Last edited by Twin_Turbo; Feb 2, 2006 at 04:54 PM.
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
so the part the reinforcement rivets to is open on the bottom? mine is a convertible so it will be harder to get to. I read were someone cut an access hole in the fenderwell. the body is on jack stands so it is easy to get to. thanks