Body mount nut/cage question...
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 642
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From: Dallas Texas
Body mount nut/cage question...
Was wondering what some of you more ingenious types have done as surely I'm not the only person to be in this situation.
I'm installing the new body mounts on my '79 resto project.... on mounts #2 and 3... the nuts have been removed from the cages.... I believe they are originally welded in the cage to keep them from spinning when you're tightening the bolts.
Well, the body is back on... and I don't have the nuts installed.... Obviously with the body sitting back on the frame, welding the nuts in place isn't an option at this point. What tricks have y'all used to installed new mounts/bolts/nuts and keep the nut from spinning inside the cage when you tighten down the bolts on #2 and #3?
I'm installing the new body mounts on my '79 resto project.... on mounts #2 and 3... the nuts have been removed from the cages.... I believe they are originally welded in the cage to keep them from spinning when you're tightening the bolts.
Well, the body is back on... and I don't have the nuts installed.... Obviously with the body sitting back on the frame, welding the nuts in place isn't an option at this point. What tricks have y'all used to installed new mounts/bolts/nuts and keep the nut from spinning inside the cage when you tighten down the bolts on #2 and #3?
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 161
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From: Grand Island NY
The nuts are not standard hex nuts. They are square plates that fit inside cage. The cage stops them from spinning when you tighten them, but sloppy enough to line with the bolt. You should have got them with the body bolt kit along with shims.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 41
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From: Blacksburg va
How would you explain a body mount bolt spinning but not coming out?
I think it's the #2 bolt. All the others have come out except this one(and the one I wrung the head off of). I want to get the body off soon and this is all that's standing in my way.
Is there some neat way of doing it or is it just going to come down to cutting the head off and drilling it out later.
Thanks
I think it's the #2 bolt. All the others have come out except this one(and the one I wrung the head off of). I want to get the body off soon and this is all that's standing in my way.
Is there some neat way of doing it or is it just going to come down to cutting the head off and drilling it out later.
Thanks
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Dallas Texas
Phil... I didn't get a bolt kit... I just got a body mount kit with washers... and got grade 8 bolts from the local hardware store.
I've seen pics of the square nuts sold at some places for this application... and they appear to be just standard square nuts, which unaltered in some way wouldn't appear to work as they're small enough (short enough "diameter" for lack of a better term) to spin inside the cage. Perhaps I'm wrong....
I'd rather not order up 4 nuts online... pay some ridiculous price and then wait two weeks to get 'em. Especially if I'm not sure they'd work. Was wondering if someone had come up with an ingenius home remedy for this problem.
I've seen pics of the square nuts sold at some places for this application... and they appear to be just standard square nuts, which unaltered in some way wouldn't appear to work as they're small enough (short enough "diameter" for lack of a better term) to spin inside the cage. Perhaps I'm wrong....
I'd rather not order up 4 nuts online... pay some ridiculous price and then wait two weeks to get 'em. Especially if I'm not sure they'd work. Was wondering if someone had come up with an ingenius home remedy for this problem.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 94
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From: Barrie Ontario
Originally Posted by 79Batmobile
How would you explain a body mount bolt spinning but not coming out?
I think it's the #2 bolt. All the others have come out except this one(and the one I wrung the head off of). I want to get the body off soon and this is all that's standing in my way.
Is there some neat way of doing it or is it just going to come down to cutting the head off and drilling it out later.
Thanks
I think it's the #2 bolt. All the others have come out except this one(and the one I wrung the head off of). I want to get the body off soon and this is all that's standing in my way.
Is there some neat way of doing it or is it just going to come down to cutting the head off and drilling it out later.
Thanks
Just cut the head of the bolt, remove the body and weld on new cages with new nuts inside.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
The only glimmer of genius is with the #4 mounts, where you forget
the nut cage, pull it out, and drop a bolt from the top.
I suppose you could drill through the frame to put the bolt
in from the bottom, but I wouldn't do it. Buy the nuts and
new cages if they are rusted out.
the nut cage, pull it out, and drop a bolt from the top.
