body bolt

[Mel S.]

The hidden nuts (that i assume were fastened to the frame) for the 2 front body bolts on my 66 convertible 27,700 original miles turn when i try to remove them. Just short of cutting off the heads of the bolts, does anyone have any idea(s) how to hold the nut from turning. I am doing a body off and have all the other fasteners out.
Thanks
Mel

[David H.]

Re: body bolt

... Just short of cutting off the heads of the bolts ...

Mel,

You have already hit on easiest solution. No easy way to get rust "busting" solution on nut. Trying to jam nut inside it's cage with a drift/screwdriver/etc didn't work for me.

Plan on cutting the old caged nuts off your frame and welding new on. (Take some measurements before removal so you can replace new cages in same spot)

Dave

[Thomas N.]

Re: body bolt

If you cut the bolt head off, once you remove the body from the frame, there will be enough of the bolt protruding to use vise grips to remove the bolt with heat. But before you do that, you will need to use pliers to squeeze the cage that holds the nut and use pliers on the nut as support when you remove the bolt. You are unable to do this support with the body on the frame. What happens is the bolt is frozen in the nut, and when you turn it , it deforms the cage that holds the nut and spins freely.