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TR2/3/3A TR3A rear fender captive bolts

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G

GerryL

Jedi Hopeful
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I have removed both rear fenders and had to use a die grinder to remove several bolts whose captive nuts would rotate. The three captive bolts at he rear vertical part of the fender are not accessible for replacement. The bolts pass through the flange of the rear apron which overlaps the quarter pannel. What approaches could I take to replace these? Is it feasible to remove spot welds and remove the rear apron without distroying it?

Once accessibility is gained, do you weld a nut in place or use the same type of captive cage?
 
You must sacrifice the drop panel ahead of the rear apron, No biggie really it is easily fabricated and with new cage nuts migged in, you put it back in. Gives you a great access to the inner area below the spare cover where rust lurks .......
MD(mad dog)
 
I went a different route. I got some weld nuts from McMaster , part number 90594A040 which is a weld nut that can be welded from the outside. If you poke that part number in the web site at the "find" prompt, it will bring up the catalog page and you will be able to see what it looks like. That part number is 1/4-28, so the original screws will fit.

I knocked the remnant of the old caged weld nut back, then inserted the new nut in the hole (had to make it slightly larger), and welded on the outside. No doubt, I'll have part of that old nut rattling around down in the back for eternity, but I only had one on each side to do. I used them in several other places that were hard to get to.
 
I feel your pain. I had to do the same for my TR-2 and I think taking the drop panel out is the way to go. I'm going to have the car media blasted and would like to get in there anyways to see how much crud has accumulated over the years. None of the bolts would loosen on my car, so I'm sure this is a common problem. Good luck,
 
I'm dealing with same problem with front and back of my vehicle, i.e., captive nuts held captive in closed panels. Can anyone give me a better description of the forementioned "drop panel" (like a Moss Motors part number) so I don't cut the wrong piece.
 
I think that panel that is being suggested is here in my photo just below the vice grips.
 
Here is what mine looked like before.....
 
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