Board Logo

front guards removal - captive nuts spinning
battybat - July 18th, 2004 at 11:51 AM

Hi

anyone come across this before? I'm taking off the front guards, but 2 of the captive nuts aren't captive anymore, I can get at the nut (at the top), but can't get anything to get a grip on it, and the other is down near the bottom - 2nd one up I think on the side near the door, so I can't get at the nut.

I could always grind the heads off, but maybe there's an easy fix?

got the same problem with one of the front bumper bolts too

also how do you disconnect the wiring harness for the indicator and headlight?

looked in the keep your beetle alive book, but, as usual, it's about as much use as a chocolate teapot...

cheers

Terry

seagull - July 18th, 2004 at 12:05 PM

the ony thing you can do is to cut the heads off , you can get the nuts redone at a body builder * nutsert gun * looks like a pop rivet gun but puts a female thread in sheet metal .all sizes from 4mm > 16mm

blutopless2 - July 19th, 2004 at 09:30 AM

i take it you are talking beetle?
the front headlight and indicator wiring is connected directly to the back of the globe holders. you have to remove the indicator housing from the guard and then you can pull the wire connector off the globe holder, same for headlight.

battybat - July 19th, 2004 at 09:57 AM

ta

cut the heads off, worked out how to get the wiring out

now all I have to do is drill the remains of the bolts out, then do the other side of the car!

cheers


terry

vw54 - July 19th, 2004 at 11:50 AM

Cutting the heads off is the only way ... sounds like you have a rust problem and need a bit of welding

battybat - July 19th, 2004 at 04:06 PM

doesn't seem to be a rust problem, with the ones I can see at least, but I got to spend a happy hour under the guards making sparks yesterday arvo!

maybe something to do with the paint all over the threads, and some over enthusiastic leaning on the bolts to get them moving.....I'll clean the threads on the other front guard before starting, as the back ones were all fine

everything seems to be pretty solid apart from the top edge where the petrol tank sits, I'll know better when I haul the body off completely I guess

welding will be needed in a few places though (A posts for one) - starting a vehicle restoration course at North Sydney tafe tuesday nite, so will hopefully be able to do most of it myself

cheers

terry