question , just getting started and problem I am running into is body nuts that are bad and not accessible to replace . What is the trick to getting these replaced ?
FJ40 Austin
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TEakins
Ted
Can you be more specific?
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- #4
I have been changing out the exterior bolts to stainless, and running across that the nuts that are in the body are bad . Some I have found on the windshield hinges some on the rear swinging doors. Can’t seem to figure out how to get this issues resolved.
Captive nuts?
Yes. Maybe. Captured nuts?
Not talking about married men, the nuts that are held in place by a thin sheet metal bracket so you don't have to reach around to hold it in place when inserting a bolt or screw...
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- #8
yes and I see no way of getting behind them to change them out , I tried to run a tap through them so maybe I could save them some work some don't.
Be careful using stainless steel screws, bolts, nuts etc, especially in rusted thread. SS is soft and the threads will gall very quickly an d before you even realize it you’re literally screwed. Better to locate some metric grade 8.8
They are not designed to be changed. Carefully running a tap through to clean up threads is about all you can do. As mentioned, stainless isn't necessarily the best choice for replacement.
Why are you replacing them anyway? Unless they need replacing, you're likely to create more problems than you solve.
GA Architect
SILVER Star
You may be able to rivnut them, but that would be my last resort. What are you doing to try and free everything before removal?
I'd recommend soaking in some sort of penetrating oil like Kroil, or an ATF / Kerosene mixure for a few days, then heating the snot out of them to loosten everything up. Just hitting them with an impact or ratchet is a good way to break them, and then you are really screwed if you can't drill them out cleanly.
For the already messed up ones, I personally would be cutting out the sheet metal, replacing the nuts, and then welding back in place, but that may not be the best for you. Rivnuts can work, but can break free and spin in the thin sheet if you over tighten them or they get corroded.
Galvanic corrosion could be a problem for you with the SS to mild steel, so just be wary of that. I'd antiseize everything that you replace.
I'd recommend soaking in some sort of penetrating oil like Kroil, or an ATF / Kerosene mixure for a few days, then heating the snot out of them to loosten everything up. Just hitting them with an impact or ratchet is a good way to break them, and then you are really screwed if you can't drill them out cleanly.
For the already messed up ones, I personally would be cutting out the sheet metal, replacing the nuts, and then welding back in place, but that may not be the best for you. Rivnuts can work, but can break free and spin in the thin sheet if you over tighten them or they get corroded.
Galvanic corrosion could be a problem for you with the SS to mild steel, so just be wary of that. I'd antiseize everything that you replace.
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- #14
yes, everything I have replaced so far with stainless I have used anti seize , I'm using a foam type penetrating oil ACF-50 it seems to be working on some of them .
