WING FITTING CAPTIVE NUTS

[singleton]

Just a bit of advise really, at the bottom of the a pillar where the front wings origionally fit with two bolts my car has been plate welded without any captive nuts or similar, does anyone have any suggestions on how to attach the wings at the base? Also on my 4 door the rear panel where the wing mounts needs a repair on a part where a bolt hole is, whats the best way to replace this bolt hole? is it best just welding a nut on the back of the repair plate? any advise would be great

[PSL184]

Most cars that have "MOT" patches have been plated in those areas and lost the captive uts.... A good meaty self tapping screw will hold the wing in place if it is a bodge you are looking for. Of course, the correct answer, is to cut out the bodge and weld in the correct repair panel....

[singleton]

Thanks for the quick reply, yes I would have liked to have done the job proper but with baby on the way etc I just want to get it on the road for now and maybe do the car proper one day in the future. Thanks for the advise

[jonathon]

You could fit 'rivnuts' which only require a hole to be drilled rather than welding.

[singleton]

Thank you very much jonathon, thats a great idea! going to get some of them ordered up, problem solved.

[jonathon]

S'okay

[singleton]

Sorted this problem in the end with some wing mount repair bolts for vw beetle which can be purchased off ebay. Very good little product, threaded part fits into hole then you just tack weld the flat face part in place.

[bmcecosse]

Sounds good - do you have a link to the ebay sale ?

[singleton]

I will add a link, others on here may find them usefull, here is a pic of the nut placed in the hole but not yet welded just to give an idea of the area which is available to weld. They wont make the wing out of line when fitted. Not the greatest repair method i suppose but I can think of and have seen much worse methods! My flitch panels look a little rusty in the pic but its the red oxide put on years ago coming through the sanded down paint![frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

They look great!

[singleton]

I think there a very usefull item for this type of repair, once I've tacked them on and seam sealed up etc I will post a pic see what you think to the finished job. I think a few minor owners would find these very handy because a lot of minors have had mot plating at the base of the a pillar on the flitch panel and lost there captive nuts.

[charlie_morris_minor]

i agree they do look great but one question.. they look to be sitting on the outside of the panel, i.e. the bit you need to bolt the wing up against.. so want these push the wing out slightly? or are they very thin?

[rayofleamington]

For these area I've just drilled a hole that a nut will fit into and then welded round the nut and ground flush (one of the advantages of MIG). You need to leave a bolt in the nut to ensure the threads stay clean and this helps to avoid dropping the nut through the back of the panel.

[singleton]

here is a link to the repair nuts on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Beetle-Wing-repai ... 255c2f2277

I had the concern that they may make the wing sit out a little but I sat the nuts in the holes and offered the wing up and it looks fine, but then depending on what welding various cars have had it could be problem on other moggies.