[DeTomaso] Rear hatch striker plate mounting

[Larry - Ohio Time]

Rob,

Tricks I have used to save my fingers and mind over the years.

If it is a strait shot, but just out of reach, I would cut a hole in a
cardboard strip the super glue the nut over the hole. Just slide it in.

If it is in an odd ball location I have soldered the nut on to some solid
copper wire, or welded the nut to a coat hanger (approved Italian method).
Then bend it up to fit into the bolt location. Kind of like going fishin...

Larry (has all my fingers) - Cleveland




-----Original Message-----
From: DeTomaso [mailto:detomaso-bounces at poca.com] On Behalf Of Rob Dumoulin
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2016 8:12 PM
To: Pantera - DeTomaso Mail List
Subject: [DeTomaso] Rear hatch striker plate mounting

When I got my car back from the painters, I found they had removed the rear
striker plate on the hatch and could not reinstall it. Mine is an early
model deck with no center seam. The metal seems too thin to tap threads
into. When I got the car 6 years ago, the striker was always loose, so with
considerable effort I slipped the largest nuts I could through the access
holes and eventually got bolts to thread into them. Not a fun time.

Is the deck supposed to be threaded?
Are nuts supposed to be inside the deck lid?
Is there some trick to ease the insanity?

Inquiring minds and fingers less nimble than 6 years ago need to know.