Loose hard top bolts. Help! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

NateObee · 04-20-2006, 04:49 PM

i'm sure i'm not the only one with this problem. you can tell an engineer designed the attachment system. if you've ever tried to put an 1st gen top on the ground, watch the bolt's! get some bricks! luckly i have a small pick-up that don't run to hold my blazer top for me when i don't need it. but...

many of the bolts are loose, still in the top but they tilt and some spin. makes it a trick getting them to hit the holes on the way back on. does anyone have an sugestions on how to repair this problem. i assume i can just dump a bunch of poly-resin down the hole and clamp them in place, right? anyone done that? or know any thing that works better?

Nate

*Medicanman71* · 04-20-2006, 04:56 PM

Dunno, Nice avatar!

bouncytruck · 04-20-2006, 05:13 PM

I'm guessing you have a double wall top? Sounds like the inserts have broken loose You may try some JB weld or some fiberglass resin to hold them in place. I'm not exactly sure how the doublewall tops bolt up since I've only had single walls.

Why would you leave the bolts in the top when it wasn't on the truck?

71jimmy · 04-20-2006, 08:30 PM

IF you have a double wall and your talking about the bolts/nuts along the bed rail then it is the nut part that is loose inside your fiberglass. These are fastened with rivets. They are actually metal stips, 3" by 3/4" by 3/16, with a whole drilled in the center and tapped for the bolt. The only way to get them out is to drill the head of the rivets out. Drill a one inch whole, with a whole saw, just up the inside of the top. Then fish them out. I had to replace multiple ones so I drilled the hole between two of the nuts, so I could get to them with only one hole in the top. I had broken bolts in them that were rusted so badly they wouldn't break loose. I just bought some steal and made my own.

NateObee · 04-21-2006, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medicanman71

Dunno, Nice avatar!

thanks. it's a big pile of snow, if you can believe it. biggest one i've seen in a parking lot in quite a while. i prolly could have gotten on top if i wasn't afraid of high centering. though it would have melted away eventually and left my truck on pavement. it's any easy way out, but takes a while.

Nate

**FRENCHBLUE72** · 04-23-2006, 11:15 AM

Seems like that is oneof the draw backs of a double wall top I have to do mine this summer..

04-20-2006, 04:49 PM	#1
NateObee Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 7	Loose hard top bolts. Help! i'm sure i'm not the only one with this problem. you can tell an engineer designed the attachment system. if you've ever tried to put an 1st gen top on the ground, watch the bolt's! get some bricks! luckly i have a small pick-up that don't run to hold my blazer top for me when i don't need it. but... many of the bolts are loose, still in the top but they tilt and some spin. makes it a trick getting them to hit the holes on the way back on. does anyone have an sugestions on how to repair this problem. i assume i can just dump a bunch of poly-resin down the hole and clamp them in place, right? anyone done that? or know any thing that works better? Nate

04-20-2006, 04:56 PM	#2
Medicanman71 Account Suspended Join Date: May 2005 Location: Where the Wild Things Are Posts: 696	Re: Loose hard top bolts. Help! Dunno, Nice avatar!

04-20-2006, 05:13 PM	#3
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,049	Re: Loose hard top bolts. Help! I'm guessing you have a double wall top? Sounds like the inserts have broken loose You may try some JB weld or some fiberglass resin to hold them in place. I'm not exactly sure how the doublewall tops bolt up since I've only had single walls. Why would you leave the bolts in the top when it wasn't on the truck? __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

04-20-2006, 08:30 PM	#4
71jimmy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,084	Re: Loose hard top bolts. Help! IF you have a double wall and your talking about the bolts/nuts along the bed rail then it is the nut part that is loose inside your fiberglass. These are fastened with rivets. They are actually metal stips, 3" by 3/4" by 3/16, with a whole drilled in the center and tapped for the bolt. The only way to get them out is to drill the head of the rivets out. Drill a one inch whole, with a whole saw, just up the inside of the top. Then fish them out. I had to replace multiple ones so I drilled the hole between two of the nuts, so I could get to them with only one hole in the top. I had broken bolts in them that were rusted so badly they wouldn't break loose. I just bought some steal and made my own. __________________ '71 Jimmy, 350, SM465, NP205, 2in Tuff Country lift, 33s on rallies, TBI, softtop and hardtop "If life was fair you'd be able to afford one of each and a garage large enough to house them all."

04-23-2006, 11:15 AM	#6
FRENCHBLUE72 PROJECT 7DEUCE Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: GRANTS PASS OR Posts: 21,591	Re: Loose hard top bolts. Help! Seems like that is oneof the draw backs of a double wall top I have to do mine this summer.. __________________ GO BIG GREEN GO DUCKS MEMBER #6377 72 k-5 daily driver 6'' lift 35'' 350-350-205 slowly getting rust free. Project "7DEUCE" check out my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=267665 Tim Powell..R.I.P EastSideLowlife..... R.I.P..



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