need tips for extracting door panel screws - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

coggonobrien · 01-11-2011, 02:07 AM

screws are stuck/stripped what's the bets way to remove without destroying the door panel? drill them out?

Thanks,
David

BlazinC5 · 01-11-2011, 02:55 AM

Lots of ways to do it. If your screw head is a philips,, Drilling them out will work to get your pannel off so long as you select a drill size very close to the shank size of the screw and as long as your carfull to only go deap enough to pop the head off the screw,,,your good. then get a small set of visegrips and some wd40 and try to work the screw shank loose from the inside. I'm not overly sure every screw would be accessible for visegrips with that route.
Or you could always try a small chisle and "small" hammer and try etching in a slot for a flat screw driver.. However I can't even emphasize how carful you would have to work at that to not miss a swing and damage the door panel...
I have also employed a center punch instead of chisle and tapped the screw head in a couple spots to make lil dents for the center punch then began tapping the screw head in the direction to loosen it.
Keep in mind lots of WD40, pre-soak a day ahead then hit them again just before you try messing with them. even if your only able to spray the heads of the screw.. it may still help.. I've done things like this alot.

Good luck and hope it helps. Just take your time and be carfull.

cdowns · 01-11-2011, 08:07 AM

if you had reverse drill bits that wpuld b the way to drill

coggonobrien · 01-11-2011, 08:08 AM

hmmm, actually dad does

**special-K** · 01-11-2011, 08:23 AM

Reverse twist bits are the bomb! Those darned bolts can be a real pain because the head is small compared to shank size.

tubbedII · 01-11-2011, 12:44 PM

I actually twisted the heads of two right off, but they were pretty rusty. I ended up drilling the head off like the others said (don't own a set of reverse bits, but sounds like a good investment). After that I just beat screw with a hammer until the hole square nut came off. I found square pop-in plastic nuts at Kragen (I think they were for licence plates) that fit perfectly and also had the same threads as the new screws.

**mr48chev** · 01-11-2011, 12:50 PM

I'm going to follow up on that one TubbedII I have a few crusty rusty ones in the 71 that need to be changed out. Thanks for the tip.

01-11-2011, 02:07 AM	#1
coggonobrien Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Coggon, IA Posts: 580	need tips for extracting door panel screws screws are stuck/stripped what's the bets way to remove without destroying the door panel? drill them out? Thanks, David

01-11-2011, 02:55 AM	#2
BlazinC5 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cheney Washinton Posts: 378	Re: need tips for extracting door panel screws Lots of ways to do it. If your screw head is a philips,, Drilling them out will work to get your pannel off so long as you select a drill size very close to the shank size of the screw and as long as your carfull to only go deap enough to pop the head off the screw,,,your good. then get a small set of visegrips and some wd40 and try to work the screw shank loose from the inside. I'm not overly sure every screw would be accessible for visegrips with that route. Or you could always try a small chisle and "small" hammer and try etching in a slot for a flat screw driver.. However I can't even emphasize how carful you would have to work at that to not miss a swing and damage the door panel... I have also employed a center punch instead of chisle and tapped the screw head in a couple spots to make lil dents for the center punch then began tapping the screw head in the direction to loosen it. Keep in mind lots of WD40, pre-soak a day ahead then hit them again just before you try messing with them. even if your only able to spray the heads of the screw.. it may still help.. I've done things like this alot. Good luck and hope it helps. Just take your time and be carfull. __________________ 71 2wd Blazer My build, Restarted 05 Buell firebolt 94 1500 Z71 No rice for me,,, I'm full

01-11-2011, 08:07 AM	#3
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: need tips for extracting door panel screws if you had reverse drill bits that wpuld b the way to drill __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

01-11-2011, 08:08 AM	#4
coggonobrien Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Coggon, IA Posts: 580	Re: need tips for extracting door panel screws hmmm, actually dad does

01-11-2011, 08:23 AM	#5
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: need tips for extracting door panel screws Reverse twist bits are the bomb! Those darned bolts can be a real pain because the head is small compared to shank size. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-11-2011, 12:44 PM	#6
tubbedII needs more $$$ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,936	Re: need tips for extracting door panel screws I actually twisted the heads of two right off, but they were pretty rusty. I ended up drilling the head off like the others said (don't own a set of reverse bits, but sounds like a good investment). After that I just beat screw with a hammer until the hole square nut came off. I found square pop-in plastic nuts at Kragen (I think they were for licence plates) that fit perfectly and also had the same threads as the new screws. __________________ 1970 2wd Blazer

01-11-2011, 12:50 PM	#7
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,721	Re: need tips for extracting door panel screws I'm going to follow up on that one TubbedII I have a few crusty rusty ones in the 71 that need to be changed out. Thanks for the tip.



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