I suppose you could drill through the frame to put the bolt
in from the bottom, but I wouldn't do it. Buy the nuts and
new cages if they are rusted out.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 298
Likes: 1
I'm not sure of the exact thread size but J bolts used for concrete anchors sometime use a square nut. Try Home Depot or building supply store. Another way is to weld a piece of flat bar to the side of a nut and slide in the cage, when you tighten it it will jam against the cage.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Dallas Texas
kens 80.... that's the alternative I'm leaning to at the moment. I'm thinking either weld/braze a piece of plate steel or something to one or both sides of a regular nut..... or cut a roughly 2"x2" piece of steel or aluminum, drill a hole in it... and JB Weld a regular nut over the hole....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 16
From: Gainesville, Florida
Originally Posted by Chumpzilla
kens 80.... that's the alternative I'm leaning to at the moment. I'm thinking either weld/braze a piece of plate steel or something to one or both sides of a regular nut..... or cut a roughly 2"x2" piece of steel or aluminum, drill a hole in it... and JB Weld a regular nut over the hole....
OMG .... this will be a nice addition to the "Bubba" Hall of Fame. Simple solution .....Do it the right way! If you can get to the #2 & #3 cages to attempt one of these rig jobs why not just cut the old ones off & weld new ones on which come with nuts inside ALREADY!! Then replace ALL of the bushings (including #1 & #4) as you should anyway.
Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids ...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,435
Likes: 0
From: largo florida
If you can get to the cage that has the spinnign nut, you can simply use some vice-grips to fix the problem. Take the vice-grips and tighten them down on the cage. This should crush the bowed out sided back strait and pinch the cage into the nut. I had to do this on #4 and it worked fine. Simple solution if you can get to the cage. I had to do this to one of the cages for the rear bumper brackets also.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by Chumpzilla
Was wondering what some of you more ingenious types have done as surely I'm not the only person to be in this situation.
I'm installing the new body mounts on my '79 resto project.... on mounts #2 and 3... the nuts have been removed from the cages.... I believe they are originally welded in the cage to keep them from spinning when you're tightening the bolts.
Well, the body is back on... and I don't have the nuts installed.... Obviously with the body sitting back on the frame, welding the nuts in place isn't an option at this point. What tricks have y'all used to installed new mounts/bolts/nuts and keep the nut from spinning inside the cage when you tighten down the bolts on #2 and #3?
I'm installing the new body mounts on my '79 resto project.... on mounts #2 and 3... the nuts have been removed from the cages.... I believe they are originally welded in the cage to keep them from spinning when you're tightening the bolts.
Well, the body is back on... and I don't have the nuts installed.... Obviously with the body sitting back on the frame, welding the nuts in place isn't an option at this point. What tricks have y'all used to installed new mounts/bolts/nuts and keep the nut from spinning inside the cage when you tighten down the bolts on #2 and #3?
Seriously: it's easy to just lift the body, one side at a time.. 1-2 inches is enough to slide new square plates in the pockets... you'll need small hands but it can be done without lifting the body completely off the frame...
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Dallas Texas
Originally Posted by gearheadz
OMG .... this will be a nice addition to the "Bubba" Hall of Fame. Simple solution .....Do it the right way! If you can get to the #2 & #3 cages to attempt one of these rig jobs why not just cut the old ones off & weld new ones on which come with nuts inside ALREADY!! Then replace ALL of the bushings (including #1 & #4) as you should anyway.
Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids ...
The cages are just fine. There's not a thing wrong with them. So I'm not sure what sense it would make to torch them off and weld new ones on. That might be the non-bubba answer in your mind, but it's total overkill to me. Just because it's not exactly as it came from the factory doesn't make it "bubba". Besides, my solution 1) would be impossible to see once installed and 2) would not be a permanent modification that couldn't be changed at some point in the distant future by the next owner.
Redbad79..... Yeah, I've got it raised about 3" and you're correct... there's enough room to get my hand in there. My issue is I don't have the square plates (square nuts made for this application I assume you mean). And rather than pay $5+ each for the nuts and have to wait a couple weeks to get them, I was curious what other solutions may exist. Thanks for your suggestion though... I may not have much other choice.
Last edited by Chumpzilla; Feb 15, 2005 at 08:55 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 4
From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
Go with the 2"x2" steel plate idea. Get some 3/8" thick stock and drill and tap a hole in the middle to match your body mount bolts. I think they are 7/16-14 threads. Leave enough clearance on the sides so that the plate "floats" just enought to allow you make minor adjustments in the body position. The size of the plate will keep it from turning in the mount just as the cage would. Voila!! Instant body mount nut!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 4
From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
BTW the cages are available from some of the vendors and are easy enough to mig weld into place with the correct nut. This is the way I went. You don't have to remove the entire mount. I wouldn't recommend that either cause then you'd have to figure out how to re-shim the whole body cause the mount height would change.
Sounds like you're well beyond that so I think the steel plates are the way I'd go.
Sounds like you're well beyond that so I think the steel plates are the way I'd go.
