Front Crossmember Bolts - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bluec10 · 11-27-2003, 12:48 AM

I'm installing a front crossmember from an '84 in my '68. All I had to to was drill two holes and the thing lined right up.

The biggest pain was getting the old rusted bolts out of the '84. As you know, there are four bolts holding the crossmember to the outsides of the frame. They are behind where the upper A arms mount. The upper bolts are just big bolts. The bottom ones have nuts welded to the crossmember. Those welded nuts stripped when I was removed them. Yes, I used a RBFH.

Question: Should I rethread those bolts to a bigger bolt size and turn a bolt into them OR can I just send a longer bolt right through the welded nut and tighten it with a nut on the other side? I'm just nervous about it being the front end.

JimKshortstep4x4 · 11-27-2003, 11:29 AM

If you through drill the welded nut and use the same size/grade of bolt, using a nut on the other side will be fine. I would make sure the welded nut is flat where the added nut will contact and I would suggest a thread locking compound be used.

Drilling and retapping will work if the welded nut is large enough for the larger size bolt needed.

Jim

kaycee · 11-27-2003, 12:02 PM

You can try and torch the nut off if you have one if not then go ahead with your original plan you could allways tack tweld the 2 nuts together when done just dont tack it to the bolt.

**old Rusty C10** · 11-27-2003, 12:16 PM

i did this once too and i had tried to retap the nut and it wound up being a PITA your way of thinking about puttiung a second nut on is a good one but like the other guy said use thread lock and make sure its flush

jimfulco · 11-28-2003, 12:57 AM

How about an all-metal lock-nut?

11-27-2003, 12:48 AM	#1
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Front Crossmember Bolts I'm installing a front crossmember from an '84 in my '68. All I had to to was drill two holes and the thing lined right up. The biggest pain was getting the old rusted bolts out of the '84. As you know, there are four bolts holding the crossmember to the outsides of the frame. They are behind where the upper A arms mount. The upper bolts are just big bolts. The bottom ones have nuts welded to the crossmember. Those welded nuts stripped when I was removed them. Yes, I used a RBFH. Question: Should I rethread those bolts to a bigger bolt size and turn a bolt into them OR can I just send a longer bolt right through the welded nut and tighten it with a nut on the other side? I'm just nervous about it being the front end. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

11-27-2003, 12:02 PM	#3
kaycee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Wyoming USA Posts: 2,446	You can try and torch the nut off if you have one if not then go ahead with your original plan you could allways tack tweld the 2 nuts together when done just dont tack it to the bolt. __________________ 2001 Silverado K-1500 2005 FXDWG stage3 69 CHEVY Short/Step 327/4L60 373 posi 63 IMPALA 327

11-27-2003, 12:16 PM	#4
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,302	i did this once too and i had tried to retap the nut and it wound up being a PITA your way of thinking about puttiung a second nut on is a good one but like the other guy said use thread lock and make sure its flush __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

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11-27-2003, 11:29 AM	#2
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	If you through drill the welded nut and use the same size/grade of bolt, using a nut on the other side will be fine. I would make sure the welded nut is flat where the added nut will contact and I would suggest a thread locking compound be used. Drilling and retapping will work if the welded nut is large enough for the larger size bolt needed. Jim

11-28-2003, 12:57 AM	#5
jimfulco Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Shreveport LA Posts: 3,170	How about an all-metal lock-nut?



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