Stripped Bolt in a ‘74 hardtop. Suggestions on how to remove it, short of cutting into the top?

[Cntymnty77]

Has anyone else had this problem and how did you fix it? The bolt spins as you try to back it out but it feels like the bracket on the inside broke and it just spins. I’m assuming the easiest route would be to cut a hole in the top to access the back side, make the repair and then patch the top? I just do t want to cut into the top!

 

[nvrenuf]

Have you tried wedging something between the bracket and top to create tension on the nut? I know it's fiberglass so you can't pry too hard but it might work.

 

[nvrenuf]

Also, maybe cut or drill the head off of the bolt to get the bracket out of the way to better see what you have to work with / against.

 

[Cntymnty77]

Also, maybe cut or drill the head off of the bolt to get the bracket out of the way to better see what you have to work with / against.

I’ll have to try that. I broke my dominant hand so I may have to wait to do that. Although, the other two brackets are off and it’s really just a hole that goes through the fiberglass and the bracket inside is riveted to the inside of the top.

 

[LNielson]

I think cutting/grinding the head off that bolt and getting the bracket out of the way sounds like a good plan.

 

[rampage]

Along with putting tension on it like nvrenuf suggested, would it be possible to use one of the other bolt holes to snake some sort of curved tube up there to spray a little PB B’laster from the back side? Just don’t use too much, don’t want it saturating the fiberglass and staining it.

 

[Cntymnty77]

Along with putting tension on it like nvrenuf suggested, would it be possible to use one of the other bolt holes to snake some sort of curved tube up there to spray a little PB B’laster from the back side? Just don’t use too much, don’t want it saturating the fiberglass and staining it.

I could give that shot but I’m wondering if that threaded sleeve separated from the bracket and that’s why it’s just spinning.

 

[diesel4me]

On my 72 K5's top,someone who owned it previously must have had that happen,and they drilled two 1/8" holes right next to the bolt bracket,and put two pop rivets in them..

I'm guessing the "nut" buried inside the fiberglass is actually a tapped metal plate to spread out the load forces,and they were able to get the rivets in that plate,and keep it from spinning..

I took the roof off it several times,and used a lot of never-seize on all the bolts--only one other bolt in the rear corner did not want to come out,the inner nut or plate just spun around inside the top layers,so I decided to just cut off the head of the bolt--that left enough of a "stub" with a few threads,to allow me to screw on a coupler nut intended for threaded rods,and use a short bolt and a spacer made out of a piece of pipe so I could still bolt the top down tighter in that rear corner..