70 Stingray Body Mount #3 & #7 Removal

[Mark A.]

NCRS Members,

I have successfully removed 6 body mounts off my 70 Stingray (3 normally, 1 snapped, 2 cut bolt heads... for those who care) and am stuck on #3 & #7.

3 & 7 are the body mount bolts directly behind the doors, access through the access panels in the front of the rear tire wells. I can not see any way to access the nuts.

After soaking, heating and cleaning, it appears that the bold heads have rusted to a size smaller than the 5/8 original bolt heads. I can't get a socket on that will grip the bolts.

Does anyone have a recommendation on how to remove these two body mount bolts so I can finally lift the body?

Cheers,
Mark Arshinkoff
Scottsdale, AZ

[Bill C.]

Re: 70 Stingray Body Mount #3 & #7 Removal

saws-all or plasma cutter.

If you use the plasma cutter be sure to have someone with water standing by!!! - this would be my last resort.

[Edward J.]

Re: 70 Stingray Body Mount #3 & #7 Removal

Mark, sometimes you can tap a metric socket onto a rusted bolt head, maybe a 15or16mm. short of that the only other way I know of is torch it off.

[Stephen L.]

Re: 70 Stingray Body Mount #3 & #7 Removal

Can you get a small cutoff wheel into the space?? One of those air driven types with a wheel that is worn to a small diameter? If possible that would be a little safer than a torch...

[Erik S.]

Re: 70 Stingray Body Mount #3 & #7 Removal

Can you get a small cutoff wheel into the space?? One of those air driven types with a wheel that is worn to a small diameter? If possible that would be a little safer than a torch...

That's what I used - worked well without damaging the cage or wheel wells

[Mark A.]

Re: 70 Stingray Body Mount #3 & #7 Removal

Thanks Guys,

I'm trying to avoid the torch. I'll give both suggestions a try and report back aferwards in a couple of weeks.

Thx,
Mark

[Kenny C.]

Re: 70 Stingray Body Mount #3 & #7 Removal

I reached in between the frame and body with a sawzall with a long blade no problem. After the body was separated I just drilled out the remaining bolt from the caged nut. It was fairly easy and didn't risk flaming the car.
Kenny

[Mark A.]

Re: 70 Stingray Body Mount #3 & #7 Removal

Thanks.... very interesting! I'm gonna give this a shot ASAP.

[Rich P.]

Re: 70 Stingray Body Mount #3 & #7 Removal

Mark,

if you cant get a cut off wheel in the access opening try using a carbide dremel and grind the head off. If you keep the rpms down you will not throw a single spark. Have done this too many times to remember.

Rich

[Mark A.]

Re: 70 Stingray Body Mount #3 & #7 Removal

how long did it take to grind the head off?

[Rich P.]

Re: 70 Stingray Body Mount #3 & #7 Removal

Depending on your compressor dremel and quality of bit. 5-10 mins each bolt. I usually get them done in 2-3 mins each.

Rich

[Mark A.]

Re: 70 Stingray Body Mount #3 & #7 Removal

Mission Accomplished! All Bolts have been removed.

I would like to thank all of those who responded to my first post on the NCRS Technical Board. I am very impressed with the dedication of the NCRS members and I had a great experience. I look forward to giving back when I can.

Here is a quick recap…. I went to home depot last night with a high-lighted print-out of the thread and came across a very knowledgeable tools rep. who happened to be a former mechanic. We discussed all the options in this thread and he suggested several more including Iriwn bolt grip sockets.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?jspStoreDir=hdus&catalogId=10053&pr oductId=100051815&navFlow=3&keyword=irwin+blt+grip +socket&langId=-1&searchRedirect=irwin+blt+grip+socket&storeId=100 51&endecaDataBean=com.homedepot.sa.el.wc.integrati on.endeca.EndecaDataBean%4034f19731&ddkey=Search

Since I didn’t have a dremel, any air tool or any of the the other advanced solutions the home depot guy suggested, I decided to try the Bolt grip sockets and grabbed an 8 inch sawsall metal blade, as Kenny suggested, just in case.

The bolt grip sockets are pretty cool, just tap them onto a bolt head with a hammer then insert the socket and away you go. To my pleasant surprise they worked excellent! A couple of quick tugs and the bolts started spinning. Unfortunately, they kept spinning and spinning and spinning.

At this point it was about 10:00p.m. and I had had enough. I grabbed the sawsall, made quick work of the 2x2 fiberglass tab covering the end of the frame and promptly cut both bolts. What a fantastic feeling to see those bolt heads just fall over.

I would have preferred not to have to cut those two fiberglass tabs, but it’s a small price to pay to break the bolts and the tabs can be restored.

Thanks again!