Body Captive Mounts - Are They Made of Cheese?
Body Captive Mounts - Are They Made of Cheese?
Author
Discussion

Bobrick

Original Poster:

161 posts

181 months

Monday 11th August 2014
quotequote all
Hi all,
after spending a good few months trying to fix all the issues with my yellow wedge I've come to the conclusion that it'll be much quicker and easier to wip the body off and do it properly. I am also fed up of bits of powder coat in the eye whilst under her.

I've disconnected everything ready for the lift, just the body to chassis bolts remaining. The first bolt at the base of the B-Pillar I have tried was well and truly ceased, at some point they have been painted over as well which doesn't help.

On applying a some force the captive nut has pulled free from the fibreglass. I suspect the rest will do the same, any advice on trying to free them or repairing the aftermath?

Thanking you all in advance.

dudleybloke

20,553 posts

213 months

Monday 11th August 2014
quotequote all
Craft slices I believe.

B@man

1,486 posts

231 months

Monday 11th August 2014
quotequote all
None of the chassis bolts on mine where captive, they were well corroded and stuck into the GRP with rust but that wasn't what was intended. The two that would not come out using a socket where soon removed with the angry grinder.

Wedg1e

27,026 posts

292 months

Monday 11th August 2014
quotequote all
Agreed, none of the body to chassis fixings have been captive on any Wedge I've ever worked on: if they were it'd be difficult to accurately drill holes in the chassis that would line up with them!
At the bottom of the B post, two bolts pass through the sill plate, bodyshell and another steel plate that's welded to the bottom of the reinforcing tube that carries the seatbelt reel and door lock striker. The bottom of that post is usually the first bit to corrode away and my guess is that's what you can hear crunching as you turn the bolt.
The few glassed-in fittings that are used are for the bonnet and headlamp pod pivots.

Bobrick

Original Poster:

161 posts

181 months

Monday 11th August 2014
quotequote all
Ah that would make sense, I didn't think to look down inside, just from underneath. I guess the plate is shot from the crunching noises and the spinning bolt!

I have the same issue with the bonnet but can probably live with that.

Many thanks, moral of the story, have a proper look/think before you get the big spanner out.

hallsie

2,185 posts

247 months

Monday 11th August 2014
quotequote all
The door mounting bolts (4 off for each door) also have brass inserts on mine which are a complete bd to get out. the steel bar inside the car is completely shot, so the need to be double nutted from the outside and wound in because the bolt heads are rusted and rounded of.

Stu

Wedg1e

27,026 posts

292 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
hallsie said:
The door mounting bolts (4 off for each door) also have brass inserts on mine which are a complete bd to get out. the steel bar inside the car is completely shot, so the need to be double nutted from the outside and wound in because the bolt heads are rusted and rounded of.

Stu
Interesting; do you mean brass inserts where the bolts pass through the GRP?

hallsie

2,185 posts

247 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
Wedg1e said:
hallsie said:
The door mounting bolts (4 off for each door) also have brass inserts on mine which are a complete bd to get out. the steel bar inside the car is completely shot, so the need to be double nutted from the outside and wound in because the bolt heads are rusted and rounded of.

Stu
Interesting; do you mean brass inserts where the bolts pass through the GRP?
Yeah, Ill take some photos tonight and post them.
One bolt sheared off so Ill have to drill it.

There are several features Ive found on this FHC whilst stripping it down that are seemingly 'unique' , but Ill catalogue it all when Ive finished.
I must say though, everything that Ive removed has been in excellent condition, from the gearbox mounts and remote mounts, to the diff mounts and trailing arm pins and bushes, even the engine bay bits and pieces came apart with the minimum of fuss, even the top front ball joints were original and still in near new condition, although I removed them so I could powdercoat the swinging arm and will replace with new.

Stu

Stu

Wedg1e

27,026 posts

292 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
hallsie said:
Yeah, Ill take some photos tonight and post them.
One bolt sheared off so Ill have to drill it.

There are several features Ive found on this FHC whilst stripping it down that are seemingly 'unique' , but Ill catalogue it all when Ive finished.
I must say though, everything that Ive removed has been in excellent condition, from the gearbox mounts and remote mounts, to the diff mounts and trailing arm pins and bushes, even the engine bay bits and pieces came apart with the minimum of fuss, even the top front ball joints were original and still in near new condition, although I removed them so I could powdercoat the swinging arm and will replace with new.

Stu

Stu
Aye, I think both of my top balljoints are still rivetted - so suspect 1987 originals!

Bobrick

Original Poster:

161 posts

181 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
quotequote all
Well problem solved, most nuts/retaining plates were shot. 2 Sunday afternoon and a couple of hours this evening using the http://www.theseacpages.co.uk/bodyoff.aspx as a rough guide and were separated...



Not bad working on my own I thought.

B@man

1,486 posts

231 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
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Your "body off" round was a bit cheaper !

I'm not suffering 2 post jealousy at all, we used a "20 foot" lift which required replenishment of hydraulic fluids (beer) once the lifting was over.


GOG440

9,298 posts

217 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
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B@man said:
Your "body off" round was a bit cheaper !

I'm not suffering 2 post jealousy at all, we used a "20 foot" lift which required replenishment of hydraulic fluids (beer) once the lifting was over.
A 20ft lift?
Does that mean you had 10 mugs willing volunteers to lift it for you?