What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

1973 blazer fiberglass top cage nut

J

JW-Tex

Registered Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2022
Posts
16
Reaction score
8
Location
Kingwood Texas
One of the three nuts on my fiberglass top used to secure the top to the windshield header is loose and spinning. Any idea the best way to repair or replace one of these nuts?

If you drill out the rivets will it slide out through the sloted hole (i do not think it would)?


the only solution I can think of is to cut an access panel from the outside of the top and then drill out the rivets and remove the cage and put a new nut in it and repair the cage. Reinstall the cage and rivet in place and fibergalss patch the the panel back into the top.

Any suggestions appreciated!
 
If the nut wasn’t there or you had a way to remove it you could probably use a rivnut in place of the caged nut.
 
Not seeing a picture, It's hard to comment on what I would do.

I just re-read your post ... your problem in in the HEADER ... Mine was in the side panel ... Can you access these nuts from behind the Headliner if you have one ?

However, I have an 85 Blazer and had the same problem on two of the cage nuts on the RH Side. I have mine in restoration and the top is off and I am going to have new Cage Nuts welded in.

Pending on what you are doing, you would have to remove the top and pop rivet in the new cage nuts.

Now how to take off the nut with it spinning in the cage. I removed the entire side panel, took a socket wrench and turned the bolt to where the nut was side to side in the broken cage and grabbed it with a pair of vise grips, held tight and backed out the bolt.

I found a package of 10 cage nuts on Motor City K5 and purchased these only needing two.

I will be glad to sell you a couple to help recover part of my cost as the are a complete set of 10.

Let me know if you are interested ... I hope this helps.

www.motorcityk5.com

Single Wall Top Cage Nuts (Qty 10), 69-91 Blazer

Single Wall Top Cage Nuts (Qty 10), 69-91 Blazer
www.motorcityk5.com
 
Before I opened up the fiberglass and removed the existing nut, I decided to coat the nut treads with grease, use a syrnge to inject thickened west system epoxy into the cavity that holds the cage nut. While the epoxy was wet I inserted a bolt into the nut and turned a few threads until is started to spin. I put a set a vice grip pliers on the bolt and used duct tape to make sure the bolt was at the correct angle. I then let the epoxy set up overnight. So far the nut has held and is not spinning. I am not going to tighten it all the way.

If this does not hold up I will grind open and remove the existing nut, I will use 1300obo's idea to epoxy in a washer and use rivnut as suggested by rampage.

1300obo thanks for making me think about epoxy as your input was integral to my plan which is currenlty working.

JW
 
Just a heads-up, there’s a way to install rivnuts without buying their special tool. Videos are on YouTube that show you how by just using a bolt and a couple nuts.
 
rampage said:
Just a heads-up, there’s a way to install rivnuts without buying their special tool. Videos are on YouTube that show you how by just using a bolt and a couple nuts.
Click to expand...
Yeah but tools are nice.
I didn't pay much for mine and I like it
 
They are, but if you’re only going to use them once or hardly ever then I can find other places to spend my $$. :whistle:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom