Broke the seatbelt bolt!!! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

69GMC910 · 10-15-2010, 12:10 AM

I was removing all of the interior in my 82 and the hardest bolts to remove were for the seatbelts. It was almost like they had been loctite'd at the factory! Anyways, I broke the drivers side bolt off. I soaked it with a bunch of release-all for three days straight just praying that when I went to drill through it that it would catch and spin out. It didn't!!!!! What should I do? Use an easy-out and try to pull the bolt out, or drill it to the correct size before re-tapping to 12mm??

ratty 46 · 10-15-2010, 12:19 AM

Drill the bolt out in steps until your almost at the total bolt size. If you don't drill off center you'll be able, with a punch or like drift, cave the sides in making it a "shell" of its former self. Once you've collapsed it you be able to pick it up with a needle nose pliers.

Whilst at GE, working Power Gen repairs, if I had a nickel for every 4" bolt we shelled out I'd have a lot of nickels!

Good luck & use good quality drill bits.

Ratty 46

**old Rusty C10** · 10-15-2010, 10:23 AM

iagree with ratty drill it out at the center and get it as thin as you can then id use the easy out.. ive done this a time or two myself on the seatbelt bolts too

babyJay · 10-15-2010, 10:55 AM

I didn't have any luck drilling the one on my old 30 when I gutted the interior. I didn't have any bits decent enough to drill the hardened bolt, and burnt up several cheap ones I had laying around. Finally took a Unibit and made a hole right next to it, keeping it within the factory reinforced area (thicker than just the floorboard). I used washers and a nut on the bottom tack welded to the underneath.

**old Rusty C10** · 10-15-2010, 02:27 PM

not to change the topic or hijack the thread but dont you just love those torx head bolts they use for this application on later years..... those always seem to strip.. Luckilly ive been able to use a dremel or frinder to make a hex head bolt out of it so that i can ratchet/socket it off

69GMC910 · 10-15-2010, 07:05 PM

Yeah, the middle two bolts were torx in my 82, and we had a 2 foot snipe on the torx key to get them out!!! Luckily they didn't strip! But I guess I'll just keep drilling my broken one bigger... I amazingly hit it almost dead center without even center punching!!

tommys69/454 · 10-15-2010, 07:52 PM

pull the carpet away. then drill it out under the thread minor. heat it up with a small propane torch, taking all the necessary precautions of coarse. then while still hot pound an easy out in it and back out the bolt. you only need enough heat to break the rust bond.

10-15-2010, 12:10 AM	#1
69GMC910 MOTORHEAD! Join Date: May 2000 Location: Devon AB, Canada Posts: 849	Broke the seatbelt bolt!!! I was removing all of the interior in my 82 and the hardest bolts to remove were for the seatbelts. It was almost like they had been loctite'd at the factory! Anyways, I broke the drivers side bolt off. I soaked it with a bunch of release-all for three days straight just praying that when I went to drill through it that it would catch and spin out. It didn't!!!!! What should I do? Use an easy-out and try to pull the bolt out, or drill it to the correct size before re-tapping to 12mm?? __________________ 82 GMC High Sierra VortecPro 496 12 Bolt, 3.42's AFR 265 Holley 850 Performer RPM Air Gap Hooker 2455's TCI Turbo 400 Super Street Fighter TRRC 12 Bolt Eaton Posi Mark Williams Axles Cal-Tracs Hoosier 30x10.5 Radial Slick Full weight long box pickup Current best- 11.33@117mph

10-15-2010, 12:19 AM	#2
ratty 46 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta, Ga. Posts: 1,104	Re: Broke the seatbelt bolt!!! Drill the bolt out in steps until your almost at the total bolt size. If you don't drill off center you'll be able, with a punch or like drift, cave the sides in making it a "shell" of its former self. Once you've collapsed it you be able to pick it up with a needle nose pliers. Whilst at GE, working Power Gen repairs, if I had a nickel for every 4" bolt we shelled out I'd have a lot of nickels! Good luck & use good quality drill bits. Ratty 46

10-15-2010, 10:23 AM	#3
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,310	Re: Broke the seatbelt bolt!!! iagree with ratty drill it out at the center and get it as thin as you can then id use the easy out.. ive done this a time or two myself on the seatbelt bolts too __________________ 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!!

10-15-2010, 10:55 AM	#4
babyJay Arrived on a Pale Horse Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SnagTown Indiana Posts: 2,524	Re: Broke the seatbelt bolt!!! I didn't have any luck drilling the one on my old 30 when I gutted the interior. I didn't have any bits decent enough to drill the hardened bolt, and burnt up several cheap ones I had laying around. Finally took a Unibit and made a hole right next to it, keeping it within the factory reinforced area (thicker than just the floorboard). I used washers and a nut on the bottom tack welded to the underneath. __________________ Jason 87 V30 350TBI/400 White w/Boss V-plow 89 R3500 CC SRW

10-15-2010, 02:27 PM	#5
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,310	Re: Broke the seatbelt bolt!!! not to change the topic or hijack the thread but dont you just love those torx head bolts they use for this application on later years..... those always seem to strip.. Luckilly ive been able to use a dremel or frinder to make a hex head bolt out of it so that i can ratchet/socket it off __________________ 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!!

10-15-2010, 07:05 PM	#6
69GMC910 MOTORHEAD! Join Date: May 2000 Location: Devon AB, Canada Posts: 849	Re: Broke the seatbelt bolt!!! Yeah, the middle two bolts were torx in my 82, and we had a 2 foot snipe on the torx key to get them out!!! Luckily they didn't strip! But I guess I'll just keep drilling my broken one bigger... I amazingly hit it almost dead center without even center punching!! __________________ 82 GMC High Sierra VortecPro 496 12 Bolt, 3.42's AFR 265 Holley 850 Performer RPM Air Gap Hooker 2455's TCI Turbo 400 Super Street Fighter TRRC 12 Bolt Eaton Posi Mark Williams Axles Cal-Tracs Hoosier 30x10.5 Radial Slick Full weight long box pickup Current best- 11.33@117mph

10-15-2010, 07:52 PM	#7
tommys69/454 1969 short box Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: waterloo,newyork Posts: 146	Re: Broke the seatbelt bolt!!! pull the carpet away. then drill it out under the thread minor. heat it up with a small propane torch, taking all the necessary precautions of coarse. then while still hot pound an easy out in it and back out the bolt. you only need enough heat to break the rust bond. __________________ tommy morehouse



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