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.

[msg]

Got the tap and die set and took the die with some cutting fluid and rethreaded the bolt



Then used the tap and slowly re tapped the plate. Now it threads in with no problem!! Thanks to all for the help with this!!