22 replies to this topic

[Indy Orange]

So after hooking up my heater box fan motor ,it was out of alignment and was making contact with the fan casing inside the heater box,
I removed the nuts securing the top fan housing , but you guessed it ,one of the nuts won’t unscrew , I’ve tried to grab it with long nose pliers and must have damaged the thread . Buggered if I can get it off . Any advice really appreciated.

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[Ice]

FBH 

[73SUNBURSTEXYOUWON]

Heater box out job I'd say...
if the nut is threaded, then likey the bolt is too, so apart from butchering the nut where it is, which you will likely scarr the fan cover doing so...

Yu will need a replacement bolt to refit there as well anyway.

that is my avice

Edited by 73SUNBURSTEXYOUWON, 15 September 2021 - 02:45 AM.

[73SUNBURSTEXYOUWON]

Additionally

Is the Square on the bolt head located into the heater box base? Or just spinning around as you attempt to unscrew the nut?

Have you applied any upward pressure under the nut flange, say with a small long series allenkey (or similar right-angled device), then using a socket on the nut again, pull up and attempting to unscrew


that is my advice... (this is not a dream @ 3am)

[Indy Orange]

Yeah the bolt hole definately rounded off unfortunately ,I was thinking of using a dremmel and cutting the bolt .Its so frustrating because the bolt hole was nice and square when I rebuilt the heater,you really don't have to put much pressure while tightening to round it off it seems.Heater box out I guess ,😩makes me think maybe a spot weld on the bolt heads underneath could be a good idea.

Edited by Indy Orange, 15 September 2021 - 08:35 AM.

[grumpy xu1]

If both threads where cut properly before the restoration. You should not have any bind at all. I usually go over each thread twice. That's where i think your problem started from. I realize that there's a lot of threads in a car, but it will make your life easy after you do them.

[Indy Orange]

Hi Gary ,from memory the threads were ok at the time ,the nuts went on with no binding at all ,but I do remember that last nut had some resistance as I screwed it down ,that's what did it . It could have been a dodgy nut I picked up instead of the intended one.Anyway these things happen .Onwards and upwards.

[warrenm]

Have you got access to the bolt under the dash? cut a screw slot in the head of the bolt with a Dremel, or tack weld a nut or bar to the head.

[S pack]

Have you got access to the bolt under the dash? cut a screw slot in the head of the bolt with a Dremel, or tack weld a nut or bar to the head.

Unfortunately no, the head of the bolt is situated between the heater base plate and the upper dash panel that the heater sits on.
 

[sibhs]

Dremyl a flat cut in end of bolt. Use a screw driver to hold while trying to turn nut??

Is it the cover in wrong position? Run fan and see if moving cover stops noise? Can't think of any adjustment for fan blade if its fully on???

 

Last resort is pulling heater box.

 

Marty

[grumpy xu1]

As Dave has mentioned, sadly the head of that is at the bottom side of the heater box & not accessible from the cabin. So either use a really tiny pair of vice grips to hold the bolt (if you can get access to it) or it's a heater box out job. One or the other. Sadly to confirm the bad news.

[Indy Orange]

Thanks guys,dremmel sounds like a good idea to cut the nut off. It won’t be so bad removing the box ,I didn’t use any sealant only the gaskets, so it wind be that messy.

Edited by Indy Orange, 16 September 2021 - 12:01 PM.

[LJ RB30]

I think Marty is suggesting cutting a slot in the nut end of the bolt ie the bit you do have access to then hold with a small diameter screwdriver (smaller than the nut id) then undo with a spanner🤞
Otherwise it’s a pull out job😞

[Indy Orange]

No unfortunately Trevor I think I’ve rooted the thread from holding it with long nose pliers to be able to approach it that way.

[grumpy xu1]

Mate, pull it out & get some pliers ect on it. You should be able to clean the thread up i think. Either way if you need to replace the bolt, it still has to come out. It will probably be eaaier to do it that way aswell. I don't think there's another choice.

[Indy Orange]

So I've removed the heater box which was simpler than I thought it would be,Dremel was a good idea Marty,I found one of the claw type washers on the fan motor had come off tilting the motor and causing it to make contact with the housing,as suspected one of the square holes in the heater base is rounded,it's not really a tight fit with the cup head bolts in the square holes ,is there any reason I couldn't put a spot weld on the heads ? even though the threads are all cleaned I don't want this to happen again.Cheers Paul.

[sibhs]

I'm not sure if i'd weld it???

Had same problem on the LJ, I just put some metal putty in and around hole before putting bolt in to help it stop turning. 

[Indy Orange]

Thanks Marty.you wouldn’t happen to know the size of the tread for those three long bolts would you,or anyone?ta Paul.

[Indy Orange]

I'm thinking 3/16 UNF , can someone please confirm this?

[Indy Orange]

🔩

[sibhs]

Info could be here

 

http://www.gmh-toran...olts/?p=1075270

[Indy Orange]

Cheers Marty.

[grumpy xu1]

3/16" unf mate.