X-Brace Front Mounting Nuts???
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,516
Likes: 0
From: Lockport NY
X-Brace Front Mounting Nuts???
Finished my trans swap [Borg Warner Super T-10 w/adapter replacing the DNE 4+3] in my 86 convertible, and while bolting my x-braces back on I noticed that two on the drivers side/front 'spun'...
They don't seem to be stripped, just spinning...Like the spot-weld or crimp or whatever GM used to hold them in the front sub-frame broke loose...
I'm mulling over how to get in there and "hold" them, or replace them, or fasten them down...
Anybody else had this happen??? How'd you 'fix' it???
Thank You!
They don't seem to be stripped, just spinning...Like the spot-weld or crimp or whatever GM used to hold them in the front sub-frame broke loose...
I'm mulling over how to get in there and "hold" them, or replace them, or fasten them down...
Anybody else had this happen??? How'd you 'fix' it???
Thank You!
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The nuts are welded in place on the inside of the frame. That was done before the two halves of the frame were welded together.
You may have to drill the threads out and use nutserts.
You may have to drill the threads out and use nutserts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Are the threads clean enough you could put a stud in there? If so, just put a stud in the hole, then put the brace up in place & then a lockwasher & nut.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,516
Likes: 0
From: Lockport NY
...But the two 'nuts' that spun are lost now...They're somewhere inside that subframe member...(I was lucky to get the bolts out first)...
I might try pulling that inner fender panel (on the back of the wheelwell) off, and cut a small hole to put a plate w/two threaded holes in it, into the x-brace area...put the studs in it, then pop-rivet it in place...
Thanks for the idea!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,516
Likes: 0
From: Lockport NY
Finding appropriate 3/8" studs (rather than the 10mm x 1.5 Metrics that GM used) will be the challenge...I may have to make my own, from bolts...
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,516
Likes: 0
From: Lockport NY
Nutserts also have a habit of spinning. Especially in thin metal, where there's not much material to grip. I have smaller nutserts here, and the tool to set them, from my RV days. They're pretty much a one-time-only fix.
The studs need to have [at most] 1/8" of unthreaded rod in the middle to butt up against the mounting plate. Making them from bolts is the easiest way to get what I want.
But thanks for the ideas!
