captive nut tricks

[Randy S.]

In removing my carpet and seats from my 66, I discovered one of the captive nuts under the floor was missing for the seat track mounting bolt. The one right above the passenger side exhaust pipe.

Is there a way to glue or bond a nut to the underside of the fiberglass?

Randy

[Mark S. Lovejoy]

Re: captive nut tricks

Randy,

The square nuts were spot welded to the seat reinforcement. The right way to repair it is to remove the reinforcement from the underside of the car and then either braze or spot weld another similar nut in it's place. I used a spot welder, but brazing will do a good job too. Then re-rivet the reinforcement back in place.

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: captive nut tricks

Randy, are you talking about the nut that is attached to the metal plate under the car? If yes, wire brush the nut and wire brush the metal plate under the car. Purchase a "cold weld". It is an epoxy like substance. One of the manufactures is J-B Weld. Mix it according to instructions. Apply a little to the nut and the bracket and hold in place.

To help keep it in place as it hardens, use a bolt with a much smaller diameter that the nut. Use two washers, one under and one upper. Put through the nut and plate and tighten (not too much) to hold the nut in place.

Good Luck
Harry

[Scott Marzahl]

Re: captive nut tricks

The other thing that I do for things like this is to basically spot weld it using a MIG welder. I drill a couple 1/8" holes through the sheet metal and then weld the nut on from the top through the holes and then grind the weld smooth if needed.

[Randy S.]

Re: captive nut tricks

Thanks guys for all the tips. I had forgotten that there is a metal plate there.

Randy