#3 Body Mount Problem

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Oct 4, 2012 | 09:10 PM

thutch79

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 113

Likes: 8

From: Attleboro Falls MA

#3 Body Mount Problem

So, I decided to attempt removal of a body mount tonight. I'm heading towards lifting the body this weekend, so I figured I should see how easy it would be to free the body before I'm ready to lift. I've sprayed them all with PB blaster. Well, first mount, not so good. The #3 body mount on the passenger side broke loose, but now it just spins. For now, I've stopped and sprayed them all again with PB blaster.

What is going on inside? I can't find a good depiction of what the mount looks like in the AIM. Is there a welded nut under there? How do I cut the bolt out? Any good tricks to cut in that tight area?

Oct 4, 2012 | 09:34 PM

merc49

Racer

Joined: Feb 2010

Posts: 371

Likes: 65

From: south wilmington il.

once my first bolt spun i cut them all off with a sawzall then knocked them out with a hammer and punch.its not easy just hard labor,cut the bolt by cutting between the washer and the rubber cushion.there is a steel sleeve in the bushing and the bolt rusts to the sleeve making it near impossible to get them out with a wrench or socket.it only took a couple hours to get them off,but thats just my story.im sure there are others that will voice their suggestions.oh and lubricate the blade with wd 40 to keep the blade cool while it cuts thru the rubber and bolt.

Oct 4, 2012 | 09:40 PM

merc49

Racer

Joined: Feb 2010

Posts: 371

Likes: 65

From: south wilmington il.

i forgot to mention that there is a caged nut that is square and the box covering it is welded to the chassis,what happens is if you spin the nut in the box it distorts the cage thus letting the nut spin endlessly.once the body is off you will see how to get the old one out and a new one in.there is also one on each side at the very rear and the caged nut is in a well in the floor.if you can get your head and a light in there to take a look you will see how it works.

Oct 4, 2012 | 10:33 PM

80Baby

Burning Brakes

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 987

Likes: 7

From: Surrey British Columbia

Once the caged nut starts spinning, you're hooped. On my '80 there were nine body mounts (I count the rubber bushing and bolt in the center of the frame extension as #9). Of the four along the sides of the frame (#2 & #3 caged mounts), 1 bolt spun out after considerable effort; the other 3 bolts snapped in half when I started torquing on them. I even sprayed all of the bolts and let them soak overnight - then sprayed them again the next day.

I purchased replacement cages, nuts and bolts. The old ones would have to be cut-off with a zip disc in an angle grinder and the new cages with nuts inside would be welded back on. But alas, the rust on rocker channels was so bad that the frame couldn't be saved. My replacement frame had perfect caged nuts.

So I guess that's one way to fix a bad cage nut mount - replace the frame.

Oct 4, 2012 | 10:34 PM

stpman

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 2,865

Likes: 1

From: I may be getting old but I refuse to grow up

if you're going to lift the body off just grind the heads off the bolts that are spinning, I used a die grinder with a good quality burr.

Oct 4, 2012 | 10:47 PM

thutch79

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 113

Likes: 8

From: Attleboro Falls MA

Thanks everyone for the advice. Can you get a die grinder or cut off wheel into the space in #3? It seems that the bolt head is below the level of the opening. Did anyone do damage to the opening in the wheel well?

Oct 4, 2012 | 10:54 PM

stpman

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 2,865

Likes: 1

From: I may be getting old but I refuse to grow up

I found it easy to get a die grinder in, use a good sharp cutter

Oct 5, 2012 | 12:03 AM

merc49

Racer

Joined: Feb 2010

Posts: 371

Likes: 65

From: south wilmington il.

for the #3 mount if you have a sawzall with a long blade you can cut the bushing and bolt by slipping the blade between the rocker panel and the frame and cut it that way just go slow and use oil to keep the bade and burning rubber bushing cool.once you cut it you can pry the bolt out through the access hole and the body will be ready for lift off.