Help please!!

[Gclyne]

Hi I was trying to adjust my front end since it was a little crooked. While I was trying to loosen the bolt connected to the grill it came of pretty easily.

So I realigned the front end and then went back to try and tighten that bolt connected to the grill on the front crossmember. It doesn't tighten it just spins....I don't know if it's supposed to be like that or if I stripped it? How can I fix this and what is on the other side of that bolt that's holding it on? Please help!!

 

[rr41mag]

I cut a hole to axcess the back side and put a nut on it.

 

[Gclyne]

I'm affraid that is what I am probably going to have to do.

Where did you cut the hole at, in the front or back?

 

[Petescj]

I'm affraid that is what I am probably going to have to do.

Where did you cut the hole at, in the front or back?

These things rust fast quite often. Theres a captured nut in there that broke loose. Im not sure how easy it would be to do with the grill on the Jeep but Id want the acsess hole to be in the back or engine compartment side so you dont see it. Id disconnect the radiator hoses and the two grill props unplug the lights and take it off.

 

[Hedgehog]

I'd take the grill off, it really isn't that difficult, and rebuild the nut capture thing. The nut really isn't a regular nut, it is a threaded plate that sits in an over sized pocket of sorts. It is built to be loose so adjustment is possible. Also, I wouldn't weld the nut or plate down solid, it's designed to move.

 

[biggwrench]

If its just stripped .drill and tap new threads. to the next size up I have done this on 4 of my body mounts and it worked fine. It cost me about 12dollars for the tap. 3.dollars for the bolt. and about 10. dollars for the correct drill bit. best part no dissemble.

 

[Posi]

The PO snapped off the grill mounting bolt and his repair was to drill 2 holes in the grill and frame crossmember to mount the grill. :down:





It appears he made an attempted to remove the captured block and bolt by the looks of the bent cover but thought it was somehow faster drilling through the grill and frame.

I used a sawzal to cut the tip then removed the captured block and bolt. I welded a nut to remove the bolt from the block about 15 mins of work.



I then welded the captured block in the grill for the fix.

 

[Gclyne]

Thanks for the help guys! I will cut into the back of it and try to remove the block but and reeled it into place.