[xkeots]

Hi All,

I started my body off this week on my 67 GTO Convertible. I have the whole front end off and all of the fender, radiator support and other front bolts came out with no problem. I started soaking the body bolts, letting them sit a few days in Kroil & PB Blaster and trying to remove them. I have not been able to remove any of them without them snapping. Every body bolt has snapped.
Has anyone out had this problem?
If so, what did you do to get the snapped bolts out to make room for the new bolts and bushings?

Thank You
Jack Miller
1967 GTO Convertible

[moto-d]

Yep, you'll probably snap most, if not every, body bolt on the car. That's just the way it is. Happened with my '67 Bonneville convertible restore as well. The bolt heads are sandwiched in pockets on the car's floorpans right from the factory. After the bolts snap, your body man will go inside the car, open up those pockets from the top, and replace the bolts, re-welding the pockets shut and grinding down flat. There may be other ways, but that's what I did.

[xkeots]

Originally Posted by moto-d

Yep, you'll probably snap most, if not every, body bolt on the car. That's just the way it is. Happened with my '67 Bonneville convertible restore as well. The bolt heads are sandwiched in pockets on the car's floorpans right from the factory. After the bolts snap, your body man will go inside the car, open up those pockets from the top, and replace the bolts, re-welding the pockets shut and grinding down flat. There may be other ways, but that's what I did.

I am the owner and the body man.
FYI, The bolt heads are inside the frame, they snapped off at the frame. The nuts or clips are above the frame in the body.This is a very rusty car.
This is why I am asking what to do and do it the the right way.

Thanks
Jack

[jd66]

lucky you, much better your body bolts broke then turned the cage nuts, after your on your roto fixing the bolts is easy, most of the time theres enought bolt to get vice grips on and with a little heat they'll come right out. good luck

[moto-d]

I see what you're saying, Jack. Come to think of it, you're right, the bolts went up into the cage nuts above the frame ... mine snapped off in the same place as yours, so there was literally nothing to grab -- and it was a near rust-free Western car. Though about EZ-Outs, but figured I'd break the cage nuts free in the process, so opted to go in from the top. That was fast and easy, and you don't see that anything was done with the carpet back in place. Don't know if that's the right way, but it worked

[RichL1967]

Just a thought... He said his is a convertible, so isn't his frame "boxed" as opposed to a hardtop frame. not sure, but could make things more difficult for him. I plan to replace my body bushings next winter and it scares the poop out of me.

[jd66]

i think everybodys cars a little different, i took the body off my parts car a 66 from out west and saved most of the bolts and they all came out, go figure, one thing for sure having a cutting torch handy with a small tip deffinently helps, being on a roto a + take your time most a body trunk bolts are rusted and by the way if it's a hard top or convertiable frame it makes no differance, my ht was ordered with the convertiable frame the only issue was rust. good luck jd grim

[irgoatmike]

Just plan on going in from the topside becase as moto-d said, the cagenuts will give out on most of them anyway. Probably not what what you want to hear, but pretty much reality. The convertible boxed frame makes this even more likely. irgoatmike

[gene simmons]

Originally Posted by irgoatmike

Just plan on going in from the topside becase as moto-d said, the cagenuts will give out on most of them anyway. Probably not what what you want to hear, but pretty much reality. The convertible boxed frame makes this even more likely. irgoatmike

Yep! that is what's going to happen.
Every one on my 66 broke or spun the nut.