Body mount replacement 1971
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Body mount replacement 1971
Both rear body mount perches are rusted on my 71 convertible. How in the heck do you replace the rivets after their removed? Better yet, how do you get to anything from the inside? Is there a special tool for these rivets and where can I buy it?
Thanks
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
First use a sawzall to cut the mount bolt head off. Then dremel from the bottom up. Dremel off rivets holding reinforcement plate and then the rivets holding the cage. Push remainder of bolt up with nut and cage. Discard.
Don't use rivets or the nut cage. Install a new reinforcement plate with bolts and then replace with new nut and mount bolt.
Don't use rivets or the nut cage. Install a new reinforcement plate with bolts and then replace with new nut and mount bolt.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
First use a sawzall to cut the mount bolt head off. Then dremel from the bottom up. Dremel off rivets holding reinforcement plate and then the rivets holding the cage. Push remainder of bolt up with nut and cage. Discard.
Don't use rivets or the nut cage. Install a new reinforcement plate with bolts and then replace with new nut and mount bolt.
Don't use rivets or the nut cage. Install a new reinforcement plate with bolts and then replace with new nut and mount bolt.
At the suggestion of several members, I used polyurethane construction adhesive to bond the reinforcement to the body, along with stainless screws, stainless washers and rubber washers as an added level of sealant.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
Why not use the cage nut? It makes installing the bolt easier. The reinforcements have a bit of a "well" stamped in the bottom, allowing the use of screws and nuts to hold the cage nut in place. The well is deep enough that the screw heads don't hit the reinforcement. The cage nuts are available from the same sources as the reinforcements.
At the suggestion of several members, I used polyurethane construction adhesive to bond the reinforcement to the body, along with stainless screws, stainless washers and rubber washers as an added level of sealant.
At the suggestion of several members, I used polyurethane construction adhesive to bond the reinforcement to the body, along with stainless screws, stainless washers and rubber washers as an added level of sealant.
I'm just indicating that the cage really serves no purpose other than allowing you to install #4 without assistance. It was used to speed up installation on the assembly line. Unless your going back to a complete original restoration, in which case the OP would have insisted on using the rivets for re-assembly?
Installation of the bolts and nuts without the cage, simply requires two people. I have a wife that can hold my nuts.
Failing that I have neighbors who love to drop in for a beer while the garage door is opened!! Easy enough to put them to work. 
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
I put mine back in (in non-original fashion) so I didn't need to source another arm to install the rear bolts. It was a bit of extra work initially, but I think it will make life easier down the road.
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