License plate bolts

[caz]

Does anyone have a picture or can anyone explain what holds the nuts for the license plate?

When I bought my truck a few weeks ago, the license plate bolts both just spun. Not a big deal - we just taped the temp plate to the window.

Yesterday I pulled the rear door panel to explore.

I found nuts with nothing holding them on the back of 1/4" diameter holes!

Here is a shot from the inside -

I fished out a nut and a few small chunks of plastic from inside the door, but nothing that gave me an idea what it used to look like.

I ended up putting a bolt sticking from the inside out - just long enough to fit two flanged nuts - one against the truck and another to hold the plate.

Works fine, but i'd love to know what is supposed to be there!

Andy

 

[BlackCat]

The nut is supposed to be spot welded to the inside of the sheet metal.

 

[steveLX450]

search rivit nuts or for that light load you could use rubber well nuts . measure the size of the hole with a drill bit set before ordering. 6mm rivit nut might not have a big enough od to fit the tailgate properly now that someone removed the nuts,you would then have to go up a size and drill your plates to match the bolt size. your current solution might be the best but with some touch up paint around the hole then sealer on it to prevent rust from running down the gate.

 

[caz]

I could be wrong, but it appeared to me that the whole panel where the license plate mounts is made of plastic.

Rivnuts would work. I don't know where my tools got to though - last seen over 10 years ago!

 

[DSRTRDR]

the Lexus dealer installed a new license plate holder for us for free when we brought the GX in for having keys cut

 

[BlackCat]

the Lexus dealer installed a new license plate holder for us for free when we brought the GX in for having keys cut

You mean they installed their license plate frame with their name on it so you can advertise for them for free!?

 

[Arailt]

I'm pretty sure they're metal nuts welded to the back side of the door panel like BlackCat said because they fit a M6x1 bolt snuggly. Prior to knowing that, I tried to fit a larger, self tapping screw in there like a jagoff and it would not budge. Had it been plastic, it would have just made the hole bigger.

 

[bigredmachine]

its weld nuts on the inside, or if its plastic with no backing its usually an insert like this 1967-1981 All Makes All Models Parts | 378276 | 1967-81 Rear Spring Eye Bracket Nut | Classic Industries.

id just stick with what ya got or try a nutsert in the rear door

 

[GXMac]

I've had pretty good luck with these types of nylon nuts. I put 2 sets in my dad's C10 and another set in my brother's Type 3 VW about 5 years ago. Both are still there. You may need to open up the hole to get the nylon nut in but I forgot the diameter it should be.