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Loose but might be best to cut off rusty thread or maybe grind off some threads

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Loose but might be best to cut off rusty thread or maybe grind off some threads #1 This topic is about my 1962 MG MGA MkII
three5bangers Steve M Valhalla, NY, USA Sign in to contact 1962 MG MGA MkII 1983 Audi Coupe GT 1983 Audi Quattro 1984 Ford Crown Victoria & more	Topic Creator (OP) Apr 30, 2024 05:19 PM Joined 9 years ago 483 Posts

Just starting. Got gas tank out, want to remove the straps. To my surprise I could turn the bolts a little but then when I start sucking the rusty threads into the nut or captured nut resistance becomes great and maybe l'll just damage the threads in the captured nut. I have a dremel, I think grinding down the treads might be better than trying to cut off the rusty threads. No? I have experience with dremel cut off wheels. Lots of sparks. Might not have any grinding gizmo in stock.

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Re: Loose but might be best to cut off rusty thread or maybe grind off some threads #4
bobs77vet bob K. northern Va, VA, USA Sign in to contact	Apr 30, 2024 10:21 PM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 8,299 Posts

The gas tank is removed and out of the way, you are talking about the strap bolt into the cross member captive nut?

Grinding away the threads or cutting off the end of the bolt will work fine, you can also wire brush the threads and lubricate them,

I seem to recall I used a longer bolt with a nut on the end because I broke off the captive nut

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Re: Loose but might be best to cut off rusty thread or maybe grind off some threads #5
gptwincam George Prussack Eagle, WI, USA Sign in to contact 1958 MG MGA Twin-Cam 1959 MG MGA Twin-Cam "Merlot" 1959 MG MGA Twin-Cam "POP’S"	Apr 30, 2024 10:34 PM Joined 6 years ago 74 Posts

Soak them in a little kroil oil then heat, seems to work well on the captive nuts for me.

Regards,

George

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Re: Loose but might be best to cut off rusty thread or maybe grind off some threads #6
tdgray Todd Gray Uniontown, OH, USA Sign in to contact 1960 MG MGA "Abigail" 1968 MG MGC GT "Lucy" 1971 BMW 2800CS Coupe 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG	May 1, 2024 06:39 AM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 986 Posts

Kroil is awesome. Man is it getting expensive these days.

If you are in it to win it I would advise buying a real cutoff tool. A dremel is great for small fine work but you need a grinder with a cutoff wheel for nasty rust.

And no I wouldn’t save the bolts…

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Re: Loose but might be best to cut off rusty thread or maybe grind off some threads #7
three5bangers Steve M Valhalla, NY, USA Sign in to contact 1962 MG MGA MkII 1983 Audi Coupe GT 1983 Audi Quattro 1984 Ford Crown Victoria & more	Topic Creator (OP) May 4, 2024 10:01 PM Joined 9 years ago 483 Posts

Thanks guys. Yes, I was talking about the strap bolt into the cross member captive nut. I decided to use a file to remove some of the crusty threads plus some oil and I got the bolts out without ruining the captive nut.

I have a benzomatic torch that takes both the red oxygen and yellow Mapp tanks. I used that on a frozen nut and it was fabulous but the oxygen ran out and the remaining MAPP gas without oxygen seems to burn rich leaving black. Torch time ended early. The red oxygen tanks used to be $10 and now I think they are $16 plus and only have 1.4 oz of oxygen. I think in the past i went through $50 of these quickly. Perhaps a torch designed for MAPP only is the way to go.

Next steps are repainting the underside of the trunk and getting that fill plug out of the differential.

steve

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Re: Loose but might be best to cut off rusty thread or maybe grind off some threads #8
Drewski William Estaver SUMMERVILLE, SC, USA Sign in to contact 1973 MG Midget MkIII "Maggie"	May 4, 2024 10:59 PM Top Contributor Joined 3 years ago 675 Posts

Wire brush/clean/thread file any accessible threads, and keep hitting them with penetrating oil.

Then repeatedly, and patiently, alternating loosen-tighten-loosen-tighten-loosen right at the point of thread resistance, liberally using penetrating oil. Don't over force rotation. When it binds, stop and loosen again. Repeat.

Sometimes this will gradually clean away the rust fouled threads, and allow extraction.

Afterwards chase the threads in the nut or hole with a tap, and use new fasteners on assembly.

Time consuming, but worth a shot before mauling the bolt or nut.

Chasing and anti-seizing threads throughout the car's fasteners as you encounter them is well worth the time for both reassembly and later tear down.

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Re: Loose but might be best to cut off rusty thread or maybe grind off some threads #2
59mgaguy John Terschak Wakeman, OH, USA Sign in to contact 1930 Ford Model A "Jenny" 1959 MG 14/28 "Jessie" 1974 MG MGB "Oooops"	Apr 30, 2024 05:39 PM Top Contributor Joined 13 years ago 7,619 Posts

Re: Loose but might be best to cut off rusty thread or maybe grind off some threads #3
MG14611 Robert P NY, NY, USA Sign in to contact 1963 MG MGB MkI "Born To Run" 1963 MG MGB MkI "Potential"	Apr 30, 2024 08:58 PM Top Contributor Joined 4 years ago 1,860 Posts

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