Door hinge mounting plate and POR15 questions

[msg]

The mounting cage that holds the plate in my door pillar was rusted out at the base and the plate fell out. I have the plate and have prepped and painted it with POR15 as well as the cage I had to fabricate.

Before I welded in the cage with the plate I tried threading the bolts in the plate and it feels way too tight, like im stripping it as I tighten the bolts. I think that the POR15 is in the threads and from what I have heard its very difficult to remove.

Should I just get a new mounting plate at this point? Do they even sell them?

[jtrichard]

Run a tap through the holes

[msg]

Rather than just go Harbor Freight (which what I would likely do) , any recommendations on a tap kit to consider? I could just get this one tap for the plate, but I also used that POR15 on the floor braces..so Im pretty sure the paint got into some of those threads as well.

[Captainfab]

I would first try a local nut and bolt supplier such as Fastenal. If you do not have one local, then Sears or a hardware store. Harbor Freight would be my last resort,

[leonphelps]

get a 3/8" coarse tap. I tapped all of my door bolts and the ones for the tailgate so far.

I put the tap on a makita drill and it worked fine. I put spray penetrant on the hole and tap and went in and out five times, not completely removing the tap. GM door bolts from a next gen van or pickup are the same 3/8 coarse thread.

I had exactly the same problem. First one I welded the bolts on, then a pal did the tap trick when I was occupied with something else. He laughed at me when it worked.

[msg]

Went with sears 75 pc set

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-75-pi...Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

Hope its $80 well spent. Picking it up tomorrow and getting to it this weekend.