P38A Seized nuts!

Gentlemen (& ladies),

We're looking at an automatic diesel P38A. Two of them actually. I'm trying to get the rad off my scrapper and onto what I am hoping might become a runner.

The radiator on the scrapper looks original. It is held at the bottom by two bolts that go through the rad holder frame and into a square captive nut held in a plastic channel at the bottom of each side of the radiator. Unfortunately, the plastic has weakened over time and as I try to undo said bolts, the captive nut rotates nicely in the plastic channel. So how do I undo the bolts?!

The channel is too small for needle-nosed pliers. I cannot use heat because I would melt the plastic of the radiator. Plusgas was liberally sprayed before I started. I tried jamming a flat-bladed screwdriver in there but it just pushed it out when I rotated the head of the bolt. I cannot get to the fastenings that hold the radiator frame in place. I'm really trying to avoid hacksawing the heads off the bolts and even if I did, the body of the bolt would still hold the radiator in place!

Anyone got any ideas of how to get the bar-stewards out without wrecking the rad mountings?!

Kettle on ...

Wreck the rad mountings, and use a stainless nut and bolt on reassembly.

I had this issue, it was solved quite quickly with a blowtorch and hacking away at the housing around the nut until I could just about fit a wrench on it to keep it still

MrGorsky said:

Wreck the rad mountings, and use a stainless nut and bolt on reassembly.

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+1

Whole f_ckin' day wasted today on those two bolts and no further forward. That and trying to bleed the high pressure pipes with 2 dodgy batteries that **** themselves as soon as you try to crank. Utterly wasted ****ing day.

Those bolts have one chance left and then it is time to get violent.

Just cut the bolts off. I’ve got a few stainless nuts and bolts here you can have.

I had to do the same to mine. It won’t be “original” but it’s still secure.

Managed to crank the scrapper and bleed the pipes. Car started but no throttle response. That's slooby's FIP. I suspect he may have had the pump top off!

Tried the nuts again. Failed so put some Quiksteel on there. Might hold them in place if it doesn't just break off.

Quiksteel didn't work. Close but plastic just deforms.

Drill the RHS one and that was enough to wedge a punch in there and undo the bolt from the remains of the nut.

Tried the same trick on the other side, rust dropping in my eyes, ears, hair, everywhere. F***ing roasting out there lying on concrete with my legs burning and **** dropping in my face. Lost it and just cut the plastic across teh bottom and then crowbarred the f***er out.

Had to lie down in the larder with my back on a stone floor for 30 minutes but back up now.

B*****d, B*****d f***ing bolts. Too much time wasted.

When I feel I can stand the heat I'll find some replacement nuts and bolts and transfer it to slooby's rangie and finish reassembling that.

Just to be clear though... it was your choice not to just cut them off wasn't it?

Tried that but access is a bar steward and the washers get in the way. This was easier.

Grrrrrr said:

Tried that but access is a bar steward and the washers get in the way. This was easier.

Click to expand...

But you've got it sorted.
Just dont do it again