[DeTomaso] Engine Hatch Repair

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/3/08 7:45:49 PM, tonydigi at optonline.net writes:

> What do you guys recommend to repair/replace the floating nut plates that 
> secure the firewall hatch bolts?  I have a few that are either cross-threaded, 
> stripped, or turn within their retainer.
> 
Its not that serious, Tony! The square nuts are held inside a sheet metal 
arrangement that can, with care, be bent open at the bottom. This allows a 
damaged nut to drop out and you can then re-tap it to a slightly larger SAE thread 
or insert a new nut- not necessarily a metric, or even a square nut if you 
rebend the opening closed, then 'squash' the sides with a vice-grip pliers a bit. 
I've had to do this to several cars and it works fine if you're careful. And 
really, you only need the screws on each of the top two corners to work, so rob 
the nuts out of the screw-holes you don't use. Good luck- J Deryke



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