cross member swing arm bolts

[spider2081]

I have a spare 1980 Spider 2000 front cross member. Two of the bolts that hold on the suspension lower "A" arm swing bar on are stripped. Has anyone replaced these bolts? The cross member is good shape no cracks or bent areas. The only problem is these stripped bolts. I think they must be a pressed in bolt but not sure. Thoughts??

[djape1977]

easy to replace

[spider2081]

Thanks, I put a nut on the bolt and threaded down till it was flush with the bolt end. Then I "wacked" it with a 5lb hammer. The original bolt had 3 tack weld that broke free on the third strike. I had a few bolts the same length and diameter. I passed a thin wire the wife uses for her crafts through the hole and spacer and out the hole provided for wrench to access the engine mount. I wrapped the wire into the threads of the new bolt and twisted it tight. I then pulled the new bolt up into the original hole by puling on the wire.
I just have to tack weld the new bolts in place.

[toyfiats]

Exactly what bolts did you use? What rating were they?

[v6spider]

Bolts need to be grade 8 or the metric equivalent thereof...


Rob

[vandor]

If you already have the welder out you might as well seam weld it in a few places.
Also I sometimes box in the end with square plates.

[spider2081]

Thanks for everyone's input. I have a box of used bolts and the ones I thought I would use were in that box. I didn't purchase them. I am going to try and post some photos of the new bolts and a cross member I repaired and painted for another car a few years ago. I weld 1/16th inch stiffeners and re-weld the seams.









I think have the photos posted. I hope the bolts are the correct hardness. Maybe someone could confirm that for me.

[djape1977]

yup, 8.8 were original hardness
i guess that 10.9 wouldn't be so easy to strip

[spider2081]

Thanks
I am trying to find some 10.9 to replace them but so far no luck. Can anyone suggest a source?
These original bolts were 12mm dia. 80mm long and 30mm of the bolt is threaded leaving 50mm between the head and where the threads begin. The thread pitch is a 1.25mm. If the replacements come with nuts I don't think the thread pitch would be important

[vandor]

There is a thread on this on Mirafiori.com. A guy there just ordered some Mustang control arm bolts from Jegs to see if they are the right size.

[spider2081]

That is me who ordered the Mustang bolts. I started this post and then found the one Sam had on Mirafiori.com.
I should have the Mustang bolts in a couple days and will post their measurements on both chat rooms.

[spider2081]

I received the Mustang bolts from JEGS today. I don't think they will work as a replacement for the control arm bolts in the cross member.
They are shown on the web site as 12mm bolts but much of the unthreaded portion of the bolt measures 10.75mm diameter. The original bolt measures 11.9mm in a similar area of the bolt. The threads on the bolt are much courser than the original bolts 1.25mm pitch. I think these are 1.75mm pitch. The length of the unthreaded original bolt is 50mm and the new ones are 38 so the control arm swing bar would be sitting on the threads not the smooth portion on the bolt.

Anyone got a Mustang??

[BEEK]

best thing to do is go to a hardware store, the bolt size is the same as something else on a fiat, because in my shop when i needed to replace one, there were plenty of that size in my bolt bin

[BEEK]

probably the guibo bolt or something like that

[aj81spider]

I was surprised to find that Mustang bolts are metric (but I looked it up and they are!).

I'm with Beek. If you have a good local hardware store check with them. Otherwise try McMaster Carr or some other on-line hardware channel.