1981 vette rocker pannel
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 300
Likes: 83
1981 vette rocker pannel
I bent the rocker panel that goes along the side under the doors. it has 5 or 6 phillips head screws holding it in place, of course its my luck all of them are froze in place, no way to get pen. oil to the threads, only way i can see to remove them is to drill off the heads, any one have an easier way
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
I bent the rocker panel that goes along the side under the doors. it has 5 or 6 phillips head screws holding it in place, of course its my luck all of them are froze in place, no way to get pen. oil to the threads, only way i can see to remove them is to drill off the heads, any one have an easier way
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
pry the rocker out a bit by the screws and squirt behind rocker to hit the threads. screws are into fiberglass. should come out. also put screwdriver into screws and give a few good hammer whacks.
Last edited by derekderek; Jun 14, 2020 at 02:09 PM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 327
Likes: 75
From: west mi. / ms. gulf coast
I'd just drill out the heads, remove the remaining screws with pliers. You'll be screwing around for days trying to get stuck screw out,in the end the phillips heads will be stripped and you'll have to drill anyways.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 308
Likes: 42
From: Dundee MI
Same problem with my 81. I drilled them out and then used a screw repair kit.
https://willcoxcorvette.com/corvette...w-screws-70-82
https://willcoxcorvette.com/corvette...w-screws-70-82
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
The (open) back side of the threaded inserts and end of the screw should get the penetrating oil first, before you drill them. It is very possible that they will free up with enough pen/oil and time. If you run out of patience, you can drill them out with a 1/4" drill. To replace them, buy some #10-24 stainless steel T-nuts and proper length stainless screws at the hardware store. Clean off the back side of the drilled-out holes, then put a good amount of JB Weld 2-part epoxy on the T-nut flange and insert it from the backside. Be careful not to get epoxy in the threads of the T-Nut.
Allow 24 hours to harden fully; install rocker.
Allow 24 hours to harden fully; install rocker.