C3 fuel/brake line clips

[Todd L.]

I am installing new brake and fuel lines on my 74's frame. Several holes are stripped out, is there a way to get the proper torque using original screws? It looks like the frame is too thin to use helicoil's.


Todd

[Steve L.]

Re: C3 fuel/brake line clips

Todd,
I had the same problem. I tack welded a single weld bump to the inside of the hole. If it closed the hole up too much to start the screw, I drilled it out a bit. If you don't have a welder maybe some JB weld but I think you would have to place the epoxy so that the steel is sandwiched by the epoxy but I never tried that since the MIG weld was much better.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: C3 fuel/brake line clips

Todd,
Nutserts may be the answer. You will have to drill out the hole larger to accept the insert. They work great and won't be seen once installed and clip screwed in. I think they are available as a kit from Harbor Freight.
Jeff

[Todd L.]

Re: C3 fuel/brake line clips

Steve, I have a mig welder, but since the frame is already cleaned up I am afraid of buggering it up. No that Jeff mentioned the nutserts, I am leaning towards that solution. On the rear of a 74, GM used nutserts to hold the rear bumper impact bar reinforcements. One of mine came out and I had to install a new one.
Thanks guys!

[Steve L.]

Re: C3 fuel/brake line clips

Now that Jeff mentioned nutserts, I remember looking at it. I had a nutsert kit already at that point. I can't remember why I didn't use them. Might have been that I couldn't match up the frame hole diameter with the required screw dia. without drilling out a huge hole in the frame but again, I can't remember.

I had the same problem with the frame being cleaned and painted inside and out. I spent a lot of effort trying to get the paint inside the frame so I wasn't keen on trying to welding. The MIG barely touched the paint because the weld was real quick. But I did have to touch the paint up a bit, nothing major though. The weld bead is barely a bump.

One problem with a weld is that since the hole is opened up, it maybe because it rusted open to the point where there is not very much good material at the hole. A weld may blast thru' and open the hole even more before getting a solid bead. Your weld skills should be good enough that you can close up a hole. I did have this problem with one hole.

[Todd L.]

Re: C3 fuel/brake line clips

That would be another issue, my welding skills. I used to be certified many years ago, and have barely touched a machine since. I was just given a machine which was bad. I found a bad fan, replaced it and it runs like new.
I just have to find the rivet-nut tool with the proper fixture and the riv-nuts.

[Timothy B.]

Re: C3 fuel/brake line clips

Todd,

Try McMaster Carr for the 5/16 x 24 (fine thread) rivnuts. That's what I used on my 63 frame and somewhere in the archives there should be some pics.