#4 body mount
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
#4 body mount
I had to cut the bolt off on my #4 body mounts and now I need to put the body back on the frame. the bracket that holds the nut is in good shape, I just need to get the nut out. can I cut an access hole from the rear and get it out then just glass it back up? also I remember someone putting the bolt thru the bracket and the nut on the bottom.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Originally Posted by gator79
I had to cut the bolt off on my #4 body mounts and now I need to put the body back on the frame. the bracket that holds the nut is in good shape, I just need to get the nut out. can I cut an access hole from the rear and get it out then just glass it back up? also I remember someone putting the bolt thru the bracket and the nut on the bottom.
The bracket you are referring to is the "nut cage". It's what traps the nut and holds it in place so it doesn't turn while you screw the body bolts in. If you had to cut the original bolt and there is any of it sticking above or below the "nut" you are going to have to remove the "nut cage" (at least damage it severely) to pull out the remnants of the old nut/bolt and replace it with a new nut.
The "nut cage" is riveted to the body/lower mount and comes out pretty easily. It is not the easiest job to rivet it back in and it's much easier if you have an assistant to help. Some folks have just removed the old nut and cage and put a nut and washers on the body bolt. It's not easy to get access to however, especially on a convertible, but it is doable…
Don't forget to use a generous helping of anti-seize on the bolts when you reinstall them…
Good luck… GUSTO
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
humm tuff one. I just removed mine, Usually the nutcage breaks well before the bolt has to be cut. If you gut the head off the bolt on the bottom then I'm assuming either you have one steroid pumped nut cage or that bolt is rusted throughout. Make sure the bolt is not binded/rusted to the lower reinfocement (upsidedown cap that sits b/w the body and the framemount). I would then pop the rivets off the nutcage and punch the bolt up thru the body still attached to the nut and nut cage. Don't even both trying to drill it out. Then just buy a new nut, nut cage and bolt from a corvette supplier. I should be getting mine today along with the lower and upper reinforcement since mine rusted out and reinstall. Use good rivets and antiseeze for long gevity. If its a coupe you might get away with skipping the nutcage and putting the bolt on top and nut on bottom but if its a convertible where access is an issue it make it easier to do it the factory way. And yes mine is a 68 vert which makes it a PIA! Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 0
From: Beacon NY
Originally Posted by GUSTO14
Some folks have just removed the old nut and cage and put a nut and washers on the body bolt.
I haven't gotten to the reassembly part of my '79 project yet, but I had the same issue with one of my #4 body mounts. Placing a large washer in place of the nut cage is exactly what I was planning on doing.
Those body mount bolts are a bitch to cut. I don't remember how many blades I went through on my jab-saw cutting just one bolt...
Last edited by Victor; Apr 7, 2006 at 05:23 PM.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: Mukilteo Washington
Originally Posted by gator79
I had to cut the bolt off on my #4 body mounts and now I need to put the body back on the frame. the bracket that holds the nut is in good shape, I just need to get the nut out. can I cut an access hole from the rear and get it out then just glass it back up? also I remember someone putting the bolt thru the bracket and the nut on the bottom.
