Screw Holes

[Terry M.]

I am looking for advice on the best method of dealing with worn/oversized screw holes. I have several loose screws on my '60 inside door panel, which I would like to be able to tighten. I would like to keep original screws (diameter) if possible. Am I looking at filling the holes and retapping, and if so what is the best material to use?

Thanks in advance.

[Jim T.]

Re: Screw Holes

Not knowing how big the holes are you reference you might be able to use the plastic inserts that you can buy to put in a homes sheetrock for mounting on walls. Another method is to use a piece of wire, like from a paper clip in the hole to decrease the size in the hole. I am sure there are other methods that can be mentioned.

[Jim T.]

Re: Screw Holes

Not knowing how big the holes are you reference you might be able to use the plastic inserts that you can buy to put in a homes sheetrock for mounting on walls. Another method is to use a piece of wire, like from a paper clip in the hole to decrease the size in the hole. I am sure there are other methods that can be mentioned.

[Dave Suesz]

Re: Screw Holes

In fiberglass, I like to fill the holes with PC7, wait a couple days and re-drill.

[Dave Suesz]

Re: Screw Holes

In fiberglass, I like to fill the holes with PC7, wait a couple days and re-drill.

[Joe Maulsby]

Re: Screw Holes

I just fixed oversized holes on my 1960 doors. Previously, I used small drywall anchors, but they get hard and brittle and fall off inside the doors.

As a more permanent fix, I used small pieces of galvanized sheet metal (1' long by 1/2' wide) and the smallest pop rivets to hold the sheet metal strips to the door. Then just drill the proper size hole in the sheet metal. A couple of screw holes were so large that the fiberglass was cracked; had to re-fiberglass these areas with a couple of fiberglass overlays.

[Joe Maulsby]

Re: Screw Holes

I just fixed oversized holes on my 1960 doors. Previously, I used small drywall anchors, but they get hard and brittle and fall off inside the doors.

As a more permanent fix, I used small pieces of galvanized sheet metal (1' long by 1/2' wide) and the smallest pop rivets to hold the sheet metal strips to the door. Then just drill the proper size hole in the sheet metal. A couple of screw holes were so large that the fiberglass was cracked; had to re-fiberglass these areas with a couple of fiberglass overlays.

[Bob Babcock]

Re: Screw Holes

When I restored one of my 1960s, I believe I was able to buy oversized screws with correct heads from one of the Corvette parts houses. I am getting old and the memory is fading, but that is what I recall. The paper clip trick works well too.

[Bob Babcock]

Re: Screw Holes

When I restored one of my 1960s, I believe I was able to buy oversized screws with correct heads from one of the Corvette parts houses. I am getting old and the memory is fading, but that is what I recall. The paper clip trick works well too.

[John H.]

Re: Screw Holes

CC sells an "oversize hole repair kit" that's very similar to what Joe described; 1-1/4" x 1/2" plated steel repair plates with a hole at each end and 2 pop rivets for each plate, 10 plates and 20 rivets per pack. Their #131125.

[John H.]

Re: Screw Holes

CC sells an "oversize hole repair kit" that's very similar to what Joe described; 1-1/4" x 1/2" plated steel repair plates with a hole at each end and 2 pop rivets for each plate, 10 plates and 20 rivets per pack. Their #131125.

[Grant M.]

Re: Screw Holes

Bob/John,

I remember a company called Walker Engineering (or something like that...from Florida, I believe) that offered oversized fasteners (with standard 'heads') for various applications (like mid-year kick panels, etc). They had a somewhat crude but effective blue-covered catalogue with black and white line drawings of the various fasteners and clips offered. I think their parts were available through CC or Ecklers, as well.

[Grant M.]

Re: Screw Holes

Bob/John,

I remember a company called Walker Engineering (or something like that...from Florida, I believe) that offered oversized fasteners (with standard 'heads') for various applications (like mid-year kick panels, etc). They had a somewhat crude but effective blue-covered catalogue with black and white line drawings of the various fasteners and clips offered. I think their parts were available through CC or Ecklers, as well.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: Screw Holes

The metal strip/pop rivet routine, whether home made or store bought works very well and is a truely permanent repair.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: Screw Holes

The metal strip/pop rivet routine, whether home made or store bought works very well and is a truely permanent repair.